Dolly for Rockbolt

Abstract

A rock bolt dolly for connecting a self-drilling rock bolt to a rock bolting apparatus includes a drive shaft having a central bore and defining a proximal end and a distal end defining an engagement means for engagement with a corresponding engagement means located on the proximal end of the rock bolt. A sleeve is mounted over the distal end of the drive shaft and arranged to slide along and over the drive shaft and defines a female engagement means at a distal end, for engaging with a nut threaded onto the proximal end of the rock bolt. The interior of the sleeve and exterior of the drive shaft are configured to rotate together about their central axis. A spring biases the distal end of the sleeve away from the distal end of the drive shaft. The dolly operates in two modes, one in which the nut and rod rotate together, and a second where the nut rotates on the rod.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rock bolt dolly for connecting a self-drilling rock bolt to a rock bolting apparatus, such as a drifter, rock drill or the like, and arranged to transfer torque applied to the rock bolt dolly by the rock bolting apparatus to the rock bolt during installation of the rock bolt, the rock bolt including an externally threaded rod having a proximal end and a distal end defining a drill bit, the rock bolt dolly comprising:
 a coupling at a proximal end of the rock bolt dolly configured to engage the rock bolting apparatus;   a drive shaft defining a proximal end and a distal end, the drive shaft defining an engagement means at the distal end configured to engage a corresponding engagement means located on or defined at a proximal end of the rock bolt;   a sleeve mounted over the distal end of the drive shaft and configured to slide along and over the drive shaft, the sleeve defining a female engagement means at a distal end of the sleeve configured to engage with a nut or the like threaded onto the proximal end of the rock bolt, an interior of the sleeve and an exterior of the drive shaft being configured such that the drive shaft and the sleeve rotate together about their central axis, and   a biasing means for biasing the distal end of the sleeve away from the distal end of the drive shaft;   wherein, in a first mode, with the biasing means compressed, the engagement means of the drive shaft is engaged with the corresponding engagement means located on or defined on the proximal end of the rock bolt, and the female engagement means of the sleeve is engaged with the nut or the like threaded onto the proximal end of the rock bolt so that the dolly rotates the rod and nut together such that the nut does not translate along the rod, and in a second mode, with the biasing means expanded, the engagement means of the drive shaft is disengaged from the corresponding engagement means and the female engagement means of the sleeve is engaged with the nut or the like and the dolly rotates the nut only which translates along the externally threaded rod of the rock bolt.   
     
     
         2 . The rock bolt dolly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the exterior of the main body portion of the drive shaft is polygonal, and wherein the sleeve defines a correspondingly shaped polygonal aperture in which the main body portion locates and can slide. 
     
     
         3 . The rock bolt dolly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a bore extends through the dolly including through the drive shaft to allow the passage of fluids such as water for flushing fines, liquid grout, or the like through the dolly. 
     
     
         4 . The rock bolt dolly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the biasing means comprises a spring. 
     
     
         5 . The rock bolt dolly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the engagement means defined at the distal end of the drive shaft is a hexagonal socket. 
     
     
         6 . The rock bolt dolly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the corresponding engagement means located on or defined on the proximal end of the rock bolt comprise an adaptor mounted on the proximal end of the rock bolt defining a hex drive. 
     
     
         7 . The rock bolt dolly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the corresponding engagement means located on or defined on the proximal end of the rock bolt comprise a hex drive machined onto the rod of the rock bolt. 
     
     
         8 . The rock bolt dolly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the engagement means at the distal end of the drive shaft is hexagonal drive and the corresponding engagement means located on or defined on the proximal end of the rock bolt comprise a hexagonal socket formed in an adaptor mounted onto the end of the rod of the rock bolt. 
     
     
         9 . A rock bolt comprising:
 an elongate rod having a central bore and being externally threaded, the rod having a first or distal end and a second or proximal end;   a drill bit mounted on the distal end configured to drill a bore in strata such as rock or the like, wherein sides of the drill bit taper outwardly towards the cutting end of the drill at an angle of from about 1 to 10 degrees;   an expansion shell mounted about an exterior of the rod adjacent the drill bit, the shell defining at least one longitudinal slot configured to allow the shell to expand and contract;   a stop configured to maintain the expansion shell in close proximity to the drill bit and limiting the movement of the expansion shell towards a proximal end of the rock bolt;   wherein an exterior of the expansion shell is contoured to define a series of ridges or the like, wherein a widest part of the expansion shell is wider than the drill bit, wherein an interior of the expansion shell is wider than the exterior of the elongate rod and configured to allow the rod to rotate relative to the expansion shell, and wherein the expansion shell is free to rotate relative to the drill bit and is tapered inwardly towards a proximal end of the expansion shell;   a nut threadably engaged on the rod at the proximal end of the rod, wherein rotation of the nut relative to the rod translates the nut along the rod; and   an engagement means for rotating the elongate rod fixed on or defined at the proximal end of the rock bolt, the engagement means fixed to the rod such that rotation of the engagement means causes rotation of the elongate rod;   wherein, as the rock bolt is installed in strata, in a first mode both the nut and the elongate rod may be rotated together at the same angular velocity such that the nut does not translate along the rod and the drill bit forms a bore in the strata and the expansion shell drags along the bore wall when thrust forward during drilling and remains largely clear of the spinning rod and drill bit and, when drilling ceases, only the nut is rotated causing movement of the rock bolt out from the bore and causes the drill bit to engage with and expand the expansion shell.   
     
