Active Temporary Roof Support for Mining Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temporary roof support systems for underground mining machines are separate units that require retraction during operation, leading to unsafe conditions and increased risk of damage, and they often necessitate wider tunnels, making them difficult to use in brittle rock conditions.
Innovation Solution
An active temporary roof support apparatus with drive assemblies that sequentially move support members to maintain continuous contact with the roof, ensuring at least one support member is always engaged, allowing the system to move in sync with the mining machine and providing continuous support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate temporary roof support units are used, then roof support function is provided, but the units need to be retracted during mining machine operation leading to periods of unsupported roof
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the temporary roof support function with the mining machine itself by integrating support members that are part of the machine's structure. The support members are sequentially moved by drive assemblies integrated into the mining machine, eliminating the need for separate stand-alone support units and ensuring continuous roof support during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are designed to be dynamically movable along the roof surface through drive assemblies. This dynamic capability allows the support members to sequentially engage and disengage from the roof while maintaining continuous support, resolving the contradiction between providing support function and avoiding retraction gaps.
2Reliability
If foot plates supporting posts are used for temporary roof support, then roof support is provided, but additional side space is required making the tunnel broader
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using foot plates that require side space, the invention transitions to support members that engage the roof from above in the vertical dimension. The support members contact the roof surface directly without requiring lateral clearance, thus maintaining roof support reliability while reducing the required tunnel width.
3Reliability
If stand-alone temporary roof support devices are used, then roof support is provided, but they are difficult to use in bad conditions with brittle rock and roof falls
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are designed to automatically adapt to varying roof conditions through their sequential movement mechanism. The drive assemblies continuously adjust the position of support members to maintain contact with the roof, providing self-regulating support that is particularly effective in brittle rock conditions where manual adjustment would be difficult.
Data Source
AI summary
An active temporary roof support apparatus for attachment to a mining machine includes at least one set of support members, each set including at least a first support member and a second support member for supporting the roof of an underground tunnel. A drive assembly is arranged to drive the set of support members, such that the first and second support members are sequentially moved for engaging the roof so that the roof is supported by at least one support member during an excavation operation of the mining machine. A mining machine and a corresponding method is also provided.