Free-wheeling-resistant polymeric mesh rolls for mine roof support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for installing polymeric mesh rolls in mining tunnels require specialized deployment devices attached to mining machines and are cumbersome, especially when handling rolls in orientations other than horizontal, posing safety and efficiency challenges.
Innovation Solution
Polymeric mesh rolls are secured with an adhering material that maintains the roll configuration during transport and storage but can be incrementally unwound using manual or mechanical force, eliminating the need for specialized dispensing structures and allowing installation on various mining machines, including those without pre-mounted support systems, and accommodating horizontal, vertical, or diagonal orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If specialized deployment devices are attached to mining machines to control mesh rolls, then the mesh installation process is automated, but the device complexity increases and the mining machine structure becomes more cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the mesh roll deployment function from the mining machine structure. Instead of integrating a specialized deployment device into the mining machine, the mesh roll is designed to be self-contained with its own control mechanisms, allowing it to be deployed independently without requiring modifications to the mining machine's structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh roll is designed with self-service capabilities, including self-contained control mechanisms and self-regulating deployment features. The roll automatically controls its own unrolling and deployment process without requiring external control systems or specialized attachment devices, thereby eliminating the need for complex deployment apparatus.
2Ease of operation
If manual handling of wire meshes or mats is used for roof support installation, then the installation process is simple, but worker safety deteriorates due to puncture injuries and the task becomes time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces heavy, dangerous wire meshes with lighter, safer polymeric mesh rolls. The polymeric material is inherently safer as it does not pose puncture injuries to workers, and the roll format is easier to handle and install compared to traditional wire meshes, thereby eliminating safety hazards while maintaining installation simplicity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If polymeric mesh rolls are used instead of wire meshes, then worker safety improves, but the rolls require specialized deployment devices to control unrolling, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the deployment control function from external specialized devices and integrates it into the mesh roll itself. The roll includes built-in control mechanisms that regulate its unrolling during installation, eliminating the need for separate specialized deployment devices and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric mesh roll is designed with self-service deployment capabilities, automatically controlling its own unrolling process through integrated control mechanisms. This self-regulating feature eliminates the need for external specialized deployment devices, allowing the roll to be deployed using the mining machine's existing structure without additional complexity.
4Ease of operation
If mesh rolls are installed in horizontal orientation only, then the installation process is straightforward, but the adaptability to different mining configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic adaptability to the mesh roll installation system. The roll can be deployed in multiple orientations (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) depending on the mining configuration requirements. The control mechanisms allow the roll to dynamically adjust its deployment direction and orientation, providing versatility while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution simplifies the equipment needed for mesh installation, enhances safety by reducing manual handling risks, and allows for efficient, controlled unwinding of mesh rolls across different mining machine types and orientations, improving the overall efficiency and safety of the mining process.
Implementation Method 1
the rolls are secured in the rolled configuration by an adhering material that interconnects the overlapped layers within the roll
Implementation Method 2
the force can be in the form of tension applied to the unwinding portion of the roll, such as by pulling
Data Source
AI summary
A roll of grid material for mine roof support, and a mining machine in combination with such a roll, in which the roll has bands of adhering material injected or otherwise forced into the roll in spaced locations along the roll's width. The adhering material interconnects the overlapped layers within the roll and is sufficiently strong to hold the grid material in the rolled configuration for transport and storage, and yet is readily pulled apart in response to sufficient manual or mechanical pressure applied against the roll, or tension applied to the unwound portion thereof, so as to enable the grid material to be incrementally unwound and installed in the mine. The rolls can be installed using a range of mining machines without need for any specialized dispensing or other apparatus mounted on the machine and without the need for any mechanical device to control unwinding.