GB2115457A - Gallery lining - Google Patents

Abstract

In a known gallery lining, load- carrying lining elements are disposed at a spacing from the gallery wall and sealing sleeves which are filled with hardenable filling material are disposed between the lining elements and the gallery wall, such sleeves adapting to the irregularities in the gallery wall and providing pressure- transmitting contact with the rock after the filling material sets. In order also to make use of the solidified intermediate layer (15) for increasing the bending load-bearing capability of the lining structure (5), as well as to constitute a backfilling, the invention provides that the lining elements are formed from trough- shaped base portions (12a, 12b, 12c) within which are disposed sealing members (13) which project beyond side limbs (12a, 12b) of the base portions towards the gallery wall (2a) and which press sealingly at their free edges against the uneven gallery wall (2a) and, together with the base portion, form a permanent sheathing for the filling material (15) which, upon solidifying, forms a highly adhesive bonded structure with the sheathing and the gallery wall (2a). The bending load-bearing capability of the composite carrier (12, 13, 15) which adheres firmly to the gallery wall (2a) can be increased by a basket like structure (16) of support elements in the form of stiff wires (20, 20a, 20b, 24a, 25, 25a) which, when the sealing members (13) have insufficient inherent stiffness, also provide for holding them and pressing them sealingly against the gallery wall 2a). <IMAGE>

Description

tearing loadings to be able to carry without damage those loadings which are applied thereto when the hardenable filling materials are being introduced and are solidifying.

Both the sealing members or sealing skins and also the reinforcing baskets or cages and possibly also base portions which are in a straight condition and which have not been finally cut to length can be transported to an underground location for use thereof, separately, in a condition of being wound together, pushed together or stacked one in the other, so that it is only when they reach the position of use that they are fitted together in accordance with the local situation and are assembled to form the initially load-carrying parts of the lining structure, before the operation of filling the structure with the quick-setting hardenable multi-component filler material under pressure is performed, for the purpose of producing the intermediate layer which is also load-carrying.

In order to ensure a firm bond to the gallery wall on the one hand and to the base portion of the lining elements on the other hand, at the location of use of the arrangement, the reinforcing basket in the base portion is desirably made resistant to at least a pulling or tensile load, for example by means of tongue portions which are pressed or punched out of the bottom of the base portions, while however at the same time being joined in such a way that the parts thereof can be transported to the location of use separately, and can there be easily and reliably joined together, to form a satisfactory tension-resistant anchoring arrangement.

The multi-component filling material preferably contains at least predominantly mineral constituents, where the individual components of the filling material, which bond together, but at least two components which are not capable of hardening on their own, can be fed under pressure separately to the filling connections or openings in the base portions. Preferably, the intermediate layer which is made from the filling material comprises fine concrete, but other suitable multicomponent filling materials which have sufficient compression strength after they have set can also be used for that purpose, for example on the basis of anhydrite, alphahemihydrate or fly ash as are generally known for such or similar purposes in tunnelling or underground mining.The components of the filling material may be transported separately to the locations for use thereof, for example by means of containers or tanks, and, because they set quickly, can be brought together and intermixed only just before the filling connections, by means of per se known equipment, using pumps.

During the filling and solidification process, the lining elements which are provided with the sealing members are pressed sealingly against the gallery wall until a satisfactory bond is achieved, manually, by means of lining carriages or by means of manipulator-type arms of lining setting equipment. If rock anchors are used, such anchors perform the function of holding the inner lining elements together with the sealing members in their position of being pressed against the gallery wall.

The bore holes for the rock anchors may be formed by means of boring machines which are mounted on rotary and pivotal arms, and the rock anchors can also then be fitted by the same equipment.

If the circumstances indicate that this may be desirable, additives in the form of needles comprising hardened steel, glassfibre material, carbon, fused basalt or the like, may be added to the hardenable filling material or the components thereof, such additive material considerably increasing the bending strength of the solidified intermediate layer and in particular the resistance thereof to tensile loadings, and in that way possibly permitting corresponding savings in filling material.

The segments of the lining structures, comprising the lining elements, the sealing sleeve members or resiliently supported sealing skins as well as the possibly reinforced, hardened filling material bonding same to the rock may preferably extend continuously over the entire peripheral length of the lining structures so that there is no need for the lining structures to be composed of a plurality of segments in the otherwise usual manner. Likewise, it may be desirable for the lining frame structures to be provided in known manner with hinge means at one or more locations, such hinge means then in that respect also requiring corresponding subdivision of the frame structures into segments.

At any event, the segments or lining structures which are constructed in accordance with the present invention can extend at least over the peripheral region of the gallery roof, being disposed within lined galleries preferably only in the region above the seam, wherein the ends of the lining structures or segments are supported directly by posts or indirectly by posts, with the interposition of girders and/or support beams.

