Bulk resin injection system

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a resin injection system for a mining operation that includes a first tank configured to hold a first viscous fluid, a second tank configured to hold a second viscous fluid, a wand in communication with the first tank and the second tank, a first pump configured to drive the first viscous fluid from the first tank to the wand, and a second pump configured to drive the second viscous fluid from the second tank to the wand. The wand is configured to extend or retract from an initial position and to inject the first viscous fluid and the second viscous fluid into a hole. The first pump and the second pump are configured to operate independently.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A resin injection system, comprising:
 a first tank configured to hold a first viscous fluid;   a second tank configured to hold a second viscous fluid;   a wand in communication with the first tank and the second tank, the wand configured to extend or retract from an initial position and to inject the first viscous fluid and the second viscous fluid into a hole;   a first pump configured to drive the first viscous fluid from the first tank to the wand; and   a second pump configured to drive the second viscous fluid from the second tank to the wand,   wherein the first pump and second pump are configured to operate independently.   
     
     
         2 . The resin injection system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first pump is in communication with the first tank and coupled to a first hydraulic cylinder, and   wherein the second pump is in communication with the second tank and coupled to a second hydraulic cylinder.   
     
     
         3 . The resin injection system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a hydraulic source in communication with the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder; and   a flow divider coupled to the hydraulic source and configured to divide a flow from the hydraulic source into a first flow component directed to the first hydraulic cylinder and a second flow component directed to the second hydraulic cylinder.   
     
     
         4 . The resin injection system of  claim 3 , wherein the flow divider can be adjusted to alter the ratio between the first flow component and the second flow component, thereby altering the ratio of the first viscous fluid and the second viscous fluid pumped to the wand. 
     
     
         5 . The resin injection system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control panel configured to enable an operator to input one or more parameters into the resin injection system relating to a particular application or operation; and   a processor configured to make determinations by analyzing the parameters input by the operator.   
     
     
         6 . The resin injection system of  claim 5 , wherein the processor determines a desired ratio of the first viscous fluid to the second viscous fluid, a desired rate of retraction of the wand, or both. 
     
     
         7 . The resin injection system of  claim 5 , wherein the first tank and the second tank are each configured to receive air from a pressurized air source such that the first tank and the second tank are pressurized. 
     
     
         8 . A bolting device, comprising:
 a frame including a boom;   a bolting attachment including a wand coupled to the boom, the wand configured to extend or retract with respect to an initial position; and   a pump system in communication with the wand and configured to pump resin and catalyst thereto,   wherein the pumping of resin and the pumping of catalyst by the pump system are performed independently.   
     
     
         9 . The bolting device of  claim 8 , wherein the pump system further comprises:
 a first tank configured to hold resin;   a second tank configured to hold catalyst;   a first flow path extending between the first tank and the wand and providing fluid communication therebetween;   a second flow path extending between the second tank and the wand and providing fluid communication therebetween;   a first pump in communication with the first tank and coupled to a first hydraulic cylinder, the first pump configured to pump resin from the first tank to the wand;   a second pump in communication with the second tank and coupled to a second hydraulic cylinder, the second pump configured to pump catalyst from the second tank to the wand.   
     
     
         10 . The bolting device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a first temperature sensor positioned on the first tank and configured to generate a signal indicative of a temperature of the resin;   a first level sensor positioned on the first tank and configured to generate a signal indicative of a volume of resin contained in the first tank;   a second temperature sensor positioned on the second tank and configured to generate a signal indicative of a temperature of the catalyst;   a second level sensor positioned on the second tank and configured to generate a signal indicative of a volume of catalyst contained in the second tank.   
     
     
         11 . The bolting device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 two pressure sensors positioned along the first flow path; and   two pressure sensors positioned along the second flow path,   wherein each pressure sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a localized pressure at a location along the first flow path or the second flow path.   
     
     
         12 . The bolting device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a control panel configured to enable an operator to input one or more parameters into the resin injection system relating to a particular application or operation.   
     
     
         13 . The bolting device of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a processor configured to receive and evaluate the signals generated by the first and second temperature sensors, the signals generated by the first and second level sensors, the signals generated by the pressure sensors, and the parameters input by the operator.   
     
     
         14 . The bolting device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to make a determination regarding the appropriate ratio of resin to catalyst, the appropriate rate of retraction of the wand during an injection operation, or both based on the signals received from the first and second temperature sensors, first and second level sensors, and pressure sensors and the parameters input by the operator. 
     
     
         15 . The bolting device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a hydraulic source configured to generate a flow that feeds the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder; and   a flow divider that distributes the flow generated by the hydraulic source between the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder,   wherein the flow divider can be adjusted to alter the ratio between a portion of the flow generated by the hydraulic source that is directed to the first hydraulic cylinder and a portion of the flow generated by the hydraulic source that is directed to the second hydraulic cylinder.   
     
     
         16 . The bolting device of  claim 15 , wherein the flow divider is configured to receive two or more interchangeable cartridges, wherein each cartridge is associated with a desired ratio between the amount of resin supplied to the wand and the amount of catalyst supplied to the wand, and wherein an operator can adjust the flow divider by installing a new cartridge. 
     
     
         17 . The bolting device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first flow path includes a first external conduit,   the second flow path includes a second external conduit,   a first pressure sensor is positioned proximate to a first end of the first external conduit and a second pressure sensor is positioned proximate to a second end of the first external conduit opposing the first end of the first external conduit, and   a third pressure sensor is positioned proximate to a first end of the second external conduit and a fourth pressure sensor is positioned proximate to a second end of the second external conduit opposing the first end of the second external conduit.   
     
     
         18 . The bolting device of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second pressure sensors aid an operator in identifying leaks or faults along the first flow path, and wherein the third and fourth pressure sensors aid the operator in identifying leaks or faults along the second flow path. 
     
     
         19 . The bolting device of  claim 8 , wherein the wand includes a resin conduit through which resin may be injected and a catalyst conduit through which catalyst may be injected, and wherein the resin and the catalyst are kept separate until they exit the wand. 
     
     
         20 . A resin injection system, comprising:
 a pressurized resin tank configured to hold a supply of resin, the pressurized resin tank in communication with a first continuous pump coupled to a first hydraulic cylinder;   a pressurized catalyst tank configured to hold a supply of catalyst, the pressurized catalyst tank in communication with a second continuous pump coupled to a second hydraulic cylinder;   a hydraulic source configured to supply a flow to the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder;   a flow divider positioned between the hydraulic source and the first and second hydraulic cylinders, the flow divider configured to distribute the flow generated by the hydraulic source between the first and second hydraulic cylinders;   a wand in communication with the pressurized resin tank and the pressurized catalyst tank, the wand configured to inject at least a portion of the supply of resin and at least a portion of the supply of catalyst into a hole;   a control panel configured to enable an operator to input one or more parameters associated with a particular application or operation; and   a processor configured to receive the information input by the operator,   wherein the first and second pumps operate independently with respect to one another,   wherein the processor is configured to determine a desired ratio between resin and catalyst, a desired rate of retraction of the wand during an injection operation, or both, and   wherein the ratio between resin injected via the wand and catalyst injected via the wand can be adjusted by altering a configuration of the flow divider.