Grout Delivery System for Rock Bolt Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The grouting of rock anchors is challenging due to the difficulty in reaching high installations and the need for a sealed connection to prevent grout leakage, with existing solutions failing to effectively manage grout flow and sealing within rock holes.

Innovation Solution

A rock bolt assembly featuring a tubular sleeve and load-bearing barrel with grout conduits, a tensioning mechanism, and a grout delivery coupling member that engages in a twist-lock or bayonet-style configuration to ensure sealed grout delivery and distribution within the rock hole, preventing leakage and facilitating efficient grouting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a grout conduit connected to a grout source is attached to a grout pipe that projects from the rock hole, then grout delivery is enabled, but the installation becomes difficult to reach and grout leakage occurs at the connection interface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrout deliveryVSAvoidconnection sealing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the grout pipe and grout conduit into a single integrated grout delivery system. The grout conduit is directly connected to the grout pipe within the rock bolt assembly, eliminating separate connection interfaces that could leak. This merging of components ensures reliable grout delivery while maintaining connection sealing integrity throughout the high-altitude installation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the rock hole mouth is sealed from grout egress after filling, then grout containment is improved, but the system complexity increases with multiple sealing points

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrout containmentVSAvoidsealing system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sealing function from multiple separate components and concentrates it into a single integrated sealing system. The grout pipe and surrounding structures are designed to provide continuous sealing along the grout delivery path, eliminating the need for multiple discrete sealing points at the rock hole mouth. This reduces system complexity while maintaining reliable grout containment throughout the rock hole filling process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3314091B1Grout delivery system
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 NCM INNOVATIONS (PTY) LTD
  • EP3314091B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3314091B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3314091B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A rock bolt assembly which includes a rock bolt with an elongale body which extends between a distal end and a proximal end, a tubular sleeve which sleeve longitudinally extends between a first end and a second end, on the cock bolt such that proximal and distal ends of the bolt project from the first and second ends respective of the sleeve, a load bearing barrel which is centrally bored to engage the rock bolt between the first end of the sleeve and the proximal end of the belt, which barrel is adapted at a forward end is engage with the second end of the sleeve in sealing contact, and which barrel has at least one grout conduit between an exterior surface of the barrel and the bore, which at least one conduit defines a part of a grout passage which communicates the exterior surface of the barrel with an interior of the sleeve, when the barrel is engaged with the sleeve, and a seal which seals She grout passage to grout outflow but accommodates inflow of grout from a source,