ROCK ANCHOR GROUTING TOOL

Abstract

A grouting tool includes a body element having a body element leading end and a body element trailing end. A collet member having a collet member trailing end in fluid communication with the body element leading end, and a collet member leading end having a hollow passage adapted to receive a grout tube. A grout injection port is secured to the body element trailing end. A portion of the collet member is radially compressible to provide a clamping force adapted to secure the grout tube to the grouting tool.

Claims

1. A grouting tool comprising: a body element having a body element leading end and a body element trailing end; a collet member having a collet member trailing end in fluid communication with the body element leading end, and a collet member leading end having a hollow passage adapted to receive a grout tube; a grout injection port secured to the body element trailing end; wherein a portion of the collet member is radially compressible to provide a clamping force adapted to secure the grout tube to the grouting tool.

2. The grouting tool of claim 1, wherein the collet member includes a first longitudinally extending slot.

3. The grouting tool of claim 2, wherein the collet member includes a circumferentially extending slot which extends generally perpendicular to and intersects with the first longitudinally extending slot.

4. The grouting tool of claim 3, further including a second longitudinally extending slot, wherein a resilient arm is defined by the first and second longitudinally extending slots and the circumferentially extending slot.

5. The grouting tool of claim 1 comprising a first lever pivotally connected to the collet member.

6. The grouting tool of claim 5, further comprising a clevis shaped element which includes two clevis arms and a central attachment region which is connected to the collet member, wherein the first lever is pivotally connected to the two clevis arms.

7. The grouting tool of claims 6, wherein the first lever includes a first engagement formation adapted to engage with the collet member.

8. The grouting tool of claim 7, wherein the first engagement formation is defined by a projection adapted to abut against the collet member.

9. The grouting tool of claim 5, further comprising a second lever pivotally connected to the body element.

10. The grouting tool of claim 9, wherein the first lever includes a first lever engagement formation and the second lever includes a corresponding second lever engagement formation.

11. The grouting tool of claim 10, wherein the first lever engagement formation includes a pin and the second lever engagement formation includes a slot.

12. The grouting tool of claim 9, wherein the second lever includes a handle.

13. The grouting tool of claim 1, further comprising a locking pin, the locking pin extending through a hole formed in the body element and a corresponding threaded hole formed in the grout injection port, the locking pin having a threaded shaft for securing the grout injection port to the body element.

14. The grouting tool of claim 1, wherein the body element includes a body element slot.

15. The grouting tool of claim 14, wherein the grout injection port includes a nozzle, the nozzle being located within the body element adjacent to the body element slot.

16. The grouting tool of claim 15, wherein the nozzle includes an annular rubber grommet.

17. The grouting tool of claim 1, wherein the grout injection port includes a cut-out which engages with a corresponding projection formed on the body element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of specific example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded view depicting a rock anchor grouting tool according to the invention;

[0034] FIG. 2 depicts the rock anchor grouting tool of FIG. 1 in an assembled configuration;

[0035] FIG. 3 depicts the rock anchor grouting tool of FIG. 1 secured to a grout tube;

[0036] FIG. 4 is a detail of a grout injection port of the rock anchor grouting tool of FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rock anchor grouting tool according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0038] FIG. 6 is a side view of the rock anchor grouting tool of FIG. 5 in an open position; and

[0039] FIG. 7 is a side view of the rock anchor grouting tool of FIG. 5 in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] A rock anchor grouting lance or tool 100 is depicted in the drawings. The grouting tool 100 is in particular intended for use with bulbed cable bolts, but it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it may be used with other cable bolt anchors.

[0041] The tool 100 includes a body element 200. The body element 200 is defined by a hollow tubular body, having a leading end 202 and a trailing end 204.

[0042] In the first embodiment of the invention, depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4, at least one body element slot or bleeder hole 210 is formed in the wall of the body element 200. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4, there are two slots 210 which are diametrically opposed around the perimeter of the body element 200. The leading end 202 of the body element 200 is connected to a longitudinally extending collet member 220. However, in the second embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5 to 7, the grout bleed function is provided by the circumferentially extending slot 232 (discussed below).

[0043] The collet member 220 has a hollow tubular body defining a trailing end 222, and a leading end 224. A hollow passage extends through the tubular body and is adapted to receive a flexible grout fill tube 900 (best seen in FIG. 3). The collet member 220 includes at least one longitudinally extending slot 230. As shown in the drawings, the longitudinally extending slot 230 may be connected to a generally perpendicular circumferentially extending slot 232 located adjacent to the trailing end 222.

[0044] In one embodiment there are first and second longitudinally extending slots 230 and a circumferentially extending slot 232 extends between the first and second longitudinally extending slots 230, thereby defining a resilient arm 240 which forms part of the collet member 220, but is only attached to the collet member 220 at a single bridge or connection 244. As such, the resilient arm 240 is resiliently flexible relative to the connection 244, permitting a tip 250 of the arm 240 to move radially relative to the collet member 220.

