Smart rock bolt driver

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12595735-B2
Application number	US-202117920195-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2021
Priority date	Apr 22, 2020
Publication date	Apr 7, 2026
Grant date	Apr 7, 2026

Abstract

A driver socket arranged for installation of a ground reinforcement bolt, wherein the driver socket includes a rotation sensor arranged for measuring rotation of the driver socket 1 . The driver socket includes a processing unit configured to receive a signal from the rotation sensor and to derive, based on the signal from the rotation sensor, rotation data related to the number of revolutions the driver socket has been rotated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A driver socket for installation of a ground reinforcement bolt, the driver socket comprising:
a rotation sensor arranged for measuring rotation of the driver socket, the rotation sensor comprising a gyroscope, an accelerometer and/or an inclinometer, and wherein the gyroscope, accelerometer and/or inclinometer is/are configured to determine rotation data taking account of a position/orientation of the rotation sensor relative to a rotational axis of the driver socket; a processing unit configured to receive a signal from the rotation sensor and configured to derive, based on the signal from the rotation sensor, rotation data related to a number of revolutions the driver socket has been rotated; and
a wireless transmitter or transceiver configured to emit a signal comprising the rotation data.

2 . The driver socket according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation data comprises data describing average rotational speed over a predetermined period of time, data describing number of revolutions the driver socket has rotated at one or more specific points in time, or data describing if the driver socket has been rotated or not.

3 . A method of monitoring installation of a ground reinforcement bolt, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving rotation data from one or more driver sockets according to claim 1 ; recording the rotation data to a data carrier, or deriving from the rotation data a rotation value describing the number of revolutions the driver socket has been rotated; emitting a first signal if the rotation value exceeds a lower threshold value defining a minimum number of revolutions the driver socket should be rotated for correct installation; and/or creating or updating a data record on a data carrier if the rotation value exceeds the lower threshold value, said data record including an identifier for a bolt currently rotated and data indicating that the bolt has been rotated the required number of revolutions.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , further comprising emitting a second signal if the rotation value exceeds an upper threshold value defining a maximum number of revolutions the driver socket can be rotated for correct installation; and/or
creating or updating a data record on a data carrier if the rotation value exceeds the upper threshold value, said data record including an identifier for the bolt currently rotated and data indicating that the bolt has been over-rotated.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , further comprising recording the duration of the installation of each bolt and creating or updating a data record on a data carrier if the rotation value exceeds the lower threshold value, said data record including the duration of installation of the bolt currently rotated and an identifier for the bolt currently rotated.

6 . The method according to claim 4 , further comprising continuously comparing current rotational resistance to a lower resistance threshold, and
emitting a third signal if the comparison indicates that the rotational resistance sinks below the lower resistance threshold, and/or creating or updating a data record on a data carrier if comparison indicates that the rotational resistance sinks below the lower resistance threshold, said data record including an identifier for the bolt currently rotated and data indicating that the torque has decreased below the lower resistance threshold.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , further comprising recording a maximum value of the rotational resistance based on the rotational resistance data, wherein the lower resistance threshold is continuously calculated as a predetermined fraction of the maximum value of the rotational resistance data.

8 . The method according to claim 4 , further comprising continuously monitoring current rotational speed and comparing it to a predetermined upper rotational speed threshold, and
emitting a third signal if the comparison indicates that the rotational speed exceeds the upper rotational speed threshold, and/or creating or updating a data record on a data carrier if comparison indicates that the rotational speed exceeds the upper rotational speed threshold, said data record including an identifier for the bolt currently rotated and data indicating that the rotational speed has exceeded the upper rotational speed threshold.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the emitted first, second and/or third signal(s) is presented using an audio communication device or a visual communication device.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the audio communication device is a speaker.

11 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the visual communication device is selected from a light source or a display unit.

12 . The method according to claim 3 , further comprising receiving torque data from a torque sensor configured to measure torque applied to the driver socket, and deriving rotational resistance data based on the torque data and the rotation data.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the torque sensor is integrated with a machine carrying the driver socket.

14 . A monitoring system for monitoring installation of a ground reinforcement bolt, the monitoring system comprising:
a driver socket including a rotation sensor arranged for measuring rotation of the driver socket and a processing unit configured to receive a signal from the rotation sensor and configured to derive, based on the signal from the rotation sensor rotation data related to a number of revolutions the driver socket has been rotated; and a computer program product having computer executable code, which when executed is configured to perform the method according to claim 3 .

15 . The monitoring system according to claim 14 , further comprising a mobile computing device for running the computer program product, the mobile computing device being selected from a smart phone or a mobile terminal.

Assignees

• Sandvik Mining And Construction Tools Ab
• Sandvik Mining And Construction Australia Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Vallati Osvaldo

Classifications

• G01P13/00

  Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement (electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00) · CPC title

• G01P3/00

  Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds (G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; {direction and speed indication G01P13/045}; counting mechanisms G06M) · CPC title

• G01L5/0042

  applying a torque · CPC title

• E21D20/00 Primary

  Setting anchoring-bolts (anchoring bolts for shafts, tunnels or galleries E21D21/00; means for anchoring structural elements or bulkheads specially adapted to foundation engineering E02D5/74; dowels or other devices fastened in walls or the like by inserting them in holes made therein for that purpose F16B13/00) · CPC title