Bulkhead for facilitating backfilling of a stope upon mining thereof

Abstract

A bulkhead for use in facilitating backfilling of a stope upon mining thereof includes a skid having a base and a pair of post members extending upwardly from the base. The bulkhead also includes a barrier having a primary grid assembly pivotally supported on the pair of post members, at least one secondary grid assembly selectively, and sequentially, stacked upon the primary grid assembly; and a brace selectively stacked upon an uppermost one of the primary grid assembly and the at least one secondary grid assembly. An aspect ratio of the barrier, prior to, backfilling, is operably adjustable by individually adjusting one or more of the primary grid assembly, the secondary grid assembly and the brace to confirm with an aspect ratio of an access tunnel, or a brow, adjacent to the stope for subsequently facilitating backfilling of the stope.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bulkhead ( 100 ) for use in facilitating backfilling of a stope upon mining thereof, the bulkhead ( 100 ) comprising:
 a skid ( 104 ) having a base ( 118 ) and a pair of post members ( 120 ) extending upwardly from the base ( 118 );   a barrier ( 106 ) having:
 a primary grid assembly ( 108 ) pivotally supported on the pair of post members ( 120 ); 
 at least one secondary grid assembly ( 110 ) selectively, and sequentially, stacked upon the primary grid assembly ( 108 ); and 
 a brace ( 112 ) selectively stacked upon a uppermost one of the primary grid assembly ( 108 ) and the at least one secondary grid assembly ( 110 ), wherein an aspect ratio of the barrier ( 106 ), prior to, backfilling, is operably adjustable by individually adjusting one or more of the primary grid assembly ( 108 ), the secondary grid assembly ( 110 ) and the brace ( 112 ) to confirm with an aspect ratio of an access tunnel ( 102 ), or a brow ( 102 ), adjacent to the stope for subsequently facilitating backfilling of the stope. 
   
     
     
         2 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the base ( 118 ) of the skid ( 104 ) further comprises a pair of legs ( 122 ) attached to a bottom portion ( 124 ) of the pair of post members ( 120 ), the pair of legs ( 122 ) equidistantly spaced apart from a mid-plane (P) of the skid ( 104 ) with a pre-determined distance (D) therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 2 , wherein the skid ( 104 ) further comprises a pair of inclined support members ( 126 ) angularly extending between, and attached to, a rear portion ( 128 ) of the pair of legs ( 122 ) and a top portion ( 130 ) of the pair of post members ( 120 ). 
     
     
         4 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 3  further comprising a weighted member ( 114 ) having a pair of holes ( 132 ) in alignment with corresponding ones of the pair of legs ( 122 ) of the base ( 118 ), the weighted member ( 114 ) slidably, and releasably, engaged with a front portion ( 134 ) of the pair of legs ( 122 ) upon receipt of the pair of legs ( 122 ) within the pair of holes ( 132 ). 
     
     
         5 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 4 , wherein the weighted member ( 114 ) is further configured to define at least one horizontal passageway ( 136 ) defined therethrough, and wherein the weighted member ( 114 ) includes at least one elongated bollard axially disposed within the at least one horizontal passageway ( 136 ). 
     
     
         6 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the primary grid assembly ( 108 ) includes at least one first grid member ( 138 ) and at least one second grid member ( 140 ) pivotally coupled to corresponding ones of the pair of post members ( 120 ) using hinges ( 142 ). 
     
     
         7 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second grid members ( 138 ,  140 ) further include an arcuate stationary rear screen ( 144 ) and a correspondingly arcuate front screen ( 146 ) slidably moveable in relation to the arcuate stationary rear screen ( 144 ), and wherein each of the front and rear screens ( 146 ,  144 ) have a concave front side and a convex rear side. 
     
     
         8 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 7 , wherein the arcuate front screens ( 146 ) of the primary grid assembly ( 108 ) has distally located ends ( 146   a ) that are adapted to be secured with corresponding sidewalls of the access tunnel ( 102 ), or the brow ( 102 ), upon slidably moving the front screen ( 146 ) in relation to the stationary rear screen ( 144 ). 
     
