Support for mine roofs and the like
tates Watent 11 1 Manner Apr. 1, 1975 SUPPORT FOR MINE ROOFS AND THE LIKE [75] Inventor:  
 122 Filed: $6 11.21, 1973 21 Appl.No.:399,504  
 Heinz&#39;Kunzer, Herne, Germany [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 22, 1972 Germany 2246745 [52] US. Cl. ..61/45D [51] Int. Cl. E21d 15/44 [58] Field of Search ..61/45 D,63;291/11,3l,  
  Germany 61/45 D 3/1970 Germany 61/45 D Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A base has a side which is to face the mine face and another side which is to be remote therefrom. An upwardly inclined shield is connected at one edge region to the other side of the base for pivotal movement about a first axis. A roof member is connected to the opposite edge region of the shield, also pivotable but about a second axis. A fluid-operated cylinder and piston unit is connected articulately at its opposite ends to the base and to the shield, respectively, so that the shield can turn about a third axis. A rigid element is provided which can be selectively connected to the l l References Cited shield and to the base at the third and first axis, re-  
  UNITED STATES PATENTS spectively, to thereby change the distance between the 3.779.023 12/1973 Koppers 61/45 1) fi and Sficond ages, g l theddistance t t FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS e ween 6 S660 an axes um ange 1,503.990 10/1967 France 61/45 D 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Flgures i i 1 t l l l, 1 1 i 1 1 SUPPORT FOR MINE ROOFS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Supports for mine roofs and the like are already well known. Basically, they use a base from which a shield extends upwardly, being articulated to the base and serving to support the overhead roof material of the mine or other excavation, wherein the support is to be used. The problem with the prior-art constructions has been that it is extremely difficult to support roofs of different weights with a standard supporting apparatus. It is, of course, desirable that apparatus be used which has standardized components, in view of considerations of economy which cannot be disregarded. On the other hand, the greater the downward pressure of this soil and, consequently, the greater must be the force with which the supporting apparatus resists this downward pressure to prevent collapse of the excavation. This requirement has heretofore been capable of being met only by replacing at least the fluid-operated cylinder and piston units which hold the shield upwardly against the roof of the excavation, and also replacing the shield itself, substituting larger dimensioned units and stronger shields, the need for stronger upward force increases. This meant, of course, that the components involved could not be produced in large series and were, correspondingly, more expensive. In turn, the overall expense of such a support apparatus was therefore also greater than is economically desirable.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, a general object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.  
  More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a support apparatus for mine roofs and the like which is not possessed of these disadvantages.  
  Still more particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a support apparatus wherein the upwardly directed force with which the apparatus is capable of supporting the roof of the excavation can be varied within wide limits without having for this purpose to replace either the cylinder and piston units or the shield.  
  In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides, briefly stated, in a support for mine roofs or the like which comprises a base having a first side adapted to be closer towards and a second side farther from la mine face. An upwardly inclined shield is provided, having one edge region articulated to the base at the aforementioned second side for pivotal movement about a first axis, and a spaced opposite free edge region for movement about a second axis. A fluidoperated cylinder-and-piston unit has one end articulated to the base intermediate the sides thereof, and another end articulated to the shield intermediate the edge regions of the same for pivotal movement about a third axis. Means is provided for varying the distance between the first and second axes, while maintaining unchanged the distance between the second and third axes.  
  In accordance with the present invention, I utilize as the means for varying the aforementioned distance a rigid element which can be connected with the base and the shield for pivotal movement about the first and third axes, respectively, thus making it possible for the point at which the force of the cylinder and piston unit (or units) acts upon the roof of the excavation via the shield, to be changed and to thereby increase the force acting upon the roof and supporting the same. Thus, variations of this force can be selected by merely selecting a rigid element of the desired size, so that the only component which need be exchanged is the rigid element itself. Moreover, this change can be carried out rapidly, because the rigid elements can be readily exchanged one for another, so that the apparatus can be very quickly adapted to changing conditions.  
