Nested mine roof supports

Abstract

This invention is directed to a means for transporting a mine roof support set including a plurality of nested containers. Each container in the set has a progressively smaller cross-sectional dimension, or a tapered, frusto-conical shape, to allow the containers to be nested one within the other. The plurality of nested containers allows more efficient transportation of the mine roof support set to a mine site. The containers can be separated at the mine site and filled with a load-bearing material. The containers filled with the load-bearing material are then placed with their longitudinal axis between a mine roof and a mine floor.

1 . A method of transporting a mine roof support for efficient use of the capacity of a transportation vehicle comprising:
 assembling a plurality of hollow individual containers, by placing individual open top containers together such that each individual container fits inside of an adjacent container;   placing the plurality of individual containers on a vehicle for transportation from a manufacturing site of the containers to an underground mine site;   transporting the plurality of containers via the transportation vehicle to the underground mine site; and   separating the plurality of containers at the mine site to provide individual hollow containers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising filling the hollow containers with a load-bearing material at the mine site. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising positioning the filled individual containers between the mine roof and the mine floor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the containers are nestable one within another prior to filling the containers with the load-bearing material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 cutting a straight piece of pipe to a predetermined length;   positioning the straight piece of pipe between two of the individual hollow containers, the individual hollow containers including at least a top-most container and a bottom-most container; and   filling the straight piece of pipe with the load-bearing material to raise the top-most container to a predetermined height below a mine roof.   
     
     
         6 . A transportable mine roof support comprising: a container member having a bottom portion and a side portion upwardly extending from the bottom portion; a support member movably received within the container member; and a bore defined within the support member. 
     
     
         7 . The transportable mine roof support of  claim 5 , wherein the container member is substantially cylindrical in shape with a tapering outer wall to permit ease of nesting the container member. 
     
     
         8 . The transportable mine roof support of  claim 6 , wherein the support member defines an enclosure receiving a filler therein. 
     
     
         9 . The transportable mine roof support of  claim 7 , wherein the filler is foam cement, concrete, or crushed mine tailings. 
     
     
         10 . The transportable mine roof support of  claim 5 , wherein the bore includes: a first opening defined along a side portion of the support member; and a second opening defined along a bottom portion of the support member. 
     
     
         11 . The transportable mine roof support of  claim 9 , wherein the bore is sized to receive material therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The transportable mine roof support of  claim 10 , wherein the material is sand, polyurethane foam, or pea gravel. 
     
     
         13 . The transportable mine roof support according to  claim 11 , wherein at least two containers of the plurality of containers are filled in series by flowing the load-bearing material into said containers, beginning with a top-most container and progressing in sequence to the bottom-most container.