Apparatus, mining machine and method for resin injection

Abstract

Equipment for injecting grouting material, mining machine, and method for reinforcing rock surfaces with grouting material. The equipment (11) includes an injector head (17) equipped with a mixing device (18), both of which are insertable into a drilled hole (7). The equipment is used to feed resin mixtures (23a, 23b) having two different setting times. The injector head is connected to a fluid inlet arrangement (19) including a common first feed line for slow and fast resin base components (A1, A2) and a second feed line for a resin catalyst (B).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for injecting grouting material into a drilled hole when reinforcing a rock surface with rock anchors. The hole is drilled using a rock drill, then grouting material is supplied to the drilled hole, and finally, the rock anchor is inserted and secured. More specifically, the solution involves the injection of two types of resins with different setting times.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a mining machine equipped with a device for injecting grouting material, and to a method for reinforcing rock surfaces.

[0003] The scope of the present invention is further specifically defined below. Background Technology

[0004] In mines, construction sites, and other work areas, rock surfaces need to be reinforced to ensure their safety and suitability for their intended purpose. A common method of rock reinforcement is rock anchoring. In this system, several rock anchors are secured in a drilled hole using grouting material. In this way, the rock layers are bound together, reducing the risk of collapse. Several different systems for inserting grouting material exist. However, current injection methods have shown some drawbacks. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus for feeding grouting material into a drilled hole. The invention also relates to a novel and improved mining machine and a method for feeding grouting material when reinforcing rock surfaces.

[0006] The disclosed solution involves injecting a bulk-like resin in fluid form into the drilled borehole before inserting the rock anchor bolt. Furthermore, two different resins with different setting times are used during injection. The grouting resin is injected using a device comprising an injector head capable of being inserted into the drilled borehole and a mixing device. The device also includes a fluid inlet arrangement connected to the injector head for feeding resin base component A1 or A2 and resin catalyst B to the injector head. The mixing device is configured to mix the fed resin base component A1 or A2 with the catalyst B. During the injection process, the injector head and mixing device are fed together within the drilled borehole. Additionally, the aforementioned fluid inlet arrangement includes two independent feed lines. A first feed line can be alternately selected for feeding either the first base resin component A1 or the second resin base component A2, and a second feed line is used for feeding the resin catalyst B. In other words, the fluid inlet arrangement has only two feed lines for feeding the grouting resin material into the drilled borehole. When the base resin components A1 and A2 are mixed with catalyst B, they have different setting times. Catalyst B is a hardener used to initiate the chemical reaction that transforms the resin from a liquid to a solid.

[0007] The advantage of the disclosed solution, which utilizes only two feed lines for the resin component, is that the diameter of the drilled hole can be smaller compared to solutions using more feed lines. A smaller hole diameter allows for more efficient, faster, and less energy-intensive drilling. Rock anchor bolts typically have diameters between 14 and 18 mm, so a relatively small diameter hole is sufficient for them. Furthermore, the grouting requires a small amount of resin, as the hole is well-suited to the aforementioned small anchor bolt diameter. The disclosed injection head and feed lines can be fitted into very small holes, with diameters as small as 30-35 mm. In such small diameter holes, it is difficult to add any additional hoses to manage the second component without increasing the pressure drop in the feed.

[0008] Another advantage is that when the mixing device is located at the injector head, the resin base component A1 or A2 is mixed with the resin catalyst B as late as possible before being injected into the drilled hole. This means that only a small amount of resin material is wasted when the injector head and mixing device need to be cleaned between injection steps into the drilled hole.

[0009] Furthermore, the disclosed solution provides a system for feeding two resin mixtures with different setting times, thereby providing a rapidly setting resin mixture at the bottom of the drilled hole, followed by a slowly setting resin mixture. During the injection process, the injection head retracts simultaneously.

[0010] Another advantage of the disclosed solution is that its structure is simple and durable compared to known solutions with complex injection adapters.

[0011] The disclosed solution can be implemented in various rock drilling rigs and bolting jumbos. The system can also be easily retrofitted to existing mining equipment.