     
         10 . The rock bolt as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the engagement means fixed on or defined on the proximal end of the rock bolt comprise an adaptor mounted on the proximal end of the rock bolt. 
     
     
         11 . The rock bolt as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the engagement means fixed on or defined on the proximal end of the rock bolt comprise a male hex drive machined onto or into the proximal end of the rod of the rock bolt. 
     
     
         12 . The rock bolt as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the engagement means located on or defined on the proximal end of the rock bolt comprise an adaptor mounted on the proximal end of the rock bolt. 
     
     
         13 . A method of installing a self-drilling rock bolt in a rock face, using a rock bolt dolly of  claim 1 , in a rock face, the rock bolt including an elongate rod and having a distal end defining a drill bit and a proximal end defining an engagement means for rotating the elongate rod fixed on or defined at a proximal end of the rock bolt, such that rotation of the engagement means causes rotation of the elongate rod, and a nut threaded onto the proximal end of the rock bolt, the method comprising:
 mounting the rock bolt to the rock bolt dolly;   inserting the nut or the like threaded onto the proximal end of the rock bolt into the female engagement means of the sleeve;   pushing the distal end of the rock bolt defining a drill bit against the rock face until, with the biasing means compressed, the engagement means of the drive shaft is engaged with the corresponding engagement means defined at the proximal end of the rock bolt;   applying rotation to the rock bolt dolly to drill the rock bolt into the rock face using the drill bit rotating both the nut and the elongate rod of the rock bolt;   terminating drilling after a bearing plate located on the proximal end of the rock bolt contacts the rock face;   retracting the rock bolting apparatus to disengage the engagement means of the drive shaft from the corresponding engagement means located on or defined on the proximal end of the rock bolt; and   with the nut or the like threaded onto the proximal end of the rock bolt still engaged with the female engagement means of the sleeve, rotating the dolly, in the same direction as during drilling, to rotate the nut along the rod of the rock bolt which pulls the distal end of the rock bolt back towards the rock face and bearing plate and causes the expansion shell of the rock bolt to expand and tension is applied to the rock bolt.   
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising retracting the rock bolt dolly and post-grouting the rock-bolt after tensioning. 
     
     
         15 . A method of installing a self-drilling rock bolt using a rock bolt dolly as claimed in  claim 1 , in a rock face, in an extension drilling process, the method comprising:
 a) mounting a starter rock bolt to the rock bolt dolly, the starter rock bolt comprising:   an elongate rod having a central bore and being externally threaded, the rod having a first or distal end and a second or proximal end;   a drill bit mounted on the distal end for drilling a bore in strata such as rock or the like wherein the sides of the drill bit taper outwardly towards the cutting end of the drill at an angle of from about 1 to 10 degrees;   an expansion shell mounted about the exterior of the rod adjacent the drill bit, the expansion shell defining at least one longitudinal slot configured to allow the expansion shell to expand and contract;   a stop configured to maintain the expansion shell in close proximity to the drill bit and limiting the movement of the expansion shell towards the proximal end of the rock bolt;   wherein the exterior of the shell is contoured to define a series of ridges or the like, wherein the widest part of the shell is wider than the drill bit, wherein the interior of the expansion shell is wider than the exterior of the elongate rod to allow the rod to rotate relative to the expansion shell, and wherein the expansion shell is free to rotate relative to the drill bit and is tapered inwardly towards a proximal end of the expansion shell; and   an engagement means for rotating the elongate rod located on or defined at or near a proximal end of the starter rock bolt, corresponding to the engagement means defined on the distal end of the drive shaft, wherein the step of mounting includes engaging the corresponding engagement means of the starter rock bolt with the engagement means defined on the distal end of the drive shaft;   b) pushing the drill bit of the starter rock bolt against the rock face and applying rotation to the rock bolt dolly to drill the rock bolt into the rock face using the drill bit;   c) terminating drilling after the sleeve of the dolly nears the rock face;   d) retracting the rock bolting apparatus to disengage the engagement means of the drive shaft from the corresponding engagement means located on or defined on the proximal end of the starter rock bolt;   e) mounting either an extension bar having a coupler mounted on the distal end of the extension bar, or a finisher bar, to the dolly;   f) mounting a finisher bar to the rock bolt dolly, the finisher bar including an engagement means for rotating the elongate rod of the finisher bar located on or defined at or near a proximal end of the rock bolt, corresponding to the engagement means defined on the distal end of the drive shaft; wherein the step of mounting includes engaging the corresponding engagement means of the starter bar with the engagement means defined on the distal end of the drive shaft, the finisher bar also including a nut or the like threaded onto the proximal end of the rock bolt which is inserted into the female engagement means of the sleeve and further defining a coupler on its distal end;   g) aligning the finisher bar with the starter bar or a previous extension bar, connecting the bars using the coupler and drilling the rock bolt further into the rock face using a combination of rotation and feed pressure and terminating drilling after the sleeve of the dolly or bearing plate associated with the nut nears the rock face;   h) disengaging the drive shaft from the finisher bar; and   i) with the nut or the like threaded onto the proximal end of the finisher bar still engaged with the female engagement means of the sleeve, rotating the dolly, in the same direction as during drilling, to rotate the nut along the rod of the finisher bar which pulls the distal end of the starter bar back towards the rock face/bearing plate and causes the expansion shell of the starter bar to expand and tension to be applied to the rock bolt.   
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein, when an extension bar is used, engaging an engagement means for rotating the extension bar located on or defined at or near a proximal end of the extension bar, with the engagement means defined on the distal end of the drive shaft, aligning the extension bar with the starter bar or a previous extension bar connecting the bars using the coupler, and drilling the rock bolt further into the rock face using a combination of rotation and feed pressure and terminating drilling after the sleeve of the dolly nears the rock face. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising repeating step f) one or more times with one or more further extension bars. 
     
