Equipment foundation and mine rock bolt system

Abstract

A ground-disposed foundation mat. A pre-drilled, wooden block has a thru-hole, the thru-hole defined by a thru-hole inner surface and a hole diameter, the wooden block having an outer surface; a rod is power-driven through the thru-hole, the rod having a head top surface and a smooth outer surface, the rod having a lead end, the rod having an outer diameter equal to or slightly greater than the hole diameter of each of the thru holes, wherein each rod is held in place by significant friction between the thru-hole inner surface and the smooth outer surface of the rod. As such, the rod is adapted to remain held in place within the block even when subjected to a pull force of at least 3 tons.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for assembling a ground-disposed foundation mat for equipment, comprising the steps of:
 pre-drilling multiple, wooden blocks with a plurality of thru-holes, each said thru-hole defined by a thru-hole inner surface and a hole diameter, each said wooden block having an outer surface;   stacking said wooden blocks in side-by-side relation with said thru-holes generally aligned;   using a mechanical press, power-driving a rod into said thru-holes through said wooden blocks, said rod having a smooth outer surface, said rod having an outer diameter slightly equal to or slightly greater than said hole diameter of each of said thru holes, wherein each said rod is held in place solely by friction between said thru-hole inner surface and said smooth outer surface of said rod.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of leaving a head top surface of said rod flush with said outer surface of said block. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of leaving a head top surface of said rod slightly counter-sunk in relation to said outer surface of said block. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein for the step of power-driving said rod, pressure in the range of 2-4 tons is applied to said rod. 
     
     
         5 . A ground-disposed foundation mat, comprising:
 a pre-drilled, wooden block with a thru-hole, said thru-hole defined by a thru-hole inner surface and a hole diameter, said wooden block having an outer surface;   a rod power-driven driving through said thru-hole, said rod having a head top surface and a smooth outer surface, said rod having a lead end, said rod having an outer diameter equal to or slightly greater than said hole diameter of each of said thru holes, wherein each said rod is held in place solely by friction between said thru-hole inner surface and said smooth outer surface of said rod.   
     
     
         6 . The ground-disposed foundation mat of  claim 5 , further comprising said head top surface of said rod being flush with said outer surface of said block. 
     
     
         7 . The ground-disposed foundation mat of  claim 5 , further comprising said head top surface of said rod slightly counter-sunk in relation to said outer surface of said block. 
     
     
         8 . The ground-disposed foundation mat of  claim 5 , wherein said lead end is tapered. 
     
     
         9 . The ground-disposed foundation mat of  claim 5 , wherein said head top surface is co-planar with said smooth outer surface. 
     
     
         10 . The ground-disposed foundation mat of  claim 5 , wherein said wooden block has a depth of eight inches. 
     
     
         11 . The ground-disposed foundation mat of  claim 10 , wherein said rod is adapted to remain held in place within said block even when subjected to a pull force of at least 3 tons. 
     
     
         12 . The ground-disposed foundation mat of  claim 5 , wherein said rod is hollow. 
     
     
         13 . The ground-disposed foundation mat of  claim 5 , wherein said outer diameter is no more than ⅛ inches greater than said thru-hole inner surface. 
     
     
         14 . A method for anchoring through a mass, comprising the steps of:
 pre-drilling a plurality of thru-holes through said mass, each said thru-hole defined by a thru-hole inner surface and a hole diameter, each said mass having an outer surface;   using a mechanical press, power-driving a rod into said thru-holes through said mass, said rod having a smooth outer surface, said rod having an outer diameter slightly equal to or slightly greater than said hole diameter of each of said thru holes, wherein each said rod is held in place solely by friction between said thru-hole inner surface and said smooth outer surface of said rod.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of leaving a head top surface of said rod flush with said outer surface of said block. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of leaving a head top surface of said rod slightly counter-sunk in relation to said outer surface of said block. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein for the step of power-driving said rod, pressure in the range of 2-4 tons is applied to said rod.