Depending on the manner in which the working gallery is formed (retreating system gallery with lining in advance, accompanying or following mining), the posts may be rigid posts, for example in the form of concrete posts or columns, or yielding posts, for example in the form of frictional or hydraulic posts or pillars.

In stone galleries which are not exposed to substantial pressures, the arcuate segments may be taken down to the floor of the gallery or they may also be supported in the region of the gallery face by rigid posts or columns, for example in the form of concrete posts or pillars.

In stone galleries which are exposed to pressures, flexible or yielding posts or columns are desirably used instead.

Finally, in working galleries, it-may be desirable for the two face ends of the one-part or multi-part lining structure to be supported by support beams which are embedded within suitable pre-formed openings or recesses in an upper region of the supported or held for that purpose by the support members in the form of resilient stays or bracing members. The stays or bracing members preferably comprise bail or loop members which are disposed within the trough-shaped base portion of the lining elements and which are also substantially trough-shaped in cross-section and which are arranged at a small spacing from each other, relative to the longitudinal extent thereof.

The bail or loop members preferably have limbs which project divergently towards the gallery wall and form the resilient stays for holdirig or supporting the inserted webs or strips forming the sealing skin and at the same time sealingly pressing same against the gallery wall. In that embodiment, the resilient stays, possibly in conjunction with elements connecting same in the longitudinal and transverse directions, serve at the same time as a particularly effective reinforcement means for reinforcing the bond between the lining elements and the solidified intermediate layer comprising the hardenable filling material. For that reason also, the trough-shaped base portions of the lining elements may be made from particularly light or thin-gauge shaped members.

Desirably, the side limbs of the base portions, which are of trough-shaped cross-section, and the flanks, which project relative thereto, of the support elements or the stays for resiliently supporting the sealing skin, are inclined relative to each other at an angle of from about 450 to at most about 900, being divergent at that angle towards the gallery wall.

The trough-shaped base portion of the lining elements is preferably formed from a thin-gauge steel plate by turning over the edges thereof. In that case, it is desirable for the side limbs of the base portions to be provided with slots which extend to a base flange and which more easily permit the base portions to be transported to the position for use thereof, in the form of straight shaped sections, there being suitably cut to the length required and only then being bent to put them into the segmental shape.

Alternatively, it is possible to envisage the steel plate which subsequently forms the troughshaped base portion, before it is bent in the region of the side limbs, being provided with corrugations or fins of a folded wedge-like configuration, in such a way that, in the subsequent operation of bending the steel plate into the segmental shape of the base portion, the corrugations or fins at the same time forms the reserves of material for the regions of the bottom towards the free ends of the side limbs, where increasingly severe elongation deformation takes place.

At any event, the trough-shaped base portions of the lining elements can be provided with a plurality of closable openings or filling connections, which are distributed over the curved length of the base portions, for introducing the quick-setting hardenable multi-component filling material under pressure. In addition, the troughshaped base portions can be provided on their inside with means for releasably securing them to the sides of the sealing elements or the loop or bail members which support the webs or strips of the sealing skin by means of their resilient stay portions. Finally, the bottom of the lining elements is desirably provided with additional openings for receiving the end portions of rock anchors.Such additional openings can be so designed that thay can be closed in the event that the lining elements are to be pressed against the gallery wall without using rock anchors or all openings which are preproduced in the manufacturing operation are not required at the location of installation, for receiving rock anchors.

Preferably the sealing elements comprise a flexible sealing skin which is in turn pressed into sealing contact with the rock by the resilient stays, the loop or bail members whose side limbs form the resilient stays desirably comprise wire portions which are bent into a trough-like configuration and which are interconnected in such a way as to be resistant to a pulling force and at the same time a tilting force, within the base portions, at a small spacing from each other relative to their longitudinal extent. In that arrangement, the wire members can comprise spring steel and can be bent over outwardly at the ends of their side limbs which diverge towards the rock in order to prevent them being snagged on the uneven gallery wall when being pressed into place.

Since the bail or loop members within the base portions can be secured at a spacing from the bottoms of the respective base portions, and can be interconnected by wire portions both in the longitudinal direction and also in the transverse direction, they together can form a reinforcing cage or basket for the quick-setting hardenable filling material.

Preferably, the connecting wires which extend in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the base portions are connected to the loop or bail members by means of eye-and-bar connecting means, that is to say, they are so shaped at their ends that they embrace the wires of the loop or bail members, in the manner of hooks or eyes. In contrast to welded joints, which in themselves could also be employed, for example in the form of spot welds, the above-described connecting arrangement has the advantage that the prefabricated reinforcing baskets or cages can be closed up together in a concertina-like manner to form less bulky units for the purposes of transportation, in particular separately from the base portions.