[0012] The equipment includes a resin pumping arrangement with two pumps. Therefore, there is a common first feed pump configured to alternately feed either a first resin base component A1 or a second resin base component A2 to a first feed line. Furthermore, a second feed pump is dedicated to feeding resin catalyst B to a second feed line.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the first and second feed pumps mentioned in the previous embodiments are positive displacement pumps. The pumps are configured to operate synchronously, thereby ensuring that the volume of the fed resin-based component A1 or A2 is substantially constant relative to the fed catalyst B.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the aforementioned volumetric pump can be a pump with a chamber having a predetermined volume into which a batch of material is fed. A piston, plunger, or gear element then compresses the material into the feed line. Therefore, the pump can be, for example, a piston pump or a gear pump.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the ratio of the selected resin base component (A1 or A2) to the feed volume of catalyst B is typically 1:1, but other values, such as 2:1, 1:2 or 3:1, may also be used.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the first and second feed pumps are powered by a common actuator. The common actuator can be a motor, and the pumps can be connected to the same output shaft of the motor. The advantage of using a common actuator is that the pumps are thus automatically driven in a synchronized manner. The feed volume ratio of the resin base component (A1 or A2) and catalyst B is fixed. Therefore, pumping is easily controlled.

[0017] In an alternative solution, the pumps are operated separately, but controlled synchronously. The phrase "synchronized operation" means that the pumps can be managed or regulated at the same speed, or alternatively, they can be managed or regulated based on flow rate measurements on each pipeline.

[0018] The device includes at least one feed valve for selectively connecting the inlet passage of a common first feed pump to a first container supplied for a first resin base component A1, or to a second container supplied for a second resin base component A2.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the injector head is a grouting resin feeding tool, which is removed from the drilled hole once resin feeding is complete and before individual rock anchors are fed into the drilled hole filled with grouting resin. Therefore, the injector head does not remain in the drilled hole but is used multiple times in several drilled holes. In other words, the injector head and mixing device are not disposable devices. Furthermore, the injector head and mixing device are separate from the rock anchors.

[0020] According to one embodiment, during the injection of the resin mixture, the injection head retracts towards the opening of the drilled hole. The retraction rate is related to the resin flow rate and the hole diameter. The retraction rate can also take into account any possible cracks, voids, or other spaces that need to be filled.

[0021] According to one embodiment, after the grouting material has been injected, the drilled hole can be equipped with rock bolts, rock anchors, cables, or corresponding elongated metal reinforcement elements. Therefore, several alternative rock reinforcement components can be installed within the borehole.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the apparatus includes a solvent feeding system configured to feed a solvent medium to flush the injector head and mixing device. The purpose of this system is to prevent clogging in the event of an interruption in the injection of the drilled hole. The solvent feeding system includes a third pump for pumping the solvent medium from a third container.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the fed solvent medium is a solvent, grease, gel (high viscosity), or water-based mixture.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the resin material mixed in the mixing device is flushed out of the injector head by a solvent medium. The system can be cleaned by pushing the mixed material to the outside of the mixing head, the outside of the drilled hole, or the top of the drilled hole just after the actual grouting resin material is fed. In this way, the system is cleaned and can wait between processing several holes. The solvent mixture is then removed, and the resin mixture replaces the solvent mixture by pushing the solvent mixture to the outside of the mixing head, to the bottom of the drilled hole, or to the ground outside the drilled hole before the actual grouting resin material is fed.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the solvent feeding system includes a dedicated third feed line for feeding the solvent medium from a third pump to the mixing device.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the solvent feeding system can be alternately connected to a first feed line and / or a second feed line via a solvent valve. Thus, the system utilizes a common feed line for the resin-based components. This is particularly effective when using high-viscosity solvents (such as greases or gels), as this creates a piston effect in the hose to clean the feed line. It should be noted that the solvent is fed only in specific amounts over a specific time or volume, solely for cleaning the mixing unit and injection head. The solvent can also be pumped in an alternative or sequential manner.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the disclosed device can be connected to a mining machine. The feeding device of the mining machine is then configured to insert and move the injector head and mixing device within the drilled hole.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the disclosed solution also relates to a mining machine comprising: a movable carrier; one or more cantilever arms movably connected to the carrier; equipment for injecting grouting resin into a drilled borehole; and one or more rock bolt units located at the distal end of the cantilever arms for feeding rock bolts or corresponding elongated reinforcements into the drilled borehole after the grouting resin injection. The cantilever arms are provided with a feed device for moving the injection head of the injection equipment within the drilled borehole. The injection equipment of the mining machine is based on the features disclosed in this document.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the disclosed solution also relates to a method for injecting grouting resin into a plurality of drilled holes, wherein the method includes: inserting an injector head into the drilled holes; providing a mixing device for the injector head; feeding a base resin component A and a resin catalyst B to the injector head through a fluid inlet arrangement; mixing the fed base resin component and resin catalyst into a resin mixture within the drilled holes through the mixing device; initiating injection of the resin mixture at the bottom portion of the drilled holes and moving the injector head and mixing device toward the opening of the drilled holes during injection; completing the injection and removing the injector head from the drilled holes; and installing a metal rock reinforcement within the drilled holes containing the grouting resin. The method further includes: sequentially injecting two different resin mixtures with different setting times into the drilled holes; providing two resin feed lines for the fluid inlet arrangement; feeding a first resin base component A1 and a second resin base component A2 with different setting times in a selected order through a first feed line. Resin catalyst B is simultaneously fed through a second feed line along with the selected base component A1 or A2.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the solution aims to provide two or more resin portions with different setting times within the drilled hole to implement the so-called spring effect of the rock anchor. In this embodiment, the bottom of the drilled hole has a shorter setting time, while the rest of the drilled hole has a longer setting time. Because the bottom sets faster, the rock anchor can be tightened before the remaining resin material sets, thus allowing for pre-tensioning of the rock anchor.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the mixing device includes a helical surface, a spiral body, a labyrinth, or a surface of equivalent form for mixing two separately fed resin component fluid flows and forming a homogeneous resin mass. The mixing device or element connected to the injector head is a static mixer having several immovable mixing elements or surfaces for mixing the fed components together before they are ejected from the injector head. The mixing device can be designed to allow for easy and quick replacement and cleaning of the aforementioned mixing elements when needed. The mixing device may include cylindrical mixing elements for ease of maintenance. Furthermore, the size of the mixing device allows it to be inserted into small-diameter drilled holes.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the disclosed injection system includes one or more control units for selectively controlling the feeding and amount of desired resin components (feeding slow resin, fast resin, catalyst, inhibitor), flushing the feed line (solvent feeding), and controlling the movement of the injection head within the drilled hole (feeding and retraction). The control units may be configured with one or more injection sequences, and the system may be configured with an automated operating mode. The control units can control the resin feeding (flow rate) and the retraction movement of the injection head in response to the diameter of the drilled hole. Therefore, the controllable parameters are at least the flow rate and the movement speed.