[0045] A clevis shaped element 300 is secured to the collet member 220. The clevis shaped element 300 may be integrally formed, secured with fasteners or otherwise attached to the collet member 220. The clevis shaped element 300 includes two clevis arms 302, 304 and a central attachment portion 310 which is connected to the collet member 220. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5 to 7, the clevis shaped element is attached to the collet member with a fastener extending through a hole 305 formed in the clevis shaped element 300.

[0046] A first lever 400 is pivotally connected to the arms 302, 304 of the clevis shaped element 300, with at least one suitable fastener 410. The first lever 400 includes a first engagement formation 420 in the form of a projection which is adapted to abut against the collet member 220, adjacent to the trailing end of the collet member 220, and in particular the resilient arm 240. In the embodiment depicted in the drawings, the first engagement formation 420 is defined by a bolt and nut. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the first engagement formation 420 may be formed by an integrally formed protection or lug extending away from the first lever 400 or another such projection. In some embodiments, the depth and/or position of the first engagement formation 420 may be adjusted.

[0047] The first lever 400 includes a first lever engagement formation in the form of a pin 440 which projects generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first lever 400. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5 to 7, the pin 440 is defined by a bolt which passes through a hole formed in the first lever 400.

[0048] The rock anchor grouting tool 100 includes a second lever 500. The second lever 500 is pivotally connected to the body element 200 with a suitable fastener 502 such as the screw or bolt 502 depicted in the drawings. The second lever 500 includes a second lever engagement formation in the form of a cut-out or slot 510. The cut-out 510 is adapted to receive the pin 440. The second lever 500 also includes a handle 520. In the embodiment depicted in the drawings, the handle 520 is located at a distal end of the second lever 500, furthest from the body element 200.

[0049] The grouting tool 100 includes a grout injection port 600. The grout injection port 600 is located at a trailing end of the tool 100. The grout injection port 600 has a trailing end 610 which is connectable to a grout pump (not shown). A leading end 620 of the of the grout injection port 600 is insertable into the trailing end 204 of the body element 200. The leading end 620 of the of the grout injection port 600 includes a nozzle 630 with a chamfered or filleted tip 631. The nozzle 630 has an outer diameter which is smaller than the internal diameter of the grout feed tube 900 which is associated with the cable bolt. A shoulder 640 is defined between the nozzle 630 and the grout injection port 600. The nozzle 630 includes a seal such as an annular rubber grommet or O-ring 632 which assists in sealing the nozzle 630 to the tube 900.

[0050] The grout injection port 600 includes a blind hole 650, which is typically around 1 mm deep. The hole 650 aligns with a corresponding threaded hole 260 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) which is formed on the outside of the body element 200.

[0051] A locking pin or wing bolt 700 has a threaded shaft which is insertable through the hole 260 and engages with the blind hole 650. This acts to secure the grout injection port 600 to the body element 200. The grout injection port 600 includes a cut-out 680 which engages with a corresponding projection 216 formed on the body element 200. The engagement between the cut-out 680 and the projection 216 prevents rotation of the grout injection port 600 relative to the body element 200. The locking pin 700 includes a hole 701 which can be used to secure the locking pin 700 to a hook, a users belt or another such item to prevent it from being misplaced, for example during cleaning of the tool 100.

[0052] The operation of the grouting tool 100 will now be described. When a user wishes to grout a cable bolt, the bulged cable bolt is inserted into a predrilled hole, and is initially held in position by the fish hook formation at the leading end of the cable bolt. The grout fill tube 900 which is manufactured from a flexible polymer tube extends some distance beyond the opening of the hole drilled in the geological strata, and is generally long enough to reach near to the ground where grouting technicians can readily operate.

[0053] The poly pipe grout fill tube 900 enters into the leading end 224 of the collet member 220. The user can visually inspect through the body element slot 210 to confirm when the grout fill tube 900 has proceeded to the desired location, in which the nozzle 630 has entered the trailing end of the grout fill tube 900. The end of the grout fill tube 900 comes to rest against the shoulder 640.

[0054] The user then places the pin 440 of the first lever 400 into the cut-out 510 of the second lever 500. By applying a force to the handle 520, pulling the handle 520 toward the grout injection port 600, the first lever 400 is pivoted about the fastener 410, and the engagement formation 420 applies a force against the collet member 220. This results in the collet member 220 being radially compressed, thereby applying a clamping force to the poly pipe grout fill tube 900. The clamping force prevents the poly pipe 900 from being withdrawn from the collet member 220. After clamping, grout pumping commences as required.

[0055] FIG. 6 depicts the grouting tool 100 in the open position, before the clamping force is applied. In contrast, FIG. 7 depicts the grouting tool 100 in the closed position, in which the clamping force is applied to the poly pipe grout fill tube 900.

[0056] On completion of grouting, the clamping process is reversed by pivoting the second lever 500 toward the collet member 220.

[0057] Advantageously, the locking pin 700 can be selectively removed. This permits the body 200 and grout injection port 600 to be separated for washing and cleaning

[0058] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.