Friction stabilizer with tabs

Abstract

A friction stabilizer having tabs comprising a tubular body comprising an exterior surface and having a first portion and having a second portion provided with a taper. The first portion has an impact end and the second portion has an insertion end. A tab is on the tubular body and extends outward from the exterior surface of the tubular body in a direction toward the impact end and away from the insertion end of the tubular body. The tabs can be rectangular shaped or triangular shaped or have other shapes which prevent the friction stabilizer from being removed from a drilled bore in a mine. When the friction stabilizer with tabs is inserted into a drilled bore in a mine, the tabs do not impede insertion. But, after insertion into the drilled bore the tabs resist removal of the tubular body, and thus allow the stabilizer to support the mine wall or ceiling. The friction stabilizer is made by taking a steel coil and punching the shape of the tabs in the metal, for example sheet metal, unrolled from the coil. A notch is also punched into the sheet at a predetermined location. Rolling die roll the tubular body, and a cutting machine cuts the tubular body at the notches, so tubular bodies of predetermined length are cut. The tabs extend from the exterior surface of the tubular body due to the natural spring constant of the steel or metal from which the tubular body is made. A weld ring is welded to the impact end and has a weld ring gap space. In another embodiment the tubular body has first portion, a second portion with a bent portion joining them together. An extendable tab is formed in the first portion proximal the bend portion and the extendable tab is diametrically opposite a tube gap space.

1 . A friction stabilizer for installation in a structural body, the friction stabilizer comprising: 
 a) a tubular body comprising a first portion a bent portion and a second portion with and the bent portion joining the first portion and second portion,    c) a joining portion joins an extendable tab to the first portion such that the extendable tab is proximal the bent portion.    
   
   
       2 . The friction stabilizer according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular body has a tube gap space and an opening diametrically opposite the tube gap space and the extendable tab extends from the joining portion into the opening such that the extendable tab is diametrically opposite the tube gap space.  
   
   
       3 . The friction stabilizer according to  claim 2  wherein the tubular body is movable from an uncompressed position to a compressed position, such that when in the tubular body is in the uncompressed position the extendable tab is partly positioned in the opening.  
   
   
       4 . The friction stabilizer according to  claim 2  wherein the tubular body has an exterior surface and the tubular body is movable from an uncompressed position to a compressed position and when in the uncompressed position the extendable tab is elevated a minimal amount relative to the surrounding exterior surface of the tubular body.  
   
   
       5 . The friction stabilizer according to  claim 3  wherein the extendable tab extends outward from the tubular body when the tubular body is in the compressed position.  
   
   
       6 . The friction stabilizer according to  claim 4  wherein the extendable tab extends outward from the tubular body when the tubular body is in the compressed position  
   
   
       7 . The friction stabilizer according to  claim 2  further including an insertion end and an opposed impact end with a weld ring having a weld ring gap space joined to the impact end such that the weld ring gap space is diametrically opposite the tube gap space.  
   
   
       8 . The friction stabilizer according to  claim 7  wherein the extendable tab extends in a direction toward the impact end and away from the insertion end.  
   
   
       9 . The friction stabilizer according to  claim 2  further comprising another extendable tab proximal the extendable tab and positioned diametrically opposite the tube gap space.  
   
   
       10 . The friction stabilizer according to  claim 4  wherein the extendable tab has a rectangular shape.  
   
   
       11 . The friction stabilizer according to  claim 4  wherein the extendable tab has a triangular shaped tab.  
   
   
       12 . The friction stabilizer according to  claim 4  wherein the extendable tab has a polygonal shape.  
   
   
       13 . The friction stabilizer according to  claim 4  wherein the tab has a curved shape.  
   
   
       14 . A method of making a friction stabilizer for installation in a structural body, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a coil of metal and unrolling the coil of metal into a strip,    pressing the shape of an extendable tab to be formed into the strip of metal such that the extendable tab is joined to the strip of metal with a joining portion,    moving the strip of metal through cold rolling dies and roll forming the strip of steel into a tubular body having a tube gap space with an exterior surface such that the extendable tab is diametrically opposite the tube gap space.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14  further including: 
 roll forming the strip to have a first portion with an impact end, a second portion with an insertion end, and a bent portion that joins the first and second portions and forming the extendable tab in the first portion proximal the bent portion.    
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising: 
 forming the first portion such that the extendable tab is elevated a minimal amount relative to the surrounding exterior surface.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the step of pressing the shape of the extendable tab into the strip of metal such that the extendable tab extends in a direction toward the impact end and away from the insertion end of the tubular body.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising: 
 forming the first portion with an opening such that the extendable tab is partly positioned in the opening.    
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising aligning a weld ring having a weld ring gap space with the impact end such that the weld ring gap space is diametrically opposite the tube gap space and welding the weld ring to the impact end.  
   
   
       20 . A method of supporting a mine having at least one drilled bore from caving-in, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a friction stabilizer having a tubular body with a tube gap space such that the tubular body is capable of moving between an uncompressed position and a compressed position,    providing the tubular body with a first portion having an impact end and a second portion having a taper and joining the first and second portions with a bent portion,    providing the first portion with an impact end and the second portion with an insertion end and providing the tubular body with a tube gap space,    providing the tubular body with an exterior surface and providing the first portion with an opening proximal the bent portion,    providing a joining portion and joining an extendable tab to the first portion such that the extendable tab is proximal the bent portion and partly positioned in the opening, with the extendable tab extending in a direction toward the impact end and elevated a minimal amount relative to the exterior surface of the tubular body when the tubular body is in the uncompressed position and wherein the extendable tab is diametrically opposite the tube gap space,    aligning the impact end of the tubular body with the drilled bore and hammering the impact end of the tubular body and driving the tubular body into the drilled bore such that the tubular body compresses radially inward and moves from the uncompressed position to the compressed position such the extendable tab moves out of the opening and engages the drilled bore to support axial loads imparted thereon by the mine.