This invention relates to a wall support strap. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an elongated wall support strap comprising a plurality of tendons which extend for the full length of the strap and a plurality of transverse strap members which extend transversely to the 5 tendons and connect them to one another, opposite end regions of the support strap being narrower than a middle region thereof situated between tendons, the tendons in the middle region being held in spaced apart, generally parallel relationship by middle region strap members while outer tendons in the end regions converge on and are connected to at least one 10 inner tendon in the end regions by end region strap members.

A screen handling system is provided for a rock drilling device including a feed assembly, at least one rail system supporting the feed assembly for translational movement relative to a boom along a first axis, and an actuator for advancing a bit or bolt into a rock face parallel to the first axis. The screen handling system includes a pad disposed proximate the bit or bolt, a block having a bore that defines a second axis parallel to the first axis, a gripper at least partially disposed within and axially moveable relative to the bore in a direction along the second axis, and a drive mechanism coupled to the block that is capable of continuously rotating the pad about the second axis to a desired orientation.

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.

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 method for mounting a roll of protective mesh material to an underground rock drilling machine comprising at least one drilling boom. The method comprises at least the following steps: inserting a first end of a first bar from a first lateral side of the roll of protective mesh material into a center of the roll of protective mesh material, fastening the first bar directly or indirectly to the drilling boom, inserting a first end of a second bar from a second lateral side of the roll of protective mesh material opposite the first lateral side into the center of the roll of protective mesh material, fastening the second bar directly or indirectly to the drilling boom in a location that is spaced apart from the first bar, securing the roll of protective mesh material against autonomous unrolling.

A method of treating tunnel collapse includes leveling a collapse body and moving a pavilion support under the collapse cavity, lifting a shield plate until a lower edge of the shield plate surpasses a contour line of an initial supporting arch of a tunnel, connecting a bottom column and inserting a padding plate under a column. If the hydraulic prop retracts, the column, the bottom column, the padding plate and the hydraulic prop bear a load from the shield plate. Mounting and connecting the initial supporting arch, welding the intersection point of the column and the initial supporting arch, cutting off the column in the initial supporting arch. Transferring the load of the shield plate from the pavilion support to an initial supporting shed, spraying fast-setting concrete to a grid arch to form a closed shell, and pumping filling material to fill the space of the collapse cavity.

A method for mounting a roll of protective mesh material to an underground rock drilling machine comprising at least one drilling boom. The method comprises at least the following steps: inserting a first end of a first bar from a first lateral side of the roll of protective mesh material into a center of the roll of protective mesh material, fastening the first bar directly or indirectly to the drilling boom, inserting a first end of a second bar from a second lateral side of the roll of protective mesh material opposite the first lateral side into the center of the roll of protective mesh material, fastening the second bar directly or indirectly to the drilling boom in a location that is spaced apart from the first bar, securing the roll of protective mesh material against autonomous unrolling.

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 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 composite support system based on a steel-concrete (concrete-filled steel tube) support and a shotcrete arch includes an anchor mesh layer provided on an inner wall of a roadway. A flexible compressible layer is provided on the outer side of the anchor mesh layer; a support frame is erected on the outer side of the flexible compressible layer; reinforcement meshes are respectively arranged on an inner side and an outer side of the support frame; the support frame and the reinforcement meshes form a framework to construct an arch spray layer; the reinforcement meshes and the support frame are embedded into an arch structure to form a rigid layer; the flexible compressible layer is provided between the rigid layer and the anchor spray layer. When the flexible compressible layer is compressed, the flexible compressible layer is deformed toward a reserved deformation space for a yielding purpose.