Mine support grout bags and packs

Abstract

A grout bag ( 1 ) is provided having flexible side walls ( 2 ) a top ( 3 ) and a bottom ( 4 ) defining a cavity for receiving settable granular material or grout ( 5 ) and an inlet ( 6 ) for slurry to be introduced into the interior of the grout bag wherein the flexible side walls are adapted to retain solids within the grout bag. The grout bag has an axis in the general direction in which a filled and set grout bag is adapted to collapse and the grout bag has, in an open but unfilled condition, at least two different cross-sectional sizes to the cavity with respect to the axis of the bag. Typically the different cross-sectional sizes are formed by a truncated conical shaped sidewall section or by a conical insert, or both. A grout pack including such a grout bag and surrounding mesh and/or restraining rings is also provided.

1 . A grout bag having flexible side walls adapted to retain solids within the grout bag, a top and a bottom wherein the sidewalls, top and bottom define a cavity for receiving settable granular material or grout and an inlet for slurry to be introduced into the cavity and wherein the grout bag has an axis in the general direction of which a filled and set grout bag is adapted to collapse, wherein the cavity in an open but unfilled condition of the grout bag, has at least two different cross-sectional sizes at different positions on the axis. 
   
   
       2 . A grout bag as claimed in  claim 1  in which the grout bag, in the open but unfilled condition, includes a section of sidewall of generally truncated conical shape with the axis of such section being generally coincident with the axis of the grout bag. 
   
   
       3 . A grout bag as claimed in  claim 1  in which the grout bag is made of a textile material stitched together from panels. 
   
   
       4 . A grout bag as claimed in  claim 1  in which the grout bag is made from a tubular textile material having end panels of a required cross-sectional shape secured thereto and a tuck in the tubular textile material forming a section of smaller diameter than the full diameter of the tubular textile material in which instance a tapering tuck is used to form a generally truncated conical section of sidewall. 
   
   
       5 . A grout bag as claimed in  claim 1  in which a tapering insert is provided at either or both of the top and bottom ends of the grout bag to form a section providing said different cross-sectional sizes at different positions on the axis. 
   
   
       6 . A grout bag as claimed in  claim 1  in which the inlet is a nonreturn inlet valve. 
   
   
       7 . A grout pack including a grout bag as claimed in  claim 1  together with an external peripheral supporting mesh conforming generally to the outer shape of the grout bag in the open and unfilled condition and a series of operatively axially spaced support rings. 
   
   
       8 . A grout pack as claimed in  claim 7  in which at least some support rings are dimensioned to fit one within the other in the axially collapsed condition of the unfilled grout pack.