Apart from the situation where the sealing members, without being additionally braced or stiffened by the resilient stays, comprise preferably reinforced rubber or resiliently deformable plastics material, the sealing skins can be made from fabric, plastics film or foil or reinforced paper film or foil, as, by virtue of their being sealingly pressed against the rock wall and/or supported by the resilient stays, they are not subjected to excessively high levels of inherent tensile or tearing loadings.It will be appreciated that the must be sufficiently resistant to tensile or possible in any event to forego the use of more or less closed sleeves for receiving the hardenable filling materials, without at the same time giving up the crucial advantage of simultaneously using the solidifying intermediate layer to compensate for all irregularities and unevenness in the gallery wall, and ensuring that, at least in the region of the lining structures, the desired uniform firm pressure-transmitting contact with the gallery wall is achieved as early as possible.

According to the invention there is provided a gallery lining in which a lining structure is formed by a segment which defines an inner shape and also serves as a load-carrying lining element disposed at a spacing from the gallery wall, a layer of a quick-setting, hardenable multi-component filling material is introduced under pressure between the lining element and the gallery wall and is load-bearing after solidifying, the filling material causing the lining element to be brought into a condition of firm, pressure-transmitting contact against the gallery wall while at the same time compensating for unevenness or irregularities in the gallery wall, and in which the lining element comprises a base portion of trough shaped cross-section within which are disposed sealing elements which project beyond side limbs of the trough-shaped base portion towards the gallery wall and which have their free edges pressed resiliently against the gallery wall, with individual, laterally outwardly directed bending deformation, and which, in conjunction with the base portion, form a permanent sheathing for the filling material which in the course of solidifying forms a very adhesive bond with the base portion and the gallery wall, the sheathing sealingly adapting to irregularities or unevenness in the gallery wall.

Such a gallery lining while retaining the advantage of permitting firm, pressure transmitting contact with the gallery wall in such a way as to compensate for unevenness or irregularities in the gallery wall, at a comparatively early stage, in such a way that, even in the case of lining structures which are disposed at a substantial spacing from each other in the direction of the gallery and which are therefore fitted in conjunction with suitable tension or bracing, affords the possibility of fully utilising the load-bearing capability of the solidified intermediate layer for the bending load-carrying capacity of the lining structures and in that way not only being able to use lighter lining elements but in addition making the lining elements so manageable and convenient that they can be easily transported to the location for use, in a substantially prefabricated condition, and can there be easily assembled and compieted to form the finished lining structures, with individual adaptation to the local circumstances.

Thus, particularly in conjunction with the use of perse known rock anchors, irrespective of whether the lining structures are arranged in the usual manner at a substantial spacing from each other, in conjunction with suitable tension or bracing mear(swor instead of that, are arranged more or less closely together in the direction of the gallery, the invention can provide a gallery lining which is fixedly connected to the gallery wall and which substantially acquires the original natural load-bearing capacity of the surrounding rock formation and thus so-to-speak forms a 'stressed or load-carrying constituent' of the rock.

Making full use of the load-bearing capacity of the solidified intermediate layer for the bending load-carrying capability of the lining structures also makes it possible to use comparatively light base portions for the lining elements which, especially when using reinforcing means which are connected thereto, within the solidified intermediate layer, generally only need to be.of such robust dimensions that they satisfactorily perform at least their function of a permanent sheathing arrangement which of course is also load-carrying, while in addition possibly being suited to carrying those forces which are produced by their being braced with the rock anchors.

In the simplest case, the lining elements which form the lining structures or the segments thereof may comprise conventional channel shaped members, even if of smaller dimensions, with strips of resiliently yielding sealing members being secured to the inside of the two spread side limbs of the channel members. The sealing members project outwardly towards the gallery wall by a sufficient degree, beyond the side limbs of the channel member.The strip-like sealing members may for example comprise portions of possibly reinforced conveyor belts of rubber or the like, because, irrespective of their resilient bending flexibility, such belts still generate such a high resistance of deformation as is required to permit the free edges of the sealing members precisely and individually to adapt to the unevenness or irregularities in the gallery wall, while on the other hand also ensuring that the lining elements can be pressed with a sufficiently high biassing force against the gallery wall, for example by means of rock anchors or by means of temporary inner support devices, without thereby inadmissibly restricting the space or free cross-section which is properly provided for the hardenable filling material that is to be only subsequently introduced.In this connection, it is also obviously desirable for the strip-like sealing members to be provided in the heightwise region of the side limbs of the channel shaped members with recesses or punched openings which, when the filling material subsequently hardens, permit it to be highly adhesively bonded not only to the gallery wall but also to the channel shaped members, thereby to facilitate achieving the jointly load-carrying bond or composite structure.

