Baker International Inc.

Stamet, Inc.

Timothy W Saunders

Peter E Conrad

William S Price

An improved hopper includes a pair of opposed live walls and a pair of opposed fixed walls, wherein at least one live wall is moveable relative to at least one other wall. The hopper is suitable for controlling the flow of particulate material of the type which has a tendency to bridge during transportation. A device for imparting vibration is coupled to at least one of the live walls. The live walls are separated from the fixed walls by seams such that the live walls are free to move relative to the fixed walls. By the action of the vibration device, the live walls are moveable relative to each other and to the fixed walls to inhibit the formation of particle bridges and, thus, provide a significant improvement in the capability of controlling the flow of particulate material. This relative wall motion is capable of breaking up bridges of the material that are otherwise likely to form, and of preventing the adhesion and packing of particulate material to or on the walls, thereby allowing the material to flow uniformly through the hopper.

Hopper with moving wall and method of making and using the same

A single-pass roof bolt adapted to drill and to be secured in a bore in the roof of a mine for supporting the roof comprising a tubular body open at one end thereof, constituting the inner end of the bolt, and a cutting structure at the opposite end of the tubular body, constituting the outer end of the bolt. The bolt is adapted to drill a bore in the mine roof upon rotation of the bolt, with the cutting structure being wider than the tubular body for forming an annulus between the tubular body and the wall of the bore. The bolt has a head at its inner end to facilitate rotation of the bolt, and to bear against the mine proof in pressurized relationship. The tubular body further has a transfer port at its outer end, and is free of flow obstructions between its ends, whereby during drilling air is flowable through the bolt for removing cuttings from the bore, and upon completion of drilling grouting material from a source external to the roof bolt may be delivered to the annulus via the transfer port for securing the bolt in the bore. A roof bolting system including a machine for rotating, applying force and delivering the grouting material to the bolt to install it is also disclosed. In addition, a method of installing the bolt is disclosed.

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Belmont, CA, United States of America

Timothy W Saunders