[0033] The embodiments and features disclosed above can be combined to form a suitable solution having the features required among those described above. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Some embodiments are described in more detail in the accompanying drawings, in which...

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic side view of a rock drilling rig designed for underground drilling and rock reinforcement.

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic side view of an arrangement system for feeding grouting material into the drilled hole.

[0037] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating some features related to reinforcement measures for rock surfaces.

[0038] Figure 4This is a schematic side view of a drilled hole filled with two types of resin materials.

[0039] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A schematic side view of the drilled hole after it has been fitted with a rock anchor.

[0040] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of equipment used to inject grouting material into drilled holes, and

[0041] Figure 7 It is a diagram illustrating some principles and characteristics related to rock reinforcement.

[0042] For clarity, the accompanying drawings illustrate some embodiments of the disclosed solution in a simplified manner. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same elements. Detailed Implementation

[0043] Figure 1 A rock drilling rig is shown, which is an example of a mining machine 1. The rock drilling rig includes a movable carrier 2 and at least one cantilever 3 connected to the carrier 2. At the distal end portion of the cantilever 3 is a drilling unit or anchor bolt insertion unit 4. The unit 4 may include a feed beam 5 and a rock drill 6 supported thereon. A drilling tool can be connected to the rock drill 6. The rock drill 6 includes at least one rotating device for rotating the drilling tool about its longitudinal axis. The rock drill 6 and the cantilever 3 can rotate such that a borehole 7 can be drilled into the pit wall 8 and pit top 9 of tunnels and other underground spaces for the installation of reinforced rock anchor bolts. The unit 4 may also be provided with an anchor bolt driving unit 10 and a device 11 for feeding grouting resin mixture. The drilling machine 6, the anchor bolt driving unit 10, and the resin feeding device 11 can be connected to the drilling unit 4 such that they can be rotated on the central axis of the drilled hole 7, or alternatively, all or some of them can be mounted to a dedicated cantilever or other support structure. At the distal end of the cantilever 3 is at least one feeding device 12 for moving the devices 6, 10, and 11 relative to the distal end of the cantilever 3. Furthermore, the carrier 2 may have a first container 13 for providing the first resin base component A1, a second container 14 for providing the second resin base component A2, a third container 15 for the solvent medium S, and a fourth container 16 for the resin catalyst B.

