A shaft enlargement arrangement for a boring system is provided, the shaft enlargement arrangement comprising a hollow column proximate a lower end of the boring system; a first cutter head that is rotatably fitted to the hollow column, with first drive means being provided to rotate the first cutter head relative to the hollow column so as to bore downwardly a hole having a diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the first cutter head; and a boring head arrangement fitted to an operatively lower end of the column, the boring head arrangement terminating in a second cutter head to bore a leading hole as the boring system proceeds to bore downwardly. In an embodiment, the first cutter head comprises a support body carrying a winged arrangement, the support body being rotatably fitted to the column, the winged arrangement comprising a plurality of wings extending from the support body, each wing being fitted with, or comprising, a plurality of first cutter elements.

A shaft enlargement arrangement for a boring system is provided, the shaft enlargement arrangement comprising a hollow column proximate a lower end of the boring system; a first cutter head that is rotatably fitted to the hollow column, with first drive means being provided to rotate the first cutter head relative to the hollow column so as to bore downwardly a hole having a diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the first cutter head; and a boring head arrangement fitted to an operatively lower end of the column, the boring head arrangement terminating in a second cutter head to bore a leading hole as the boring system proceeds to bore downwardly. In an embodiment, the first cutter head comprises a support body carrying a winged arrangement, the support body being rotatably fitted to the column, the winged arrangement comprising a plurality of wings extending from the support body, each wing being fitted with, or comprising, a plurality of first cutter elements.

A shaft sinking apparatus for sinking a concrete shaft in a pit includes at least one first steel beam disposed to span the concrete shaft, two second steel beams disposed on the first steel beam, at least two tightening units configured to force the second steel beams into abutment against the first steel beam, and at least two jack members provided among the first and second steel beams. When each of the jack members is actuated, the first steel beam is driven by the jack members to move downwardly away from the second steel beams to thereby force a lower surrounding edge of the concrete shaft to sink into a bottom surface of the pit.

A shaft sinking apparatus for sinking a concrete shaft in a pit includes at least one first steel beam disposed to span the concrete shaft, two second steel beams disposed on the first steel beam, at least two tightening units configured to force the second steel beams into abutment against the first steel beam, and at least two jack members provided among the first and second steel beams. When each of the jack members is actuated, the first steel beam is driven by the jack members to move downwardly away from the second steel beams to thereby force a lower surrounding edge of the concrete shaft to sink into a bottom surface of the pit.

The invention relates to a kibble tipping arrangement, which is used in a mining operation where a kibble (12) is vertically displaceable along a kibble displacement path to transport excavated material is a vertical mine shaft to the surface. The kibble tipping arrangement includes at least one catch (24) which is transversely displaceable between a non-interference position in which the catch does not interfere with the kibble (12) in the kibble displacement path and an interference position in which the catch (24) is capable of being engaged by an engagement formation (28) on the kibble (12) to allow the kibble (12) to top and the excavated material to be dumped from the kibble (12). The kibble tipping arrangement further includes kibble alignment means, which consist of a locator and a positioner, for aligning the kibble's engagement formation (28) with the catch (24).

The invention relates to a kibble tipping arrangement, which is used in a mining operation where a kibble (12) is vertically displaceable along a kibble displacement path to transport excavated material is a vertical mine shaft to the surface. The kibble tipping arrangement includes at least one catch (24) which is transversely displaceable between a non-interference position in which the catch does not interfere with the kibble (12) in the kibble displacement path and an interference position in which the catch (24) is capable of being engaged by an engagement formation (28) on the kibble (12) to allow the kibble (12) to top and the excavated material to be dumped from the kibble (12). The kibble tipping arrangement further includes kibble alignment means, which consist of a locator and a positioner, for aligning the kibble's engagement formation (28) with the catch (24).

A shaft enlargement arrangement for a boring system is provided, the shaft enlargement arrangement comprising a hollow column proximate a lower end of the boring system; a first cutter head that is rotatably fitted to the hollow column, with first drive means being provided to rotate the first cutter head relative to the hollow column so as to bore downwardly a hole having a diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the first cutter head; and a boring head arrangement fitted to an operatively lower end of the column, the boring head arrangement terminating in a second cutter head to bore a leading hole as the boring system proceeds to bore downwardly. In an embodiment, the first cutter head comprises a support body carrying a winged arrangement, the support body being rotatably fitted to the column, the winged arrangement comprising a plurality of wings extending from the support body, each wing being fitted with, or comprising, a plurality of first cutter elements.

A shaft enlargement arrangement for a boring system is provided, the shaft enlargement arrangement comprising a hollow column proximate a lower end of the boring system; a first cutter head that is rotatably fitted to the hollow column, with first drive means being provided to rotate the first cutter head relative to the hollow column so as to bore downwardly a hole having a diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the first cutter head; and a boring head arrangement fitted to an operatively lower end of the column, the boring head arrangement terminating in a second cutter head to bore a leading hole as the boring system proceeds to bore downwardly. In an embodiment, the first cutter head comprises a support body carrying a winged arrangement, the support body being rotatably fitted to the column, the winged arrangement comprising a plurality of wings extending from the support body, each wing being fitted with, or comprising, a plurality of first cutter elements.

An underground shaft development method comprises: (a) drilling blastholes extending into a rock formation, each drilled from a starting location defining a first blasthole end to an ending location defining a second blasthole end; (b) loading the blastholes with alternating layers of explosives charges and stemming material to provide multiple blasting decks across and within the formation, including at least a first blasting deck corresponding to the first blasthole ends and a final blasting deck corresponding to the second blasthole ends, wherein each blasting deck carries wireless blasting devices; and (c) detonating the explosive charges in a series of blasting stages based on blasting deck by initiating the wireless blasting devices in each blasting deck, proceeding consecutively from the first blasting deck to the final blasting deck, wherein after each blasting stage excavation takes place to progress the shaft in an intended direction.

An underground shaft development method comprises: (a) drilling blastholes extending into a rock formation, each drilled from a starting location defining a first blasthole end to an ending location defining a second blasthole end; (b) loading the blastholes with alternating layers of explosives charges and stemming material to provide multiple blasting decks across and within the formation, including at least a first blasting deck corresponding to the first blasthole ends and a final blasting deck corresponding to the second blasthole ends, wherein each blasting deck carries wireless blasting devices; and (c) detonating the explosive charges in a series of blasting stages based on blasting deck by initiating the wireless blasting devices in each blasting deck, proceeding consecutively from the first blasting deck to the final blasting deck, wherein after each blasting stage excavation takes place to progress the shaft in an intended direction.