Self-Draining Rock Anchor With Internal Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rock anchors in underground mining face corrosion and structural weakening due to retained inflation agents and corrosive substances, leading to premature failure and reduced structural integrity.

Innovation Solution

The development of a self-draining rock anchor with multiple passages that allow for the complete drainage of fluids from its interior volume, including inflation agents and intruded substances, through first and second passages, facilitating expansion and maintaining structural stability by engaging with the rock cavity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional rock anchors retain inflation agents in their interior volume, then the anchor can maintain its expanded configuration for structural support, but the retained fluids cause corrosion and structural weakening leading to premature failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchor durabilityVSAvoidcorrosion from retained fluids

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The interior volume of the anchor is segmented into multiple compartments by internal partitions, with each compartment having its own drainage passage. This segmentation allows fluids to be drained from multiple locations simultaneously, ensuring complete drainage while maintaining the structural integrity of the anchor body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful inflation agents and corrosive substances are extracted from the interior volume of the anchor through dedicated drainage passages. These passages provide direct pathways for fluid removal, eliminating the corrosive environment that would otherwise degrade the anchor structure over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the anchor includes multiple passages for complete fluid drainage, then corrosion is reduced and durability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchor durabilityVSAvoidnumber of passages and components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple drainage functions are merged into a single integrated drainage assembly that includes the drainage passages, internal partitions, and sealing elements. This consolidation achieves complete fluid drainage through multiple pathways while minimizing the number of separate components that would increase assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drainage passages serve multiple functions: they enable complete fluid drainage from all interior compartments, provide structural reinforcement at critical locations, and maintain anchor geometry during the drainage process. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If the anchor body is expanded to engage with the rock cavity for structural support, then the anchor provides reliable structural support, but the expanded configuration retains more fluid volume that cannot be fully drained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural support capabilityVSAvoidretained fluid volume

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Drainage passages are pre-positioned at the lowest points of each interior compartment before expansion occurs. The internal partitions are pre-configured to create drainage pathways that remain effective after expansion, ensuring that fluid drainage can occur completely even though the anchor expands to its full load-bearing configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The drainage passages are arranged in multiple dimensions and orientations within the anchor body, extending radially and axially to access all interior compartments. This multi-dimensional arrangement ensures that fluid can be drained from all areas of the expanded anchor, regardless of the expansion direction or magnitude.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The self-draining rock anchor effectively reduces corrosion and the risk of structural weakening by ensuring the removal of fluids, thereby enhancing the anchor's durability and maintaining structural integrity over time.

Implementation Method 1

The interior volume of the elongate anchor body is configured to receive an inflation agent via at the least one of the first or second passages, thereby causing the elongate anchor body to expand from a first configuration in which the elongate anchor body has a first diameter to a second expanded configuration in which the elongate anchor body has a second expanded diameter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInflation:

Implementation Method 2

the first and second passages facilitate substantially complete draining of the interior volume

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid drainage:

Data Source

PatentUS10267148B1Self-draining rock anchor

Publication Date: 2019.04.23 NEVADA IND LLC

AI summary

Rock anchors, such as those described herein, allow for substantially complete draining of fluids from interior volumes of the rock anchors. In various situations, corrosive fluids may be introduced to the rock anchor, including inflating the rock anchors and during normal use, such as by groundwater intrusion. The rock anchors described herein include multiple passages for more effectively draining fluid from the rock anchors during inflation processes and during general use.