[0044] Figure 2A drilled hole 7 with an opening 7a and a bottom 7b is disclosed. An injector head 17, equipped with a mixing device 18, is inserted into the drilled hole 7. The injector head 17 is connected to a fluid inlet arrangement 19, which includes a first feed line 20, a second feed line 21, and an optional third feed line 22. The first feed line 20 is a common feed line for components A1 and A2, while the second feed line is dedicated to component B. The third feed line 22 is used to feed solvent reagent S, but the system may not have a third line 22 if lines 20 or 21 are used for solvent feeding. Feed lines 20-22 can be hoses or tubes. Figure 2 In the process, resin mixture 23 is fed to the bottom 7b of the drilled hole 7 through injector head 17 and mixing device 18. During injection, the system simultaneously retracts R.

[0045] Figure 3 The steps related to reinforcing rock surfaces have been disclosed. These issues have already been discussed in this paper.

[0046] Figure 4 It is disclosed that the drilled hole 7 is filled with two types of resin mixtures 23a and 23b. At the bottom 7b of the drilled hole 7, a fast-curing resin mixture 23b is injected, and the rest of the drilled hole up to or near the opening 7a of the hole 7 is filled with a slow-curing resin mixture 23a.

[0047] exist Figure 5 In this process, rock anchor 24 is pushed into the drilled hole 7 such that its distal end extends into the aforementioned fast-setting resin mixture 23b, which rapidly hardens and locks the end of rock anchor 24. Subsequently, rock anchor 24 can be tightened before the slow-setting resin mixture 23a hardens. This achieves a spring effect. The spring effect is illustrated by the dashed line 25 between the bottom of hole 7b and opening 7a.

[0048] Figure 6 A grouting resin feeding system and apparatus 11 are disclosed. Many of these features have been shown and discussed in previous figures. Containers 13-16 are provided for resin components A1, A2, and B, as well as for solvent S. Furthermore, an injector head 17, inserted into the drilled hole 7 and equipped with feed lines 20-22, has been discussed. However, Figure 6Some additional issues related to the pumping of resin components A1, A2, B and solvent S are illustrated. The apparatus 11 includes a resin pumping arrangement 26 with two pumps 27 and 28. A common first feed pump 27 is configured to alternately feed either a first resin base component A1 or a second resin base component A2 to a first feed line 20. A second feed pump 28 is dedicated to feeding catalyst B to a second feed line 21. Furthermore, the first feed pump 27 and the second feed pump 28 are positive displacement pumps and are configured to operate synchronously, thereby ensuring a constant volume of resin base component A1 or A2 fed relative to the fed catalyst B. The first feed pump 27 and the second feed pump 28 can be powered by a common actuator 29, such as a motor M. Pumps 27 and 28 can be connected to a common output shaft 30 of the motor M. The device 11 includes at least one feed valve 31 for selectively connecting the inlet passage 32 of a common first feed pump 27 to a first container 13 supplying a first resin base component A1, or to a second container 14 supplying a second resin base component A2. A second feed pump 28 is always connected to a fourth container 16. A check valve 33 may be present in the resin feed line.

[0049] The apparatus also includes a solvent feeding system 34 configured to feed solvent medium S to flush injector head 17 and mixing unit 18. Solvent feeding system 34 includes a third pump 35 for pumping solvent medium S from third container 15. Pump 35 can be actuated by actuator 36, which can be, for example, a motor M. A dedicated third feed line 22 is provided for feeding solvent medium S from third pump 35 to mixing unit 18.

[0050] The control unit (CU) can control the operation of the disclosed system and related pumps, actuators, and valves.

[0051] Figure 6 It is further disclosed that containers 13-16 can be connected to a pressurized or desiccant / ventilated dryer system 37 to facilitate the feeding of their contents.

[0052] It should be noted that Figure 6 The device 11 disclosed herein can also be implemented with slightly different components and arrangements. For example, one pump could be dedicated to A1, another to A2, and a third to B.

[0053] Figure 7 This is a simplified diagram illustrating some of the issues disclosed in this document.

[0054] The accompanying drawings and related descriptions are intended only to illustrate the concept of the invention. The invention may vary within the scope of the claims in its details.

