Abstract
An apparatus for injecting grouting material, mining machine and method of injecting grouting resin into several drilled holes is provided. The apparatus includes an injector head provided with a mixing device, which are both insertable into a drilled hole by a flexible feed hose. The injector head includes a valve assembly mounted inside a distal end portion of the feed hose.
Claims
1. An apparatus for injecting grouting resin into a drilled hole for rock reinforcement, wherein the apparatus is arranged for feeding bulk-like fluid material, the apparatus comprising: an injector head arranged to be inserted inside the drilled hole; at least one fluid inlet arrangement connected to the injector head arranged for feeding a resin base component and a resin catalyst to the injector head; and an elongated tubular cover element surrounding the fluid inlet arrangement, wherein the injector head is provided with a mixing device arranged for mixing the fed resin base component and the catalyst together, whereby the mixing device is configured to be fed together with the injector head and the cover element inside the drilled hole, the injector head including a valve assembly located inside a flexible feed hose serving as the tubular cover element, wherein the injector head is a grouting resin feeding tool, wherein the grouting resin feeding tool is removed from the drilled hole when the resin feeding is completed and before a separate rock bolt is fed into the drilled hole filled with the grouting resin.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve assembly includes a body having an outer surface, which includes at least one expandable fastening element configured to be pressed against an inner surface of the feed hose.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve assembly and the mixing device are separate elements connected axially successively by an adapter element mounted therebetween.
4. The apparatus as claimed in 1, wherein the valve assembly includes several control valves for selectively closing and opening at least a resin base component feed line, a resin catalyst feed line and at least one solvent medium feed line for flushing the for flushing the injector head.
5. The apparatus as claimed in 1, wherein the valve assembly includes a plurality of spring-loaded non-return valves.
6. The apparatus as claimed in 1, wherein the feed hose is made of polymeric material.
7. The apparatus as claimed in 1, wherein the mixing device is provided with an outer sleeve having an outer diameter, which corresponds to an outer diameter of the feed hose and wherein the sleeve is made of polymeric material.
8. The apparatus as claimed in 1, wherein the mixing device is configured to protrude axially from a distal end of the feed hose.
9. (canceled)
10. The apparatus as claimed in 1, wherein a greatest cross-sectional dimension of the apparatus corresponds to an outer diameter of the feed hose.
11. A mining machine comprising: a movable carrier; at least one boom connected movably on the carrier; an apparatus according to claim 1, arranged for injecting grouting resin into drilled holes; and at least one bolting unit disposed at a distal end of the at least one boom arranged for feeding rock bolts into the drilled holes after being injected with the grouting resin, wherein the boom is provided with a feed device arranged for moving an injection head of the injecting apparatus inside the drilled hole.
12. A method of injecting grouting resin into several drilled holes, the method comprising: inserting an injector head inside a drilled hole; providing the injector head with a mixing device; feeding a resin base component and a resin catalyst to the injector head by of a fluid inlet arrangement; mixing the fed resin base component and the resin catalyst to a resin mixture inside the drilled hole by the mixing device; completing the injection and removing the injection head from the drilled hole prior to inserting a metallic rock reinforcement inside the drilled hole; feeding the injector head into the drilled hole by a flexible feed hose which surrounds feed lines of the fluid inlet arrangement; and controlling feeding of the resin components to the mixing device by a valve assembly mounted inside a distal end part of the feed hose.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising selecting the mixing device and mounting it in a removable manner to the valve assembly by an adapter element.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0043] Some embodiments are described in more detail in the accompanying drawings, in which
[0044] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a rock drilling rig intended for underground drilling and rock reinforcing,
[0045] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an arrangement for feeding grouting material into a drilled hole,
[0046] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing some features relating to reinforcing measures of a rock surface,
[0047] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a drilled hole after being filled with resin material,
[0048] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the drilled hole of FIG. 4 after being equipped with a rock bolt,
[0049] FIG. 6 is schematic side view of an apparatus for injecting grouting material to a drilled hole,
[0050] FIG. 7 a schematic side view of a feed hose intended for receiving a valve assembly and fluid feed hoses,
[0051] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a valve assembly provided with an integrated adaptor head and connected to a fluid feed lines,
[0052] FIG. 9 is schematic side view of a module comprising a valve assembly and a separate adapter component;
[0053] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of another module with differing control valves and mounting means,
[0054] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of an injector head wherein a mixing unit protrudes from a feed hose,
[0055] FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of an injector head wherein a mixing unit is surrounded by a covering sleeve element, and
[0056] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of an injector head wherein a mixing unit is partly inside a feed hose.
