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.

A roof mesh installation apparatus for a mining machine includes a mesh roll carried at a dispenser at a forward position of the machine capable of unrolling mesh to be laid and bolted at a tunnel roof. A tensioning device positioned at the dispenser is capable of actuation so as to apply a pre-tension to a forward and unbolted section of mesh with the tension being applied against an already laid and rearward bolted mesh section. Accordingly, an automated roof mesh installation apparatus and method is provided.

A wire netting, in particular a safety net, has a plurality of helices which are braided with one another and at least one of which is manufactured of at least one single wire, a wire bundle, a wire strand, a wire rope and/or another longitudinal element with at least one wire, made of a high-tensile steel, and which includes a plurality of legs, which has a plurality of bending regions respectively connecting two legs, and which has a transverse extension along a frontal direction, perpendicularly to a main extension plane of the helix, wherein, in a press test between parallel plates, including a pressing by moving the plates along a press path in parallel to the frontal direction, a test piece of the helix, taken from the helix and including at least five legs and at least four bending regions, shows a spring characteristic curve which has in a press path force diagram, starting from a start of the press path, a first partial characteristic curve extending at least approximately linearly and having a first gradient.

A wire netting, in particular a safety net, has a plurality of helices which are braided with one another and at least one of which is manufactured of at least one single wire, a wire bundle, a wire strand, a wire rope and/or another longitudinal element with at least one wire, made of a high-tensile steel, and which includes a plurality of legs, which has a plurality of bending regions respectively connecting two legs, and which has a transverse extension along a frontal direction, perpendicularly to a main extension plane of the helix, wherein, in a press test between parallel plates, including a pressing by moving the plates along a press path in parallel to the frontal direction, a test piece of the helix, taken from the helix and including at least five legs and at least four bending regions, shows a spring characteristic curve which has in a press path force diagram, starting from a start of the press path, a first partial characteristic curve extending at least approximately linearly and having a first gradient.

An asymmetric support structure of entry driven along gob-side (EDG) under unstable roof in deep mines and construction method thereof. The asymmetric support structure includes roadway roof support structure, a gob-side support structure and a solid coal seam-side support structure. The roadway roof support structure includes a reinforcing wire mesh, a W-section steel strap, high-strength pretensioned bolts, and cable bolts and matching steel straps. The gob-side support structure includes a reinforcing wire mesh, a W-section steel strap, high-strength pretensioned yielding bolts and grouting cable bolts and its matching steel straps. The solid coal seam-side support structure includes a reinforcing wire mesh, a reinforced beam and steel strap pallet subassembly, high-strength pretensioned yielding bolts and cable bolts and its matching steel straps. The roadway roof support structure, gob-side support structure and solid coal seam-side support structure beneficially together form the asymmetric support structure.

Disclosed is a rock bolt assembly for installing a mesh panel against a rock face which includes a rock bolt which has an elongate body extending between a first end and a second end, a cylindrical bush engaged with the bolt body, towards the second end, the cylindrical bush having a plurality of annular or arcuate grooves formed in an exterior of the surface of the bush and a washer having a plate-like body with an aperture formed there through.

The invention provides a machine for tunnelling in rock. The machine includes a pilot drill assembly for drilling a series of interfering parallel holes or a pilot hole into and generally perpendicular into a rock face and a blast hole drill assembly for drilling a series of blasting holes around the pilot hole or previous blast hole. The machine further includes a charge handling and loading assembly for loading the first series of holes with propellant charges and an ignitor system for igniting the charges. Included further is a rock clearing means for removing the blast rock from the blast face and a rock pick for clearing and picking the floor, roof or walls to provide access for the machine into the tunnel and a mobility assembly for moving the machine forward. Also included is a control console provided with control means for controlling the pilot drill assembly, blast hole drill assembly, charge handling and loading assembly, ignitor system, rock clearing means, the rock pick, a measure system for gas detection and management, a rock stress measure system and recording system.

An asymmetric support structure of entry driven along, gob-side (EDG) under unstable roof in deep mines and construction method thereof. The asymmetric support structure includes roadway roof support structure, a gob-side support structure and a solid coal seam-side support structure. The roadway roof support structure includes a reinforcing wire mesh, a W-section steel strap, high-strength pretensioned bolts, and cable bolts and matching steel straps. The gob-side support structure includes a reinforcing wire mesh, a W-section steel strap, high-strength pretensioned yielding bolts and grouting cable bolts and its matching steel straps. The solid coal seam-side support structure includes a reinforcing wire mesh, a reinforced beam and steel strap pallet subassembly, high-strength pretensioned yielding bolts and cable bolts and its matching steel straps. The roadway roof support structure, gob-side support structure and solid coal seam-side support structure beneficially together form the asymmetric support structure.

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.

A polymer sheet adapted to attach to a material body such as a ceiling of a geological cavity and provide protective cover. The sheet comprises: a webbing portion defining a plurality of primary openings; and two margin portions extending along opposite edges of the sheet on either side of the webbing portion along a length of the sheet, each margin portion defining a plurality of secondary openings, wherein the margin portions are angled relative to the webbing portion.