Lite mine roof support crib and method

Abstract

A mine roof support crib. The crib includes a plurality of chocks that are connected together through notches in the chocks to form at least three planes and able to support at least five tons of load. Each notch has at least one edge. A method of forming a mine roof support crib. A method of forming a chock for a mine roof crib to support a mine roof.

1 - 25 . (canceled)  
     
     
         26 . A mine roof support crib comprising: 
 a plurality of chocks that are connected together through notches in the chocks to form at least three planes and able to support at least five tons of load, each notch having only one edge, each chock has a primary piece having a top and a bottom, a first block and a second block disposed on the top and bottom, respectively, and means for attaching the first block and second block to the primary piece, an outward surface of the first block and second block defining the edge of a first notch and of a second notch of each chock, each notch has either a spacer or a bar pin or a staple defining a receive zone with the edge of the corresponding notch, the receive zone receiving a notch of an adjacent chock.    
     
     
         27 . A crib as described and  claim 26  wherein the plurality of chocks connected together can support at least 20 tons of load.  
     
     
         28 . A crib as described in  claim 27  wherein each chock has a long axis and each notch of the chock is cut at a right angle to the long axis of the chock.  
     
     
         29 . A crib as described in  claim 28  wherein the plurality of chocks forms four planes.  
     
     
         30 . A crib as described in  claim 29  wherein at least two of the planes are in perpendicular relation with each other.  
     
     
         31 . A crib as described in  claim 30  wherein the height of the spacer, bar pin or staple is less than the rise of the edge of the corresponding notch.  
     
     
         32 . A crib as described in  claim 31  including a base on which the chocks are disposed, the base adapted to reside on a floor of the mine.  
     
     
         33 . A crib as described in  claim 32  including a top portion which is disposed on the chocks which is adapted to fit between the chocks and a roof of the mine so the chocks are prestressed.  
     
     
         34 . A mine roof support crib comprising: 
 a plurality of chocks that are connected together through notches in the chocks to form at least three planes and are able to support at least five tons of load wherein each chock having a primary piece having a top and a bottom, a first block and a second block disposed on the top and bottom, respectively, and means for attaching the first block and second block to the primary piece, the primary piece has a first end and a second end and a top surface and a bottom surface and the first block and second block are in spaced relationship with the first end and second end of the top surface, and the first end and second end of the bottom surface, respectively, to form notches in the chock with each notch having an edge defined by the respective block, to receive a notch from an adjacent chock, each notch has either a spacer or a bar pin or a staple defining a receive zone with the edge of the corresponding notch, the receive zone receiving a notch of an adjacent chock.    
     
     
         35 . A crib as described in  claim 34  wherein the attaching means includes a nail or wire.  
     
     
         36 . A crib as described in  claim 35  wherein the blocks are made of either oak, hard gum, wattle, maple, hickory, poplar or pine or concrete or a composite of wood fiber cement.  
     
     
         37 . A crib as described in  claim 36  wherein the height of the spacer, bar pin or staple is less than the rise of the edge of the corresponding notch.