Bearing plate having tab

Abstract

A bearing plate for use in a mine comprising a first side, an opposed second and having an opening that extends from the first side to the opposed second side. The opening is defined by a surrounding edge wall formed in the bearing plate, and a tab extends from the surrounding edge wall into the opening. The tab is for being received in a longitudinal gap or slot of a friction stabilizer or a longitudinal slot or gap of an embossed friction stabilizer, and the tab prevents them from collapsing when they are subjected to loading.

1 . A bearing plate for installation with an elongated friction stabilizer for insertion into a body, and having an impact end, and an opposite insertion end and a longitudinal slot extending therebetween, the bearing plate comprising: 
 a first side for facing the impact end of the friction stabilizer,    an opposed second side for facing toward the body into which the friction stabilizer is installed,    an opening extending from the first side to the second side and the opening defined by a surrounding edge wall, and    a tab extending from the surrounding edge wall and into the opening for extending into the slot of the friction stabilizer to prevent collapse of the friction stabilizer during loading thereof.    
   
   
       2 . The bearing plate according to  claim 1  wherein the tab has a width, a first tab edge and a second tab edge and wherein the first tab edge and the second tab edge are spaced the width of the tab from one another.  
   
   
       3 . The bearing plate according to  claim 1  wherein the tab is flared shaped and has a first flared contact edge that extends from the surrounding edge wall and an opposed second flared contact edge that extends from the surrounding edge wall, and the first and second flared contact edges flare outward and into the opening as they approach and meet with a flared end edge.  
   
   
       4 . The bearing plate according to  claim 1  wherein the tab has a shape that is selected to be one of the following including a rectangular shape, a cruciform-shape, a substantially T-shape, a circular shape and an arrow shape.  
   
   
       5 . The bearing plate according to  claim 1  wherein the bearing plate is for use in a mine having a wall and wherein the bearing plate is supported in the mine by the friction stabilizer.  
   
   
       6 . In combination: a bearing plate and an embossed friction stabilizer having an embossed ring and an impact end and an insertion end with a longitudinal slot, the bearing plate comprising: 
 a first side and an opposed second side with an opening extending from the first side to the second side and the opening defining a surrounding edge wall,    a tab that extends from the surrounding edge wall into the opening, and    wherein when the embossed friction stabilizer is moved into the opening in the bearing plate the tab is positioned in the longitudinal slot and the tab is for preventing the embossed friction stabilizer from collapsing when subjected to loading.    
   
   
       7 . The combination according to  claim 6  wherein the tab has a has a first tab edge, a second tab edge and a width and wherein the first tab edge and the second tab edge are spaced the width of the tab from one another and the width of the tab is less than the width of the longitudinal slot.  
   
   
       8 . The combination according to  claim 7  wherein the embossed friction stabilizer further includes a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge that define the longitudinal slot and wherein the first longitudinal edge contacts the second edge of the tab and the second longitudinal edge contacts the first edge of the tab such that upon introduction and removal of the embossed friction stabilizer from the bearing plate the first longitudinal edge slides across the second tab edge and the second longitudinal edge slides across the first tab edge.  
   
   
       9 . The combination according to  claim 6  wherein the tab has a shape that is selected to be one of the following including a rectangular shape, a flared-shaped tab, a cruciform-shape, a substantially T-shape, a circular shape and an arrow shape.  
   
   
       10 . In combination: a bearing plate and a an embossed friction stabilizer having an embossed ring, a longitudinal slot defined by spaced apart first and second longitudinal edges and for use in a mine having a wall with a drilled bore, the bearing plate comprising: 
 a first side,    an opposed second,    an opening that extends from the first side to the second side and the opening is defined by a surrounding edge wall, and    a tab extends from the surrounding edge wall into the opening, such that when the bearing plate is moved against the mine wall and the opening lines up with the drilled bore the embossed friction stabilizer can be moved such that the tab is positioned in the longitudinal slot, and the embossed friction stabilizer can be driven into the drilled bore until the embossed ring contacts the bearing plate, and the tab is for preventing the collapse of the embossed friction stabilizer.    
   
   
       11 . The combination according to  claim 10  wherein the tab has a shape that is selected to be one of the following including a rectangular shape, flared-shaped tab, a cruciform-shape, a substantially T-shape, a circular shape and an arrow shape.  
   
   
       12 . In combination a bearing plate and a friction stabilizer having a weld ring, a longitudinal gap defined by spaced apart first and second continuous longitudinal edges and for use in a mine having a wall with a drilled bore, the bearing plate comprising: 
 a first side,    an opposed second,    an opening that extends from the first side to the second side and the opening defined by a surrounding edge wall, and    a tab extending from the surrounding edge wall into the opening, such that when the bearing plate is moved against the mine wall and the opening lines up with the drilled bore and the tab is positioned in the longitudinal gap the friction stabilizer can be driven into the drilled bore until the weld ring contacts the bearing plate, and the tab is for preventing the collapse of the friction stabilizer.    
   
   
       13 . The combination according to  claim 12  wherein the tab has a shape that is selected to be one of the following including a rectangular shape, a flared-shaped tab, a cruciform-shape, a substantially upper case T-shape, a circular shape and an arrow shape.  
   
   
       14 . An embossed bearing plate comprising: 
 a first side having a flat portion,    an opposed second side,    a central elevated portion extending from the flat portion and the central elevated portion having a central opening surrounded by a central surrounding edge wall, and    an embossed bearing plate tab extending from the central surrounding edge wall into the central opening.    
   
   
       15 . The embossed bearing plate according to  claim 14  wherein the embossed bearing plate tab has first and second embossed tab edges separated from one another by an embossed spacing edge and wherein the embossed bearing plate tab has a shape that is selected to be one of the following including a rectangular shape, a flared-shaped tab, a cruciform-shape, a substantially T-shape, a circular shape and an arrow shape.  
   
   
       16 . The embossed bearing plate according to  claim 14  wherein the embossed bearing plate is for use in a mine having a wall and wherein the embossed bearing plate is supported in the mine by a friction stabilizer or an embossed friction stabilizer.  
   
   
       17 . In combination an embossed bearing plate and an embossed friction stabilizer having an embossed ring, a longitudinal slot defined by spaced apart first and second longitudinal edges and for use in a mine having a wall with a drilled bore, the embossed bearing plate comprising: 
 a first side having a flat portion,    an opposed second side,    a central elevated portion extending from the flat portion and the central elevated portion having a central opening surrounded by a central surrounding edge wall,    an embossed bearing plate tab extending from the central surrounding edge wall into the central opening, such that when the bearing plate is moved against the mine wall and the central opening lines up with the drilled bore and the embossed bearing plate tab is positioned in the longitudinal slot, the embossed friction stabilizer can be hammered into the drilled bore until the embossed ring contacts the bearing plate, and the embossed bearing plate tab is for preventing the collapse of the embossed friction stabilizer.    
   
   
       18 . A method of supporting a mine, the method comprising 
 providing a bearing plate having a first side and an opposed second side, forming an opening in the bearing plate that is defined by a surrounding edge wall, and extending a tab from the surrounding edge wall in to the opening,    providing a drilled bore in a wall of a mine,    moving the bearing plate against the wall such that the bearing plate opening lines up with the drilled bore, providing an embossed friction stabilizer having an embossed ring and a longitudinal slot and orienting the embossed ring friction stabilizer such that the tab is received in the longitudinal slot, and    driving the embossed friction stabilizer into the drilled bore until the embossed ring contacts the bearing plate and the tab prevents the inward radial collapse of the embossed ring friction stabilizer.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising selecting the shape of the tab to be one of the following including a rectangular shape, a flared-shaped tab, a cruciform-shape, a substantially T-shape, a circular shape and an arrow shape.