[0057] For the sake of clarity, the figures show some embodiments of the disclosed solution in a simplified manner. In the figures, like reference numerals identify like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS
[0058] FIG. 1 shows a rock drilling rig, which is an example of a mining machine 1. The rock drilling rig comprises a movable carrier 2 and at least one boom 3 connected to the carrier 2. At a distal end portion of the boom 3 is a drilling unit or bolt insertion unit 4. The unit 4 may comprise a feed beam 5 and a rock drilling machine 6 supported on it. A drilling tool is connectable to the rock drilling machine 6. The rock drilling machine 6 comprises at least a rotating device for rotating the drilling tool around its longitudinal axis. The rock drilling machine 6 and the boom 3 may be turned so that drill holes 7 can be drilled to walls 8 and ceilings 9 of tunnels and other underground spaces in order to mount reinforcing rock bolts. The unit 4 may also be provided with a bolting unit 10 and an apparatus 11 for feeding grouting resin mixtures. The drilling machine 6, the bolting unit 10 and the resin feeding apparatus 11 may be connected to the drilling unit 4 so that they can be indexed on central axis of the drilled hole 7, or alternatively they all or some of them can be mounted to dedicated booms or other support structures. At the distal end of the boom 3 is at least one feed device 12 for moving the devices 6, 10, 11 relative to the distal end of the boom 3. Further, on the carrier 2 there may be a first container 13 provided for a first resin base component A1, a second container 14 provided for a second resin base component A2, a third container 15 for a solvent medium S and a fourth container 16 for a resin catalyst B.
[0059] FIG. 2 discloses an apparatus 27 for inserting resin material to a drilled hole 7 provided with an opening 7a and a bottom 7b. Inside the drilled hole 7 is inserted an injector head 17 provided with a mixing device 18. The injector head 17 is connected to a fluid inlet arrangement 19 comprising a first feed line 20, a second feed line 21 and an optional third feed line 22. The first feed line 20 is a feed line for component A, whereas the second feed line is dedicated for the component B. The third feed line 22 is for feeding the solvent agent S, but the system may be without any third line 22 if line 20 or 21 is used for solvent feeding. The feed lines 20-22 may be hoses or tubes. In FIG. 2 resin mixture 23 is fed through the injector head 17 and the mixing device 18 to the bottom 7b of the drilled hole 7. The system or apparatus 27 is retracted R simultaneously during the injection.
[0060] FIG. 2 further discloses that the injector head 17 of the apparatus 27 comprises a valve assembly 25 which is mounted inside a feed hose 26. The feed hose 26 surrounds also the feed lines 20-22. The injector head 17 movable by means of the feed hose 26.
[0061] FIG. 3 discloses steps relating to reinforcing rock surfaces. These issues have already been discussed above in this document.
[0062] FIG. 4 discloses that a drilled hole 7 is filled with a resin mixture 23.
[0063] In FIG. 5 a rock bolt 24 is pushed into the drilled hole 7 so that it is inside the resin mixture 23 which hardens and locks the rock bolt 24. The rock bolt 24 can be tightened by means of screw means so that a desired pretension can be achieved.
[0064] FIG. 6 discloses an apparatus 27 provided with a bendable feed hose 26 a distal end of which comprises a valve assembly 25. A front end of the valve assembly 25 is provided with an adapter element 28 for connecting a mixing device. The adaptor element may protrude axially from the feed hose 26 and may comprise quick coupling means. FIG. 6 further discloses feed ports 29 or connectors for connecting the feed lines 20 to the valve assembly 25.
[0065] FIG. 7 discloses a feed hose 26 which may be a flexible tubular element made of polymer material, such as plastic material having an outer surface with good frictional properties.
[0066] FIG. 8 discloses an injector head 17 prior being mounted inside a feed hose. An outer surface of a body of the injector head 17 is provided with sealing elements 30 and fastening elements 31.
[0067] In FIGS. 6 and 8 the adapter element 28 is an inseparable part of the valve assembly 25, whereas in FIGS. 9-13 the adapter element 28 is shown to be a separate module mounted to a front end of the valve assembly 25.
[0068] FIG. 9 discloses that an injector head 17, and more specifically, a valve assembly 25 may comprise a body an outer surface of which comprises an expandable fastening element 32 configured to be pressed against an inner surface of a feed hose 26. The fastening system may comprise one or more O-rings 33 which are arranged to expand radially when being pressed axially by means of the fastening system.
[0069] In FIG. 10 there are wedge elements 34 or corresponding transversally or radially protruding elements for providing required fastening forces. The elements may be spring loaded or may be activated by means of screw elements, for example. The fastening system may be on a body of an adapter element 28.
[0070] In FIG. 9 the valve assembly comprises spring loaded non-return valves 35, whereas in FIG. 10 there are pressure controlled pilot valves 36. In the latter case there is a pilot control line 37 for transmitting control pressure to control apparatus 38 and further to the valves 36 for activating or controlling them.
[0071] FIG. 11 discloses a solution wherein a mixing device 18 is outside a feed hose 26. In FIG. 12 there is an outer sleeve 39 arranged to surround a mixing device 18. In FIG. 13 the mixing device 18 is partly inside the feed hose 26. As can be seen, in all cases outer dimensions of the mixing device does not exceed outer dimension of the feed hose 26.
[0072] The drawings and the related description are only intended to illustrate the idea of the invention. In its details, the invention may vary within the scope of the claims.