     
         9 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 7 , wherein the barrier ( 106 ) further comprises one or more upright support bars ( 148 ) extending along the convex rear side of the arcuate stationary rear screens ( 144 ), the upright support bars ( 148 ) and the pair of post members ( 120 ) having top portions ( 130 ) defining axially upright primary receptacles ( 150 ) therein. 
     
     
         10 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 9 , wherein each secondary grid assembly ( 110 ) of the barrier ( 106 ) comprises a third grid member ( 152 ) and a fourth grid member ( 154 ) pivotally connected to each other, and wherein each of the third and fourth grid members ( 152 ,  154 ) further includes locating pins ( 156 ) depending downwardly to engage with corresponding ones of the axially upright primary receptacles ( 150 ) defined in top portions ( 130 ) of the pair of post members ( 120 ) and the upright support bars ( 148 ) for rendering the at least one secondary grid assembly ( 110 ) co-planar with the primary grid assembly ( 108 ) when stacked sequentially upon the primary grid assembly ( 108 ). 
     
     
         11 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 10 , wherein each of the third and fourth grid members ( 152 ,  154 ) further include an arcuate stationary rear screen ( 158 ) and a correspondingly arcuate front screen ( 160 ) slidably moveable in relation to the arcuate stationary rear screen ( 158 ), and wherein each of the front and rear screens ( 158 ,  160 ) have a concave front side and a convex rear side. 
     
     
         12 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 11 , wherein the slidably moveable front screens ( 160 ) of the secondary grid assembly ( 110 ) have distally located ends ( 160   a ) that are adapted to be secured to corresponding sidewalls of the access tunnel ( 102 ), or the brow ( 102 ), that are adjacent to the stope upon slidably moving the front screen ( 160 ) in relation to the stationary rear screen ( 158 ). 
     
     
         13 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 10 , wherein the locating pins ( 156 ) from each of the third and fourth grid members ( 152 ,  154 ) extend upwardly to define a secondary receptacle ( 162 ) in alignment with the primary receptacle ( 150 ) to facilitate a stacking of another one of the at least one secondary grid assembly ( 110 ) or the brace ( 112 ). 
     
     
         14 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 13 , wherein the brace ( 112 ) comprises:
 at least two upright members ( 164 ) received axially, and at least partly, within the primary receptacles ( 150 ) or the secondary receptacles ( 162 ) corresponding to the uppermost one of the primary grid assembly ( 108 ) and the secondary grid assembly ( 110 ), if stacked upon the primary grid assembly ( 108 );   an arcuate tube member ( 166 ) independently, and slidably, supported on each of the at least two upright members ( 164 ); and   a pair of arcuate telescopic arms ( 168 ) independently, and slidably, supported within the arcuate tube member ( 166 ).   
     
     
         15 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 14 , wherein distally located ends ( 164   a,    168   a ) of the at least two upright members ( 164 ) and the pair of arcuate telescopic arms ( 168 ) are adapted to be secured to at least one of: a ceiling (C) and corresponding ones of the sidewalls of the access tunnel ( 102 ), or the brow ( 102 ), upon adjusting one or more of:
 an inclination of the arcuate tube member ( 166 ) in relation to the at least two upright members ( 164 ), and   a length of each arcuate telescopic arm ( 168 ) relative to the arcuate tube member ( 166 ).   
     
     
         16 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 15 , wherein the brace ( 112 ) further includes at least two slidable clamps ( 170 ) to correspond, in number, with the at least two upright members ( 164 ), wherein the at least two slidable clamps ( 170 ) are configured to adjustably, and independently, couple the arcuate tube member ( 166 ) to corresponding ones of the at least two upright members ( 164 ). 
     