  The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a vertical section through an excavation, showing one embodiment of the apparatus in a side view, located in the excavation;  
  FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 modified in accordance with another feature of the present invention;  
  FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the apparatus in a further modified embodiment; and  
  FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the apparatus of FIG. 3 in another modified embodiment.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing the drawing now in detail, and referring firstly to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the support apparatus illustrated herein is designated in toto with reference numeral 1. Basically it is composed of a base 2, a shield 3, a roof member 4, and one or more cylinder and piston units 5. The cylinder and piston unit may, but need not be, a hydraulically operated unit. It can also be a mechanical unit. The excavation is shown as a mine gallery, but of course could be any other type of excavation. The part which is the mine face or the equivalent thereof, is designated with reference numeral 6, the floor with reference numeral 7, and the overhanging roof which is to be supported is designated with reference numeral 8.  
  ln dependence upon the length of the face 6, that is the dimension in direction normal to the plane of the drawing in FIG. .1, as many of the apparatuses l as necessary are employed and are arranged along this face 6. Of course, only one is shown and the invention can be fully described with respect to only a single one. Each of the apparatuses 1 has a moving unit 9 which may utilize a hydraulically operated cylinder and piston unit, by means of which the apparatus 1 is connected to a conveyor or the like, which is designated with reference numeral 10 and which extends along the face 6. The conveyor serves to carry away material which has been removed from the mine face 6. Of course, appropriate tools will be utilized for such removal but have not been illustrated because they are not necessary for an understanding of the invention. In any case, the unit 9 can be used to shift the apparatuses l 6, if and when necessary.  
 Base 2 is provided at a side thereof which is remote from the face 6 with upwardly extending portion 1 I, to which shield 3 is articulated at 12 for movement about a horizontal pivot axis. The free end 13 of the shield 3 has the roof member 4 articulated to it, again for movement about a horizontal pivot axis 14. The cylinder and piston unit 5 which advantageously is hydraulically operated, has an upper portion which engages the shield 3 approximately midwayd intermediate the forward and rearward edges thereof. Its lower portion is connected to the base 2 at 17 and its upper portion 15 is pivoted to the shield 3, but forwardly of (to the left of in FIG. 1) the location 17. Thus, the unit 5 is slightly forwardly inclined towards the face 6 and this inclination assures that sufficient space is available for move ment of tools and the like, and that an adequate flow of air can be maintained along the mine face even if the distance between the roof 8 and the floor 7 is relatively small.  
  In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the arrangement of the apparatus is such that a sufficient supporting force for the roof 8 is transmitted to the same, via the roof member 4 and via the articulation 14, by the unit or units 5. This apparatus is capable of being accommodated within a certain range to different roof heights, that is to different heights of the roof 8 which must be supported. If the height of the roof is beyond the upper limit of this range, however, the forward edge 19 of the roof member 4 would move too far away from the face 6, due to the arcuate movement of the articulation 14 about the articulation l2, and would not longer provide for sufficient support for the roof.  
  This is, however, reliably avoided in accordance with the present invention by providing a rigid element which is shown in FIG. 2, and which is connected rigidly but releasably with the shield 3. The length of the element 20, that is its dimension between the left and right-hand side of FIG. 1, is selected in dependence upon the height and weight of the roof 8 which must be supported. The utilization of the element 20, and its articulation at 12 to the base, assures that the roof member 4 will move vertically within a certain range without being capable of receding from the face 6 too far. The essential point is that the distance between the point 21 where the portion 15 of the unit 5 engages the shield 3, and the articulation 12 is increased with respect to the same distance in FIG. 1, when the element 20 is utilized. On the other hand, the distance between the point 21 and the articulation 14 remains unchanged. This results in a change of the lever arm relationships which assures that the supporting force acting upon the roof 8 will be increased, depending upon the length of the element 20. Thus, the same units 5 which have previously been used to support the lower weight in FIG. 1, can now support a greater weight in FIG. 2. Moreover, none of the other components of the apparatus need be replaced in order to support this greater weight in FIG. 2.  
  The element 20 may be of one piece or it may be so constructed that its length can be varied. It could, for instance, be of telescopable components which can be telescoped together or pulled apart and arrested in respective positions, when it is desired to change its length. In that case, one element20 could be utilized for many different applications. The element 20 may be along the face provided on at least a substantial part of its length with deflectors 22 which prevent material of the soil in the region 16 from falling down between the base and the shield and onto the conveyor or even the path I8. Thus, the element 20 itself can be of shield-like nature or the components 22 can be of such nature, acting as shields or baffles.  
  It is also possible to provide the element 20 in its region facing the face 6 with a nose-like extension, having one or more bearing supports for the unit or units 5. Such bearing supports would then be located below the shield 3, and extend coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the respective unit 5. This ensures that a vertical displacement of the upper portion of the unit 5 makes it possible to use the same unit which is capable of supporting lower roof weights also for supporting greater roof weights, without having to change the lever arm relationships involved between the shield 3 and the element 20.  
  Coming now to the embodiment of FIG. 3 it will be seen that here a rockable element 23 is provided which is pivotably mounted on the portion 11 of the base 2. The element 23 has an articulate connection 24 on its side facing towards the soil 16, where the element 20 may be connected with it. It is further provided with a plurality of openings 26, located on an arcuate line surrounding the axis 25. These cooperate with similar openings 27 in the part 11 of the base 2, with respective ones of which they can be made to register. Bolts or similar elements (not illustrated) can be extended through the respective registering apertures 26, 27 to arrest the element 23 in a selected position.  
  By appropriate pivoting of the element 23 the articulate connection 24 will move in a curved path in which it can move closer to and farther away from the face 6. This assures that independently of the distance between the roof 8 and the floor 7, the front edge of the roof member 4 will always be located closely adjacent to the face 6 and the roof is properly supported.  
  It will be appreciated that a single or more than one of the bolts or similar elements can be utilized.  
  FIG. 3, as well as FIG. 4, also show that when the element 23 is ppivoted in the manner outlined earlier, the articulate connection 24 will perform a movement in the aforementioned curved path in direction both towards the face 6 and the roof 8. This assures the constant close proximity of the leading edge 19 of the roof member 4 to the face 6. In this manner it is possible to properly support the roof 8 at all times, even when it has just been freshly undercut by removal of material from the face 6.  
  It is also possible to provide the portion 11 of the base 2 with several vertically spaced pivots 25 so that a furtheradjustment is provided, making it possible to connect the element 23 with the portion 11 at different vertical levels and to compensate for variations in the distance between the floor 7 and the roof 8.  
  It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions, differing from the types described above.  
  While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a support for mine roofs and the like, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.  
  Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.  
  What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by letters patent is set forth in the appended claims.  
 I claim:  
  l. A support for mine roofs and the like, comprising a base having a first side adapted to be closer toward and a second side farther from a mine face; an upwardly inclined shield having an edge region articulated to said base at said second side for pivotal movement about a first axis, and a spaced opposite free edge region; a roof member connected to said free edge region for movement about a second axis; a cylinder-andpiston unit having one end articulated to said base intermediate said sides, and an other end articulated to said shield intermediate said edge regions for pivotal movement about a third axis; means comprising a rigid element for varying the distance between said first and third axes, while maintaining unchanged the distance between said second and third axes; and means releasably connecting said element with said edge region of said shield so that said varying means may be used whenever required but can be removed when not needed.  
  2. A support as defined in claim 1; further comprising a rockable connecting element adjustably and pivotably mounted on said base for movement about said first axis, said connecting element having connecting portions which are releasably engageable with said shield and said rigid element, respectively.  
  3. A support as defined in claim 2, said connecting portions being located at a side of said first axis which is remote from said third axis.  
  4. A support as defined in claim 2, said base and said connecting element having respective openings, different ones of which can be brought into registry in dependence upon the position of said rocking element; and further comprising bolt means insertable through the respectively registering openings for arresting said connecting element.  
  5. A support as defined in claim 2; further comprising mounting means mounting said connecting element on said base in such a manner that said connecting element can be raised and lowered.  
  6. A support as defined in claim 1, said rigid element being elongated in direction intermediate said first and third axes, and being provided over at least a substantial part of its length with soil and rock deflecting portions.  
  7. A support as defined in claim 1, said rigid element being elongated in direction intermediate said first and third axes; and further comprising adjusting means for adjusting said elongation.  
  8. A support as defined in claim 1, said rigid element having in the region of said third axis an extension provided with a bearing portion for said other end of said unit.  
  9. A support as defined in claim 1, said unit being expansible and retractable; and wherein said unit is inclined towards said mine face: at least when it is re-