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 . A method of forming a mine roof support crib comprising the steps of:
 placing in a mine a first chock having at least one notch with only one edge and a stop which includes either a block or a spacer or a bar pin or a spacer adjacent the edge to define a first receiving zone between the edge and the stop;   placing in the mine a second chock having at least one notch with only one edge and a stop which includes either a block or a spacer or a bar pin or a spacer adjacent the edge to define a first receiving zone of the second chock between the edge and the stop of the second chock and adjacent to and between the first chock in the mine;   linking a third chock having at least one notch with only one edge with the first receiving zone of the first chock and the first receiving zone of the second chock;   linking a fourth chock having at least one notch with only one edge with a second receiving zone of the first chock and a second receiving zone of the second chock;   linking a desired number of additional chocks having notches with only one edge onto each other or the first, second, third or fourth chocks through receiving zones of the respective chocks until at least two planes are formed; and   supporting a load of at least five tones with the additional chocks and the first, second, third and fourth chocks.   
     
     
         2 . The method as described in  claim 1  including the step of placing a top portion on the chocks which fits between the chocks and a roof of the mine so the chocks are prestressed. 
     
     
         3 . The method as describe din  claim 2  wherein the placing in the mine the first chock includes the step of placing the first chock on a base on a floor of the mine. 
     
     
         4 . The method as described in  claim 3  wherein a height of the block, the spacer, bar pin or staple is less than a rise of the edge of the corresponding notch. 
     
     
         5 . The method as described in  claim 4  wherein 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. 
     
     
         6 . The method as described in  claim 5  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. 
     
     
         7 . 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.   
     
     
         8 . The crib as described in  claim 7  wherein the attaching means includes a nail or wire. 
     
     
         9 . The crib as described in  claim 8  wherein each chock includes a third block and a fourth block in spaced relationship with the first and second blocks, respectively, the third and fourth blocks attached to the primary piece. 
     
     
         10 . A crib as described in  claim 9  wherein the primary piece has a first end and a second end and a top surface and a bottom surface and the first block, second block, third block and fourth block are in spaced relationship from the top surface of the first end, bottom surface of the first end, top surface of the second end and bottom surface of the second end, respectively, to form notches in the chock. 
     
     
         11 . A crib as described in  claim 10  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. 
     
     
         12 . A crib as described in  claim 11  wherein 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. 
     
     
         13 . A crib as described in  claim 12  wherein 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. 
     
     
         14 . A crib as described in  claim 13  wherein the height of the spacer, bar pin or staple is less than the rise of the edge of the corresponding notch.