     
         18 . A rock bolt dolly for connecting a self-drilling rock bolt to a rock bolting apparatus and arranged to transfer torque applied to the rock bolt dolly by the rock bolting apparatus to the rock bolt during installation of the rock bolt, the rock bolt including an externally threaded rod having a proximal end and a distal end defining a drill bit, the rock bolt dolly comprising:
 a coupling at a proximal end of the rock bolt dolly configured to engage with the rock bolting apparatus;   a drive shaft having a central bore for the transmission of fluids for flushing fines and/or cooling during drilling, and defining a proximal end and a distal end, the drive shaft defining an engagement means at the distal end for engagement with a corresponding engagement means located on or defined at the proximal end of the rock bolt;   a housing mounted around the distal end of the drive shaft and arranged to slide relative to the drive shaft and defining a female engagement means at a distal end, for engaging with a nut or the like threaded onto the proximal end of the rock bolt, the interior of the sleeve and exterior of the drive shaft being configured such that the drive shaft and sleeve rotate together about their central axis, and   a biasing means for biasing the distal end of the sleeve away from the distal end of the drive shaft;   wherein, in a first mode, with the biasing means compressed, the engagement means of the drive shaft is engaged with the corresponding engagement means located on or defined on the proximal end of the rock bolt, and the female engagement means of the sleeve is engaged with the nut or the like threaded onto the proximal end of the rock bolt so that the dolly rotates the rod and nut together such that the nut does not translate along the rod, and in a second mode, with the biasing means expanded, the engagement means of the drive shaft is disengaged from the corresponding engagement means and the female engagement means of the sleeve is engaged with the nut or the like and the dolly rotates the nut only which translates along the externally threaded rod of the rock bolt.   
     
     
         19 . The rock bolt dolly as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the biasing means comprises a compression spring. 
     
     
         20 . A rock bolt comprising:
 an elongate rod having a central bore and being externally threaded, the rod having a first or distal end and a second or proximal end;   a drill bit mounted on the distal end for drilling a borehole in strata such as rock or the like, wherein sides of the drill bit taper outwardly towards the cutting end of the drill;   an expansion shell located adjacent the drill bit;   a nut threadably engaged on the rod at the proximal end of the rod, such that rotation of the nut relative to the rod translates the nut along the rod; and   an engagement means for rotating the elongate rod fixed on or defined at a proximal end of the rock bolt, and being fixed to the rod such that rotation of the engagement means causes rotation of the elongate rod;   wherein, as the rock bolt is installed in strata, in a first mode by engaging both the nut and the engagement means, both the nut and the elongate rod may be rotated together at the same angular velocity such that the nut does not translate along the rod and the drill bit forms a bore in the strata and, when drilling ceases, only the nut is rotated causing movement of the rock bolt out from the bore and causes the drill bit to engage with and expand the expansion shell to anchor the distal end of the rock bolt in the borehole.   
     
     
         21 . The rock bolt as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the engagement means is a male engagement means.