Sinkable PVC Mining Bolt Sidewall Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rib support systems in coal mines lack minimum strength requirements, leading to safety hazards and inefficiencies, particularly in longwall mining where steel systems can cause issues with shear machines and result in waste due to floating bearing plates and cuttable components.
Innovation Solution
A cuttable and sinkable mining bolt system comprising a high-specific-gravity hollow core bearing plate made of modified PVC and fiberglass bolts with a roughened surface, allowing for enhanced strength and safety by anchoring the sidewall or rib, with optional rebar insertion through hollow cores for increased strength and coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel rib support systems are used, then strength and structural integrity are improved, but safety hazards increase due to entanglement with shear machine bits and potential for sparking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from steel to fiberglass, which has different mechanical properties including lower strength but also non-conductive and non-entangling characteristics. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by sacrificing some strength to eliminate safety hazards associated with steel in longwall mining environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable fiberglass rib support bolts that are installed temporarily during mining operations and then discarded. These single-use components eliminate the recurring safety hazards of steel systems while providing sufficient support strength for the duration of the mining cycle, after which they are removed and replaced.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cuttable rib support components are used, then safety is improved by preventing entanglement, but productivity decreases due to floating components causing waste in the product stream
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the density parameter of the rib support components by using fiberglass material with specific gravity greater than 1.8. This parameter change ensures that cuttable components sink in the slurry stream rather than float, resolving the contradiction by maintaining both safety through cuttability and productivity through proper component separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of cuttable components floating and causing waste into a benefit by engineering the fiberglass material to sink. The cutting action that previously caused safety hazards and productivity loss now results in proper component separation and refuse stream contamination prevention, turning the cuttability feature into an advantage.
3Loss of substance
If high specific gravity materials are used for bearing plates, then components sink properly in refuse streams, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fiberglass-reinforced polymer composite material for the bearing plate, which provides the required high specific gravity (greater than 1.8) for proper sinking behavior. This composite material achieves the density requirement through material composition rather than complex manufacturing processes, resolving the contradiction between sinking performance and manufacturing ease.
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 system provides a safer, cost-effective rib support that prevents entanglement and waste by ensuring the components sink in refuse streams, maintaining structural integrity while being compatible with longwall mining operations.
Implementation Method 1
By engineering high specific gravity (sinkable) components, the components sink in the preparation facility heavy media vessel, thereby entering the refuse stream.
Implementation Method 2
a cuttable, sinkable mining bolt system comprising a high-specific-gravity hollow core bearing plate made of modified PVC and fiberglass bolts with a roughened surface, allowing for enhanced strength and safety by anchoring the sidewall or rib
Data Source
AI summary
A cuttable, sinkable mining bolt system for use in supporting the sidewall or rib in a coal mine. A bearing plate has a plurality of hollow cores defined transaxially therein and a central hole defined axially therethrough, the bearing plate made of modified recycled, rigid PVC compound. A fiberglass bolt is adapted to be inserted through the central hole of bearing plate. Bolt is one-piece consisting of glass fiber reinforced plastic. Head component includes a square head and integral, beveled washer for self-centering in the bearing plate as rod component is driven into rib. Bearing plates are adapted to sink into a refuse stream. Hollow cores of bearing plate reduce the material and thus the weight and expense of the bearing plate while still allowing the bearing plates to sink. Optionally, rod components can be inserted transaxially through the hollow cores to increase the strength and coverage of the system.