The sealing members which form a component of the permanent sheathing may also be formed from webs or strips of a sealing skin which comprises films or foils or fabrics; although the 'sealing skin strips or webs do not themselves have a sufficiently high level of bending strength, for the purpose of the present invention, they can be SPECIFICATION Gallery lining The invention relates to a gallery lining, particularly though not exclusively for mines.

In such a gallery lining, segments forming a lining structure, may define an inner shape and also serve as load-carrying lining elements which are disposed at a spacing from the gallery wall. An intermediate layer of a quick-setting, hardenable multi-component filling material is introduced under pressure between the lining elements and the gallery wall. The filling material is load-bearing after solidifying and causes the lining elements to be brought into a condition of firm, pressuretransmitting contact against the gallery wall while at the same time compensating for unevenness or irregularities in the gallery wall.

In a previously proposed gallery lining of the above-indicated general kind (German published specification no. 21 03 760), the lining elements preferably comprise prefabricated concrete or reinforced concrete segments which, in the manner of tubbings, form the primary loadcarrying portion of the subsequently complete combination lining. In order to provide for contact with the rock, so as to provide for the direct transmission of pressure and at the same time to compensate for irregularities or unevenness in the gallery wall, expandible members, in particular in the form of sleeves of flexible material, are disposed between the gallery wall and the lining elements, such expandible members being inflated, possibly on a temporary basis, and finally filled under pressure with the hardenable material.

In comparison with conventional gallery lining systems for steel mine lining which operates with backfilling and bracing as well as bolting, or the concrete lining which is disposed in one or more shell or sheathing configurations, for example by an injection process, or by means of moving sheathing means, a gallery lining of the general kind set forth above basically enjoys the advantage that it is flexible in regard to adaptation to different or fluctuating Local factors in regard to the size and shape of the gallery cross-section and in particular the rock pressure conditions.Such a lining, which in principle becomes load-carrying at an early stage and which as far as possible directly follows driving of the gallery, can be integrated without difficulty into modern gallery driving technology, in the sense that there can be a substantial overlap in time in the driving and lining operations, and finally, that the elements or constituents thereof are less bulky and consequently can be more easily transported to the position of use.

However, its disadvantages are that, in the interests of sealingly pressing the lining against the gallery wall and at the same time adapting the lining to the uneven gallery wall, although on the one hand it is not possible to omit the more or less closed expandible sleeves which comprise sealing material, on the other hand such sleeves precisely prevent the intermediate layer of hardenable material, which is subdivided in that way, being used after solidification as an integrated component of the lining elements, which is fully load-carrying over its cross-section.

Therefore, although the sealing sleeves which are filled with the hardenable filling material are excellent after solidification in performing their function of fully transmitting the pressure from the surrounding rock to the load-carrying lining elements and in that context precisely adapt to unevenness or irregularities in the gallery wall, in contrast, the possibility which lies in the high loadcarrying capability of the solidified intermediate layer, namely in addition to or in conjunction with the lining elements, making use of the intermediate layer in order correspondingly to enhance the load-bearing capability of the lining structures which are formed therefrom, is not utilised and evidently has not even been recognised.

The disadvantages that the load-bearing capability of the solidified intermediate layer is substantially utilised only for transmitting pressure forces from the surrounding rock to the lining elements, and the intermediate layer therefore in principle is only required to perform the function of conventional backfilling, while of course being particularly effective, is basically independent of whether the lining elements are arranged at a spacing from each other, in the manner of steel mining lining, using bracing means and bolts, in the direction of the gallery, or whether they are arranged in succession, at least partly foregoing such spacings in the direction of the gallery.The difference is merely that, when there are no substantial spacings between the successive lining structures in the direction of the gallery, the situation is rather that closed sealing sleeves for accommodating the hardenable filling material are no longer used, and instead use is made of filmlike or foil-like sealing skins which can possibly extend continuously over a plurality of lining structures, in contrast to situations where the lining structures, which so-to-speak form loadcarrying ribs, are arranged at a larger spacing from each other in the direction of the gallery.

In the latter case however, a serious problem is involved in ensuring that the rock is supported in a load-bearing fashion, using the quick-setting hardenable intermediate layer, at the earliest possible time, and at the same time providing for compensation in respect of unevenness or irregularities in the gallery wall, because that presupposes that the hardenable filling material can be reliably retained in the position in which it was inserted, until it has set, and does not escape from the clearance between the gallery wall and the lining elements, before the filling material has set. While that problem can be solved if necessary even without using closed sleeves, when dealing with load-carrying lining elements which are continuous in the direction of the gallery, that possibility is not available when dealing with lining structures which are disposed at larger spacings from each other, so that in that case it is then not seam.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a view in cross-section through the gallery of a first embodiment of a gallery lining according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a view in cross-section through the gallery of a second embodiment of a gallery lining according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a view in cross-section taken on line Ill-Ill in Figure 1 on an enlarged scale; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a segment of a trough-shaped base portion of an inner lining element of a gallery lining according to the invention; Figure 5 shows a side view of a reinforcing basket which is fitted into the trough-shaped base portion of Figure 4;; Figure 6 shows the reinforcing basket of Figure 5 removed from the trough-shaped base portion and partially compressed in a concertinalike fashion, to facilitate transportation; and Figures 7 and 8 show a longitudinal section and a plan view respectively of part of the reinforcing basket of Figure 5 showing its fixing within the trough-shaped base portion.

Referring to Figure 1 , the cross-section inside a gallery is indicated by reference numeral 1, rock surrounding the working gallery is indicated by reference numeral 2, the irregular or uneven gallery excavation, in other words, the gallery wall, is indicated by reference 2a, the floor of the gallery is indicated by reference 3 and the seam is indicated by 4 and 4a respectively.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a lining structure 5 extends over the entire peripheral region above the seam 4, 4a. Accordingly, it forms a single segment 5a which extends continuously over the entire peripheral length of the lining structure.

Provided at the two ends of the lining structure 5, which are towards the face, are enlarged feet portions 6 and 6a which are fixedly connected to the ends of the lining structure 5 and by means of which the lining frame structure is supported on a carrier or support beam 7, at the left-hand side of the view shown in Figure 1. The beam 7 is in turn underpinned in the transverse plane of the gallery by two spaced-apart rigid posts or piliars 8, 8a, for example in the form of concrete posts.

The left-hand part of Figure 1 shows that the beam 7, within the seam 4 which originally extended to the gallery excavation or wall, was let into the upper region thereof in a suitably prepared slot-shaped recess or opening directly below the roof of the seam so that it was only after the coal had been mined in the seam region of the gallery that the beam 7 was underpinned by the two spaced-apart rigid posts 8 and 8a.

The beam 7 extends in the direction of the gallery over at least the width of the lining structure 5, but it may also be of such a length that it can simultaneously underpin a plurality of lining structures which are disposed at spacings from each other in succession in the direction of the gallery. The beams 7 which follow in succession in the direction of the gallery may possibly be joined together to form a continuous chain in the direction of the gallery, and are preferably of a high-strength, deformationresistant steel construction.

The right-hand side of Figure 1 shows an alternative construction in which the lining structure 5 is supported by means of its enlarged foot portion 6a on a girder 9 which is disposed parallel to the direction of the gallery, in the form of a wide-flange steel support. The girder 9 also extends in respect of its length at least over the width of the lining structure, but preferably over the width of a plurality of adjacent lining structures. In like manner to the beam 7, a plurality of the girders 9 may be joined together, in particular in a vertically pivotal manner, to form a continuous chain of girders in the direction of the gallery.

As shown in Figure 1, the girders 9 are underpinned at suitable spacings by means of yielding, for example hydraulically operated, posts or columns 10.

Instead of hydraulic posts 10, it is also possible to use mechanical frictional posts of any suitable construction, in per se known manner.

As will be clearly seen from Figure 1, the onepiece segment 5a which forms the lining structure 5 and which extends in the peripheral direction over the entire width of the gallery roof is additionally connected to the surrounding rock 2 by means of rock anchors 11, the free ends of which pass radially through the segment 5a and are fixedly braced thereto on the inside of the gallery 1, by clamping plates 1 a and screwthreaded nuts 1 1 b.

It will be appreciated that the lining structure 5 may also comprise more than just one segment 5a, the plurality of segments 5a being fixedly interconnected at their ends and in that manner forming the lining structure.

The number of rock anchors 11 depends on the local conditions, in each individual case.

In Figure 1, reference numeral 12 denotes a lining element comprising a base portion of trough-shaped cross-section, within which sleevelike sealing elements 1 3 which project beyond the side limbs of the trough-shaped base portion towards the rock 2 are secured in such a way that the free edges thereof can be pressed sealingly, with resilient deformation, against unevenness or irregularities in the gallery wall 2a. The bending strength of the sealing elements 13 is such that, when they are pressed radially against the wall of the gallery, they are able individually to compensate for the respective unevenness and irregularities in the gallery wall. Accordingly they permit uniform sealing contact with the rock at all points.At the same time the bending strength of the elements 1 3 is at such a level that, together with the trough-shaped base portions forming the lining elements 12, and the rock anchors 11, and/or provisionai support means for the lining frame structures, they form a provisional load bearing auxiliary lining, even before a quick setting hardenable multi-component filler is introduced under pressure into the hollow space formed by the trough-shaped base portions, the sealing elements and the gallery wall.After it sets the filler, in conjunction with the inner lining element and the rock forms a unitary load-carrying composite structure in which the trough-shaped base portion of the inner lining element, together with the sealing elements, performs the function of a load-carrying or stressed permanent sheathing.

The embodiment shown in Figure 2 differs from that shown in Figure 1 basically only in that the lining structure 5 comprises two segments Sb and Sc which are joined together at the roof by means of a hinge 14. In addition, the segment Sb which is shown on the left in Figure 2 is supported by way of its foot portion 6 which is enlarged at the end of the segment, directly by a rigid post 8, for example in the form of a concrete post, while the segment Sc which is shown on the right in Figure 2, as an alternative to the construction shown on the left, is underpinned by means of its enlarged foot portion 6a by a short cap member 7a which in turn is supported by two preferably yielding posts 10 and 1 Oa, for example in the form of hydraulic posts.

Figure 3 is a view on an enlarged scale and in cross-section taken along line Ill-Ill in Figure 1 of a preferred embodiment of the internal structure of the lining structures 5 or the segments 5a, Sb and Sc thereof.

Reference numeral 12 once again denotes the base portion, which is of trough-shaped crosssection, of the inner lining element which is preferably formed from steel plate by an edge bending operation in such a way that the side limbs 1 2a and 1 2b thereof diverge towards the rock 2 at an angle of about 45 to a base flange 1 2c. As the trough-shaped base portion of the inner lining element is primarily only required to perform the function of a permanent sheathing for the hardenable multi-component filler 15, it may comprise comparatively thin-gauge metal plate so that there is no need to use heavy and therefore expensive rolled shaped members for that purpose.

As will be seen from Figure 3, fitted into the trough-shaped base portion of the inner lining element 1 2 is a reinforcing cage or basket 1 6 which comprises round wire portions and the components of which are fitted together to form a deformable structure, in the longitudinal and transverse directions, by means of hooks and eyes formed by bending thereof.

Provided in the base flange 1 2c of the troughshaped base portion of the inner lining element 1 2 are openings 18, closable by plugs 17, to permit pressurised filling of the hollow space with the quick-setting multi-component filler 1 5 which, after solidification thereof, forms a load-carrying intermediate layer which is reinforced by the reinforcing basket 1 6 and which, both with the inner lining element 12 and with the reinforcing basket 1 6 and the rock 2, forms a composite structure with a unitary load-carrying capability.

The arms of loop or bail members of the reinforcing basket 16, which arms project laterally outwardly towards the rock 2 and are also bent into a substantially trough-shaped configuration, form resilient stays or struts 20, the free ends of which form laterally outwardly bent-over hooks or eyes 20a and are bent over resiliently outwardly when the inner lining element 12 is pressed radially against the rock 2, the struts or stays thereby adapting to the respective individual irregularities or unevenness of the gallery wall 2a.

In order to ensure that the composite structure is strong in all directions, the reinforcing basket 1 6 is spaced from the base flange 1 2c of the troughshaped inner lining element 12 by corrugation-like bent portions 1 9 forming support legs and provided in portions 20b of the bail members, from the ends of which portions 20b the stays 20 extend.

The stays and eyes 20, 20a also serve as carrier members for supporting strip-shaped sealing elements 13 in the form of plastics material, fabric or reinforced paper film or foil, so that, when the eyes 20a of the bail members are pressed resiliently against the rock 2, the sealing elements 1 3 are likewise pressed sealingly against the gallery wall 2a and thereby form a sealed joint which is substantially precisely adapted to the irregularities and unevenness of the gallery wall.

The segments may be held in the position shown in Figure 3, of being pressed sealingly against the gallery excavation, by means of temporary support means from the inside of the gallery and/or - and preferably - by the rock anchors 11 (see Figures 1 and 2), before the components of the multi-component filler 1 5 which, after setting, form the solid load-bearing intermediate layer, are injected under pressure by way of the closable openings 1 8. A preferred material for the intermediate layer is fine concrete comprising cement, fine sand, water and a settingaccelerating additive, but instead it is also possible to use a multi-component filler material based on anhydride, water and accelerators or hardeners, possibly in conjunction with strength-increasing filling agents.

Small-size inclusions indicated at 15a in Figure 3 are formed from needles comprising hardened steel, carbon or fused basalt, which enhance both the bending strength and in particular also the resistance of the hardened filler 1 5 to tensile stresses.

It will be appreciated that the openings 18, which can be closed by the plugs 17, in the base flange 12c of the trough-shaped base portion of the inner lining element 12 may also be formed in the manner of any other known closable filling connection means, if and insofar as the circumstances require that.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a segment of the trough-shaped base portion 12 forming the inner lining element. As can be clearly seen from Figure 4, the side limbs 1 2a and 1 2b which are inclined, more particularly diverging towards the rock 2 or the gallery wall 2a, are provided with slots or corrugations 21 which extend to the base flange 1 2c and which are preferably made before the operation of turning the edges of the thin-gauge steel plate, and which help to facilitate transportation of the troughshaped base portions in the condition in which they have not yet been cut to length, as straight members, in a stack disposed one inside the other, the segments then being bent therefrom only at the site, after the operation of cutting the members to length.

Reference numeral 22 denotes openings for receiving the screw-threaded end portions of the rock anchors 11. References 23 and 23a denote securing tongue portions which are formed by stamping or punching the base flange 1 2c, of which 23 forms resulting square or rectangular openings and 23a form the tongue portions which are bent out of the plane of the base flange 1 2c.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the reinforcing basket 1 6 in the trough-shaped base portion 1 2 forming the lining element. Reference numeral 24 denotes connecting wires which extend in the peripheral direction of the segments and which, as shown in Figure 5, engage with clearance around the bail members forming the resilient stays or struts 20, by means of their eyes 24a formed at the ends thereof. As is also clearly shown in Figure 5, in conjunction with Figure 3, wire portions which transversely connect the resilient struts 20 of the wire bail members are denoted by 25, and eyes at the ends and in the middle thereof, for connecting to the longitudinal wires 24, are indicated at 25a.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the manner in which the reinforcing basket 1 6 may be concertined together for the purposes of transportation before insertion into the base portions of the inner lining elements, in order thereby to form a transportation unit which is less bulky and therefore easier to handle.

The stage attained in pushing the reinforcing basket 1 6 together, as shown in Figure 6, obviously only represents an intermediate position and does not constitute the final position in which the members 20, 20a and 20b lie closely against each other, even if displaced relative to each other in a heightwise direction.

Figures 7 and 8 show a view in longitudinal section and a plan view respectively of part of the trough-shaped base portion of the inner lining element, which is already provided with the reinforcing basket fitted therein. It will be seen that the tongue portion 23a which is bent out of the base flange 1 2c by punching and bending engages over the bottom transverse connecting portion 20b of the wire loop or bail members, in the heightwise region of the support legs 19, and in that way releasably connects the basket 1 6 to the base flange 12c of the inner lining element.

Since such a connection is easy to make in situ, it is possible for the trough-shaped base portions of the inner lining elements and the reinforcing baskets to be conveyed underground and to the location of use separately from each other in transportation units which are easier to handle and then to be connected together at the location of use.

Claims (31)

1. A gallery lining in which a lining structure is formed by a segment which defines an inner shape and also serves as a load-carrying lining element disposed at a spacing from the gallery wall, a layer of a quick-setting, hardenable multi component filling material is introduced under pressure between the lining element and the gallery wall and is load-bearing after solidifying, the filling material causing the lining element to be brought into a condition of firm, pressure transmitting contact against the gallery wall while at the same time compensating for unevenness or irregularities in the gallery wall, and in which the lining element comprises a base portion of trough shaped cross-section within which are disposed sealing elements which project beyond side limbs of the trough-shaped base portion towards the gallery wall and which have their free edges pressed resiliently against the gallery wall, with individual, laterally outwardly directed bending deformation, and which, in conjunction with the base portion, form a permanent sheathing for the filling material which in the course of solidifying forms a very adhesive bond with the base portion and the gallery wall, the sheathing sealingly adapting to irregularities or unevenness in the gallery wall.

2. A gallery lining according to claim 1, in which support elements are disposed within the trough-shaped base portion of the lining element and comprise bail members which are also of a substantially trough-shaped configuration and which are disposed at a spacing from each other which is small relative to their longitudinal extent, the bail members having struts which project divergently towards the gallery wall and form stays for holding or supporting and at the same time sealingly pressing the sealing members, in the form of inserted webs or strips of a sealing skin comprising films, foils or fabrics, against the gallery wall.

3. A gallery lining according to claim 2, in which the side limbs of each base portion and the struts of the support elements, which struts project relative to the base portion and resiliently support the sealing skin, diverge relative to each other at an angle of from about 450 to 900 towards the gallery wall.

4. A gallery lining according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the trough-shaped base portion of the inner lining element is formed by bending a thin-gauge steel plate to form edge flanges thereon.

