Roof bolter

Abstract

A bolter ( 10 ) intended to receive a drill bit for the purposes of drilling a hole in a surrounding rock structure. The bolter ( 10 ) includes a telescopic leg ( 12 ) extending from a base ( 11 ). The base ( 11 ) is provided with a face ( 30 ) that is to receive a duct member ( 31 ). The duct member ( 31 ) provides for the delivery of a drive fluid (such as air) to the motor ( 29 ).

1 . A bolter to receive a driving fluid under pressure and a flushing fluid under pressure, the bolter including:
 a base   a telescopic leg having a longitudinal axis, a lower portion to engage a floor surface, and an upper portion supporting the base, with the driving fluid causing telescopic extension of the leg to raise the base;   a chuck mounted on the base and to engage a drill bit or bolt, the chuck being rotatable about a chuck axis to drive the bit or bolt, the chuck axis being generally parallel to the leg axis;   a motor mounted on the base and drivingly coupled to the chuck to cause rotation thereof, with the motor being driven by said driving fluid;   a control assembly manipulated by an operator to control delivery of the driving fluid to the motor and leg; and wherein   said base includes a fluid delivery face to which ducting to receive the driving fluid extends, with the ducting being connectable so that the driving fluid flows past said face to be delivered to the motor.   
     
     
         2 . The bolter of  claim 1 , wherein the face is adapted to receive a flow directing member to provide for the flow of said drive fluid to said motor. 
     
     
         3 . The bolter of  claim 1 , further including an arm pivotally attached to the base for angular movement about an axis generally normal to said longitudinal axis, with the arm including the control assembly so that an operator may control the bolter by manipulating the arm. 
     
     
         4 . The bolter of  claim 1 , including the flow direction member. 
     
     
         5 . The bolter of  claim 4 , wherein said flow direction member includes ducting to provide for the flow of the driving fluid to and from the motor. 
     
     
         6 . The bolter of  claim 4 , wherein the flow direction member includes a muffler through which driving fluid leaving the motor is exhausted to atmosphere. 
     
     
         7 . The bolter of  claim 4 , wherein said flow direction member includes a valve assembly to provide for the delivery of the driving fluid to said motor so that the motor may be driven in a first direction or a direction opposite said first direction. 
     
     
         8 . The bolter of  claim 7 , wherein said valve assembly includes a casing and a rotary valve member located in the casing and moved angularly to provide for delivery of the driving fluid to said motor so that said motor can be selectively driven in either direction. 
     
     
         9 . The bolter of  claim 7 , wherein said valve includes a movable valve member, said member valve has a drive first position providing for the delivery of driving fluid to drive the motor in said first direction, and a drive second position providing for the delivery of the drive fluid to drive the motor in said opposite direction. 
     
     
         10 . The bolter of  claim 9 , wherein the movable valve member is movable to a third position at which the drive fluid provides for the injection of a resin by the bolter. 
     
     
         11 . The bolter of  claim 4 , further including a lock assembly operable to engage the chuck preventing rotation thereof relative to the base. 
     
     
         12 . The bolter of  claim 11 , wherein the flow direction member includes a valve operable to activate the motor to rotate the chuck in a predetermined direction, and also operable to cause engagement of the lock member to prevent rotation of the chuck relative to the base. 
     
     
         13 . The bolter of  claim 12 , wherein the valve is operable to activate the motor to rotate the chuck in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction. 
     
     
         14 . The bolter of  claim 2 , further including an arm pivotally attached to the base for angular movement about an axis generally normal to said longitudinal axis, with the arm including the control assembly so that an operator may control the bolter by manipulating the arm. 
     
     
         15 . The bolter of  claim 14 , including the flow direction member. 
     
     
         16 . The bolter of  claim 15 , wherein said flow direction member includes ducting to provide for the flow of the driving fluid to and from the motor. 
     
     
         17 . The bolter of  claim 15 , wherein the flow direction member includes a muffler through which driving fluid leaving the motor is exhausted to atmosphere. 
     
     
         18 . The bolter of  claim 15 , wherein said flow direction member includes a valve assembly to provide for the delivery of the driving fluid to said motor so that the motor may be driven in a first direction or a direction opposite said first direction, said valve assembly including a casing and a rotary valve member located in the casing and moved angularly to provide for delivery of the driving fluid to said motor so that said motor can be selectively driven in either direction. 
     
     
         19 . The bolter of  claim 18 , wherein said valve includes a movable valve member, said member valve has a drive first position providing for the delivery of driving fluid to drive the motor in said first direction, and a drive second position providing for the delivery of the drive fluid to drive the motor in said opposite direction, and the movable valve member is movable to a third position at which the drive fluid provides for the injection of a resin by the bolter. 
     
     
         20 . The bolter of  claim 15 , further including a lock assembly operable to engage the chuck preventing rotation thereof relative to the base, with the flow direction member including a valve operable to activate the motor to rotate the chuck in a predetermined direction, and also operable to cause engagement of the lock member to prevent rotation of the chuck relative to the base and to activate the motor to rotate the chuck in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction.