Anchor Arrangement

Abstract

A bolt or anchor 10 typically used in a rock body 14. The anchor 10 comprises an internal gripping formation with which the anchor can be fixed relative to the rock body 14. Moreover, the anchor 10 comprises an elongate body 20 which is configured for, in use, being received at least partially within a hole 12 in the rock body 14. The anchor 10 also comprises an internal fixing arrangement 30 which comprises a substance 32 which is received within a containing arrangement 34. In use, the containing arrangement 34 is arranged within the hole 12. An activating arrangement 36 is provided and configured for, in use, actuating the containing arrangement 34 and causing the internal fixing arrangement 30 to engage with the hole, thereby causing the elongate body 14 to become fixed within the hole 12.

1 . An anchor arrangement for a solid body, the anchor arrangement comprising:
 an elongate body configured for, in use, being received at least partially within a hole in the solid body;   an internal fixing arrangement comprising a substance received within a containing arrangement, the containing arrangement in use arranged within the hole; and   an activating arrangement configured for, in use, actuating the containing arrangement and causing the internal fixing arrangement to engage with the hole, thereby causing the elongate body to become fixed within the hole.   
     
     
         2 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body is substantially cylindrical, wherein a first end of the anchor arrangement is, operatively advanced into the hole, and wherein a second end of the elongate body operatively protrudes from the hole beyond an outer surface of the solid body. 
     
     
         3 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 1 or 2 , wherein the activating arrangement is configured operatively to exert an axial force, directly or indirectly, on the containing arrangement, thereby to actuate the containing arrangement. 
     
     
         4 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein a second end portion of the elongate body comprises an outer thread configured in a first directional orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein the activating arrangement comprises an actuating body, comprising an inner thread configured in the first directional orientation and operatively received on the outer thread of the second end portion of the elongate body, and wherein, an operative torque applied, directly or indirectly, to the actuating body causes same to be displaced along the threaded second portion of the elongate body, thereby, directly or indirectly, to actuate the containing arrangement. 
     
     
         6 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein the actuating body comprises an actuating nut. 
     
     
         7 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein the actuating body comprises a tubular barrel, including a transfer arrangement for driving the tubular barrel. 
     
     
         8 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein tubular barrel has an outer diameter which is smaller than the hole, and wherein the tubular barrel is configured to extend, at least partially, into the hole, in use. 
     
     
         9 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 7 or 8 , wherein the transfer arrangement comprises a hexagonal or square driving head. 
     
     
         10 . The anchor arrangement according to any one of  claims 7 to 9 , wherein the tubular barrel and the transfer arrangement are separate components and wherein a torque limiting arrangement is provided between the tubular barrel and the transfer arrangement to allow a torque below a predetermined magnitude to be transferred from the transfer arrangement to the tubular barrel. 
     
     
         11 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 10 , wherein the torque limiting arrangement comprises one or more shear pins provided between the tubular barrel and the transfer arrangement. 
     
     
         12 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 10 or 11 , wherein tubular barrel comprises an outer thread configured in the first directional orientation, wherein the transfer arrangement comprises an inner thread configured in the first directional orientation and received on the outer thread of the tubular barrel, and wherein a torque applied in the first directional orientation exceeding the predetermined magnitude allows the transfer arrangement to overcome the torque limiting arrangement, following which interaction with the outer thread of the tubular barrel, causes the transfer arrangement to be displaced relative to the tubular barrel until an axial load is transferred between the anchor and the solid body, to create tension in the anchor arrangement. 
     
     
         13 . The anchor arrangement according to any one of  claims 5 to 12 , wherein the activating arrangement further comprises a contact body received between the actuating body and the containing arrangement, which contact body comprises a contact surface shaped to engage the containing arrangement, in use. 
     
     
         14 . The anchor arrangement according to any one of  claims 4 to 13 , wherein a second end of the elongate body is associated with a counter-moment arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 14 , wherein the counter-moment arrangement comprises a locknut arrangement received on a reduced-diameter portion towards the second end of the elongate body. 
     
     
         16 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 15 , wherein the locknut arrangement comprises a nut and lockring assembly, fixed by a torque-limiting arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 16 , wherein relative rotation between the lockring and the elongate body is inhibited by interference between cooperating surfaces on the lockring and the elongate body, and wherein relative rotation between the lockring and nut is inhibited when the torque-limiting arrangement is intact. 
     
     
         18 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 16 or 17 , wherein the reduced-diameter portion comprises an outer thread which is configured in a second directional orientation, and wherein the nut comprises an inner thread which is configured in the second directional orientation. 
     
     
         19 . The anchor arrangement according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the containing arrangement is dimensioned operatively to be received completely within the hole without any portion thereof protruding beyond an outer surface of the solid body. 
     
     
         20 . The anchor arrangement according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the containing arrangement is arranged at least partially between an internal sidewall of the hole and the elongate body. 
     
     
         21 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 20 , wherein the substance comprises a setting compound in the form of one of a cementitious material, a powder, a dry grout, a resin, or an epoxy resin, and wherein actuating the containing arrangement causes the setting compound to become set, thereby engaging with the hole and causing the elongate body to become fixed within the hole. 
     
     
         22 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 20 or 21 , wherein the containing arrangement takes the form of a grout pack, receptacle, enclosure, sleeve, sock, or bag within which the substance is received in use. 
     
     
         23 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 22 , wherein the containing arrangement is manufactured from a water-permeable fabric or textile material. 
     
     
         24 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 23 , wherein the material from which the containing arrangement is manufactured, is configured operatively to allow water to penetrate therethrough and into the containing arrangement to contact the substance, when the internal fixing arrangement is operatively submerged in water. 
     
     
         25 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 23 or 24 , wherein a permeability, size and shape of the material from which the containing arrangement is manufactured, is selected to allow a suitable amount of water to penetrate the containing arrangement to allow for a predetermined water to substance ratio. 
     
     
         26 . The anchor arrangement according to any one of  claims 20 to 25 , wherein the elongate body is operatively received within, surrounded by, or wrapped by the internal fixing arrangement along at least a portion of a length of the elongate body. 
     
     
         27 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 26 , wherein an outer dimension of the anchor, once the elongate body is received within, surrounded by, or wrapped by the internal fixing arrangement, is smaller than a diameter of the hole, to allow the anchor arrangement to be, at least partially, advanced into the hole. 
     
     
         28 . The anchor arrangement according to any one of  claims 20 to 27 , wherein a first end of the elongate body is associated with a locking body, selected from a list comprising a nut, washer, plate, collar, collet, and shoulder, which locking body is provided operatively for limiting or inhibiting axial displacement of the internal fixing arrangement relative to the elongate body and/or for providing back-pressure in the internal fixing arrangement when same is engaged by the activating arrangement. 
     
     
         29 . The anchor arrangement according to any one of  claims 20 to 28 , wherein the activating arrangement is configured operatively to engage the internal fixing arrangement by directly or indirectly exerting a pressure on a portion of the internal fixing arrangement, thereby to cause the substance to become pressurised within the hole and causing the elongate body to become fixed within the hole and relative to the solid body. 
     
     
         30 . The anchor arrangement according to any one of  claims 1 to 19 , wherein the internal fixing arrangement comprises a thin-walled vessel, having a first end operatively arranged within the hole, and a second end attached to the elongate body by way of one of welding or other mechanical attachment. 
     
     
         31 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 30 , wherein the thin-walled vessel takes the form of an expandable, plastically deformable, thin-walled pressure vessel. 
     
     
         32 . The anchor arrangement according to  claim 30 or 31 , wherein the first end of the thin-walled vessel comprises an opening through which the vessel may be prefilled with the substance before installation and wherein the opening is provided with a closure. 
     
     
         33 . The anchor arrangement according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the elongate body takes the form of one of a rock bolt and a cable. 
     
     
         34 . The anchor arrangement according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein a breather passage extends axially and/or centrally along a portion of the elongate body. 
     
     
         35 . The anchor arrangement according to  any one of the preceding claims , further including a bearing plate which is operatively received over the elongate body and in contact with solid body. 
     
     
         36 . A method of installing an anchor arrangement in accordance with  any one of the preceding claims , in a hole of a solid body, the method comprising the steps of:
 A) arranging, within the hole, an internal fixing arrangement and at least part of an elongate body of the anchor arrangement;   B) utilising an activating arrangement to actuate a containing arrangement of the internal fixing arrangement, causing the internal fixing arrangement to engage with the hole, thereby fixing the anchor arrangement within the hole.   
     
     
         37 . The method of according to  claim 36 , wherein step A) is preceded by the step of creating a blind hole in the solid body. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 or 37 , wherein step A) comprises at least some of the sub-steps of:
 arranging the internal fixing arrangement between an internal surface of the hole and at least a portion of the elongate body;   immersing the internal fixing arrangement in water;   arranging the internal fixing arrangement at least partially around the elongate body; and   advancing a first end of the elongate body into the hole.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 or 37 , wherein:
 step A) comprises at least some of the sub-steps of:
 providing a substance through an opening into a thin-walled vessel associated with the anchor arrangement; 
 closing the opening with a closure; and 
   step B) furthermore comprises the step of:
 exerting a force on the thin-walled vessel thereby to increase a pressure within the thin-walled vessel and/or causing an expansion of the thin-walled vessel. 
   
     
     
         40 . The method of any one of claims  36  to  40 , wherein step B) comprises at least some of the sub-steps of:
 providing a bearing plate over a second end of the elongate body; 
 providing a contact body over the second end of the elongate body and advancing same along the elongate body until an engagement surface thereof contacts the internal fixing arrangement; 
 threading an actuating body with a transfer arrangement forming part of the activating arrangement onto the second end portion of the elongate body; 
 providing a torque to the transfer arrangement, thereby causing the actuating body directly or indirectly to engage the internal fixing arrangement; 
 causing the torque applied via the transfer arrangement to the actuating body to become limited; 
 supplying a tightening moment or torque to the transfer arrangement; and 
 causing the tightening moment or torque to become limited.