     
         17 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of clam  16 , wherein each of the at least two slidable clamps ( 170 ) includes a front plate ( 172 ), a back plate ( 174 ), and a bolt and nut arrangement ( 176 ) to secure the front plate ( 172 ) to the back plate ( 174 ) for adjustably, and independently, coupling the arcuate tube member ( 166 ) to corresponding ones of the at least two upright members ( 164 ). 
     
     
         18 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 17 , wherein a height (H) of each upright member and a distance (d) between successive upright members ( 164 ) is user-adjustable. 
     
     
         19 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 13 , wherein the brace ( 112 ) comprises:
 a plurality of arcuate mesh members ( 602 ), each having a top end ( 604 ) and a bottom end ( 606 ) of a pre-determined width (M) respectively;   at least one upright stationary case positioned proximal to the top end ( 604 ) of each arcuate mesh member ( 602 ) and a telescopic arm ( 610 ) slidably disposed within the upright stationary case, wherein a distal end ( 610   a ) of the telescopic arm ( 610 ) is adjustable in relation to the stationary case for facilitating a securement of a corresponding arcuate mesh member ( 602 ) with a ceiling (C) of the access tunnel ( 102 ) or the brow ( 102 ) located adjacent to the stope; and   at least one clamping element ( 612 ) provided on a convex side of each arcuate mesh member ( 602 ) and located proximal to the bottom end ( 606 ) of the corresponding arcuate mesh member ( 602 ), the at least one clamping element ( 612 ) operable for facilitating a securement of the corresponding arcuate mesh member ( 602 ) with the uppermost one of the one of the primary grid assembly ( 108 ) and the secondary grid assembly ( 110 ), if stacked upon the primary grid assembly ( 108 ).   
     
     
         20 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 19 , wherein each arcuate mesh member ( 602 ) has a plurality of upright support ribs ( 614 ) successively spaced apart from each other, and wherein lengths (l) of successively spaced apart support ribs ( 614 ) are one of: equal and unequal to form the top end ( 604 ) of the arcuate mesh member ( 602 ) in one of: a flattened, inclined, or declined configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 19 , wherein each clamping element ( 612 ) includes:
 a threaded rod ( 702 ) rotatably engaged with one of the upright support ribs ( 614 ), the threaded rod ( 702 ) having a hook member ( 704 ) disposed on, and integrally formed with, a portion of a circumference (C r ) of the threaded rod ( 702 ); and   a winged adjustment nut ( 706 ) rotatably supported on the threaded rod ( 702 ), the adjustment nut ( 706 ) rotatably operable to axially vary a position of the threaded rod ( 702 ) relative to the arcuate mesh until the hook member ( 704 ) is positioned to secure the corresponding arcuate mesh member ( 602 ) with the uppermost one of the one of the primary grid assembly ( 108 ) and the secondary grid assembly ( 110 ), if stacked upon the primary grid assembly ( 108 ).   
     
     
         22 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein a height (H 2 ) of each secondary grid assembly ( 110 ) is less than a height (H 1 ) of the primary grid assembly ( 108 ). 
     
     
         23 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein, before backfilling the stope, a front concave side of the barrier ( 106 ) is prepared by:
 selectively applying a hessian to the front concave side of the barrier ( 106 ); and   spraying shotcrete over one of the hessian and the front concave side of the barrier ( 106 ).   
     
     
         24 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 23 , wherein, at least some portion of, the front concave side of the barrier ( 106 ) is configured to define thereon one or more forwardly protruding depth gauges ( 178 ) for indicating a depth of the sprayed shotcrete. 
     
     
         25 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein at least the primary grid assembly ( 108 ) of the barrier ( 106 ) is foldable from a compact configuration when not in use to an expanded configuration for installation of the bulkhead ( 100 ) prior to backfilling. 
     
     
         26 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 25 , wherein a convex rear portion of the barrier ( 106 ) further comprises one or more latches ( 180 ) to secure the expanded configuration of the barrier ( 106 ). 
     
     
         27 . The bulkhead ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the base ( 118 ) and the barrier ( 106 ) are each made from zinc plated mild steel.