Polymer Mesh Reinforcing Bands for Steel Plate Edge Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing polymer meshes used in hard rock mining are prone to cutting and tearing due to the edges of steel plates, compromising their effectiveness in maintaining skin control and posing safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

A polymer mesh with spaced, solid cut-resistant bands that extend across the length or width of the mesh, designed to accommodate steel plates and prevent cutting, is used to reinforce the mesh, ensuring it remains intact and effective.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If polymer mesh is used for skin control in hard rock mining, then safety and ease of installation are improved, but the mesh is prone to cutting and tearing by steel plate edges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemesh integrityVSAvoidcutting and tearing by steel plates

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines polymer mesh with steel reinforcing bands to create a composite structure. The polymer mesh provides flexibility and ease of installation, while the steel bands provide cut resistance and structural strength, directly addressing the contradiction between safety and vulnerability to steel plate edges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The steel reinforcing bands act as an intermediary protective layer between the polymer mesh and the steel plates. This intermediary element absorbs the harmful cutting action, preventing direct contact between the steel plates and the polymer mesh, thus maintaining mesh integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If welded wire mesh or chain link fencing is used for skin control, then strength is improved, but installation hazards and worker injuries increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemesh strengthVSAvoidinstallation hazards and worker injuries

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the mesh structure. The polymer strands provide flexibility and safety for workers, while the steel reinforcing bands provide localized strength where needed, particularly at the edges where steel plates make contact. This resolves the contradiction by distributing strength requirements locally rather than throughout the entire mesh.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12392243B2Polymer mesh with reinforcing bands for skin control in hard rock mining

Publication Date: 2025.08.19 TENSAR CORPORATION LLC

AI summary

A polymer mesh for skin control in hard rock mining conditions is provided. The polymer mesh is manufactured using a knitted or woven design that further includes one or more pairs of solid cut-resistant bands. The bands are positioned in pairs, each band in a pair having a width of at least about 2.5″ and being generally parallel with the other band. The bands are spaced from one another at a distance of between about 1.5″ and about 4″ to create a reinforced aperture between the bands. One or more reinforcement bolts are installed within the aperture with the bands on opposing sides of each bolt buffering the edges of the steel plates associated with the bolts to prevent the plates from tearing the polymer mesh.