5. A gallery lining according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the side limbs of the trough-shaped base portion of the lining element is provided with slots or corrugations which extend to a base flange of the trough-shaped base portion to facilitate the operation of bending it into a segment shape.

6. A gallery lining according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the trough-shaped base portion has one or more closable openings therein forming filling connections for introducing the quick-setting hardenable multi-component filling material under pressure.

7. A gallery lining according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the trough-shaped base portion of the lining element is provided on its inside with means for securing the sealing elements thereto.

8. A gallery lining according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the base portion of the lining element has openings therein for receiving end portions of rock anchors.

9. A gallery lining according to claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 8 when appendant to claim 2, in which the bail members comprise wire portions which are bent into a trough-like configuration and are connected together in such a way as to resist pulling and tilting forces.

10. A gallery lining according to claim 9, in which the wire bail members comprise spring steel and are bent round outwardly at the ends of their struts which diverge towards the gallery wall.

11. A gallery lining according to claim 9 or claim 10, in which the bail members are located within the base portion at a spacing from a base flange thereof.

12. A gallery lining according to claim 11, in which the trough-shaped bail members are supported in their bottom region by means of support feet on the inside surface of the base flange of the base portion.

13. A gallery lining according to claim 9, in which, the bail members, in the region of the middle of the trough-iike configuration and in the region of their two side limbs forming the resilient stays, are anchored relative to each other in such a way as to resist both a pulling force and a tilting force, by wire portions which extend in the longitudinal direction of the base portions.

14. A gallery lining according to claim 9, in which the side limbs of the bail members, which form the resilient stays, are additionally interconnected by wire portions which extend transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the base portion, in such a way that the wire portions which interconnect the side limbs of the bail members within the base portion in the longitudinal and transverse directions together form a basket for reinforcing the quicksetting, hardenable filling material.

15. A gallery lining according to claim 9, in which at least the wires or wire portions which extend in the longitudinal direction of the base portion are connected to the bail members, by eye-and-bar connections.

16. A gallery lining according to claim 9, in which the tie means which interconnect the bail members in the longitudinal direction of the base portion, while being resistant to pulling force, are not resistant to compression, that is to say, they are flexible.

17. A gallery lining according to claim 15 or claim 16, in which the bail members which form the resilient stays by means of their side limbs are interconnected in such a way that they can be pushed together in a concertina-like manner, in the longitudinal direction of the base portion, for the purpose of facilitating transportation thereof.

18. A gallery lining according to claim 1, in which the sealing elements which are disposed within the trough-shaped base portions are formed from strips, which are secured to the insides of the side limbs of the base portion, the strips comprising preferably reinforced rubber or resiliently deformable plastics material.

19. A gallery lining according to claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 1 7 when appendant to claim 2, in which the sealing elements which can be pressed against the rock by means of the resilient stays comprise webs or strips of fabric, plastics film or foil or reinforced paper film or foil, said webs or strips being engaged within the bail members on both sides.

20. A gallery lining according to any one of claims 1 to 19, in which the quick-setting hardenable multi-component filling material at least predominantly contains mineral constituents.

21. A gallery lining according to claim 20, in which the filling material comprises alphahemihydrate.

22. A gallery lining according to claim 6, in which the individual components of the filling material, which bond together, or at least two constituents of the filling material which are not hardenable in themselves alone, can be supplied under pressure separately as far as the filling connections in the base portion.

23. A gallery lining according to any one of the preceding claims, in which additives in the form of needles comprising hardened steel, glassfibre material, carbon or fused basalt are added to the hardenable filling material to enhance its bending strength or resistance to tensile stresses.

24. A gallery lining according to claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 23 when appendant to claim 2, in which the segment forming the lining element, the support elements for supporting the sealing members, and the possibly reinforced, hardened filling material extend throughout the peripheral length of the lining structure.

25. A gallery lining according to any one of claims 1 to 23, in which two segments are connected together with the interposition of hinge means to form a multi-part lining structure.

26. A gallery lining according to claim 1, in which the segment is anchored to the gallery wall by rock anchors in a known manner, in addition to the adhesive bond to the gallery wall provided by the filling material.

27. A gallery lining according to claim 1, in which lining structure extends at least over the peripheral region of the roof of the gallery.

28. A gallery lining according to claim 1, in which the lining structure extends within a working tunnel only in the region above a seam.

29. A gallery lining according to claim 24, in which the ends of the lining structure are supported directly by posts or indirectly with interposition of girders and/or support beams or short caps, by posts.

30. A gallery lining according to claim 24, in which two stope ends of the one-part or multi-part lining structure are supported in a working passage by means of support beams or short caps which are disposed within suitable recesses in the upper region of a seam under the seam roof.

31. A gallery lining substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.