Claims

1. An apparatus (11) for injecting grouting resin into a drilled hole (7) for rock reinforcement; in, The device (11) is used for feeding bulk fluid materials and includes: An injector head (17) to be inserted into the drilled hole (7), the injector head (17) being a grouting resin feeding tool, thereby removing the tool from the drilled hole (7) when the resin feeding is complete and before a separate rock anchor (24) is fed into the drilled hole (7) filled with the grouting resin. At least one fluid inlet arrangement (19) is connected to the injector head (17) for feeding resin base component A and resin catalyst B into the injector head (17); Its features The injector head (17) is provided with a mixing device (18) for mixing the fed resin base component A and the resin catalyst B together, wherein the mixing device (18) is configured to be fed together with the injector head (17) in the drilled hole (7). The fluid inlet arrangement (19) includes two separate feed lines, wherein the first feed line (20) can be selected to alternately feed a first resin base component A1 and a second resin base component A2, the first resin base component A1 and the second resin base component A2 being associated with two different solidification times, and wherein the second feed line (21) is used for resin catalyst B. The device (11) includes a resin pumping arrangement (26) with two pumps, wherein a common first feed pump (27) is configured to alternately feed the first resin base component A1 or the second resin base component A2 to the first feed line (20), while the second feed pump (28) is dedicated to feeding the resin catalyst B to the second feed line (21); and The device (11) includes at least one feed valve (31) for selectively connecting the inlet passage (32) of the common first feed pump (27) to a first container (13) for supplying the first resin base component A1, or to a second container (14) for supplying the second resin base component A2.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that... The first feed pump (27) and the second feed pump (28) are volumetric pumps and are configured to operate synchronously, so that the volume of the first resin base component A1 or the second resin base component A2 fed relative to the fed resin catalyst B is constant.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that... The first feed pump (27) and the second feed pump (28) are powered by a common actuator (29).

4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that... The device (11) includes a solvent feeding system (34) configured to feed a solvent medium for flushing the injector head (17) and the mixing device (18); Furthermore, the solvent feeding system (34) includes a third pump (35) for pumping the solvent medium from a third container (15).

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that... The solvent feeding system (34) includes a dedicated third feed line (22) for feeding the solvent medium from the third pump (35) to the mixing device (18).

6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that... The device (11) is controlled by a control unit, and the sequence of addition of the first resin base component A1 and the second resin base component A2 to the resin catalyst B and the solvent medium is managed according to time or flow measurement or pump motion measurement.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that... The device (11) can be connected to the mining machine (1); and The feeding device (12) of the mining machine (1) is configured to insert and move the injector head (17) and the mixing device (18) within the drilled hole (7).

8. A mining machine (1), comprising: Movable carrier (2); At least one cantilever (3) is movably connected to the movable carrier (2); Device (11), the device (11) being used to inject grouting resin into the drilled hole (7); At least one rock bolt unit (10) is located at the distal end of the cantilever (3) and is used to feed a rock bolt (24) into the drilled hole (7) after the grouting resin is injected. Furthermore, the cantilever (3) is provided with a feeding device (12) for moving the injector head (17) of the device (11) within the drilled hole (7); Its features The device (11) for injecting the grouting resin is the device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A method for injecting grouting resin into several drilled holes (7), wherein, The method includes: Insert the injector head (17) into the drilled hole (7); A mixing device (18) is provided to the injector head (17), whereby the mixing device (18) is inserted together with the injector head (17) into the drilled hole (7); The resin base component A and the resin catalyst B are fed to the injector head (17) through the fluid inlet arrangement (19); The resin base component A fed in by the mixing device (18) is mixed with the resin catalyst B in the drilled hole (7) to form a grouting resin. The grouting resin is injected at the bottom portion (7b) of the drilled hole (7), and the injector head (17) and the mixing device (18) are moved (R) toward the opening (7a) of the drilled hole (7) during the injection. Complete the injection and remove the injector head (17) from the drilled hole (7); and Insert the metal rock reinforcement into the drilled hole (7) which is filled with the grouting resin; Its features Two different grouting resins with different setting times are sequentially injected into the drilled hole (7); Two feed lines (20, 21) are provided for the fluid inlet arrangement (19), wherein the first feed line (20) can be selected by a feed valve (31) to alternately feed a first resin base component A1 and a second resin base component A2, the first resin base component A1 and the second resin base component A2 being associated with two different solidification times, and wherein the second feed line (21) is used for resin catalyst B; The first resin base component A1 and the second resin base component A2, associated with different solidification times, are selectively fed sequentially through the first feed line (20); and The resin catalyst B is fed simultaneously with the selected first resin base component A1 or second resin base component A2 through the second feed line (21).

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