WO1995030068A1

WO1995030068A1 - A method and an apparatus for raise mining

Info

Publication number: WO1995030068A1
Application number: PCT/SE1995/000472
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roland Granskog
Original assignee: Alimak AB
Current assignee: Alimak AB
Priority date: 1994-04-29
Filing date: 1995-04-28
Publication date: 1995-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 1996-10-29
Also published as: SE9401472D0; SE502693C2; SE9401472L

Abstract

In a method for raise driving the driving work is performed from equipment that is movable along a guide rail applied on the wall of the raise, said guide rail being lengthened as the work proceeds. The equipment includes a drill rig (67) by means of which blasting holes are drilled in the upper end face of the raise, and a platform, from which staff can perform manual work such as loading of the blast holes. A round cycle that includes the total time after blasting of a round up to blasting of the next round, comprises according to one alternative in turn only simultaneous drilling and ventilation, guide rail lengthening followed by loading, and blasting. Another alternative, intended for use in poor rock, deviates from the first alternative in that the drilling is preceded by ventilation and rock reinforcement.

Description

A method and an apparatus for raise mining.

Technical area.

The present invention relates to a method for raise driving in which the driving is performed from equipment that is movable along a guide rail applied on the wall of the raise, said guide rail being lengthened as the work proceeds, includes a drill rig by means of which blasting holes are drilled in the upper end face of the raise, and a platform, from which staff can perform manual work such as loading of the blast holes. The invention also relates to apparatus for raise mining, including equipment that is movable along a guide rail applied on the wall of the raise, said guide rail being lengthened as the work proceeds, includes a drill rig by means of which blasting holes are drilled in the upper end face of the raise, and a platform, from which staff can perform manual work such as loading of the blast holes. State of the art.

The so-called Alimak method for raise mining was introduced in 1957 together with the raise climber. The Alimak method consists of five steps together forming a cycle. The five steps are all performed by means of the raise climber which has a working platform and serves as a transport means along the raise from a protected bottom station up to the work site, i.e. the upper end of the raise. More particularly, the raise climber runs on a guide rail which is anchored to the hanging wall of the raise and successively lengthened as the work proceeds.

During the first step scaling of roof and walls and lengthening of the guide rail is performed. More particularly, when the air is free from dust and blasting gases the working crew and a new guide rail section is transported by means of the raise climber to the upper end of the raise for there performing scaling and installation of the new guide rail section. This is performed from the platform under Ξ protective roof.

In the second step drilling holes to be charged with explosives is done. The drilling is performed from the working platform which is designed to suite the size and shape of the raise climber.

In the third step loading of the drill holes with a bursting set is done, likewise from the platform.

The fourth step, which is shooting, i.e. blasting of the bursting set applied in the drill holes, is preceded by the raise climber being moved down to the bottom station which is located at the lower end of the raise so as to be protected against falling rock due to the blasting. Thereupon the bursting set is triggered from the bottom station.

During the fifth step ventilation is performed, i.e. blasting gases are cleared. During this step nitrogen gases and dust created by the blasting are removed by spraying a mixture of water and air from the top of the guide rail. Both water and air are supplied through pipes extending in the guide rail.

Thereupon a new working cycle is started directly with the drilling step. To obtain a successful result it is required that the round cycle and working shift cycle agree so as to remove blasting gases when the work in the raise and its neighbourhood all the same has stopped due to change of shifts. In some cases it has been possible to perform two round cycles during one working shift which has then usually been extended, the break for a meal being used for ventilation.

A great variation in knowledge and effectivity among the purchasers has caused problems making it difficult to carry through measures for developing the method.

Description of the invention.

A first object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for raise mining that combines an appreciately higher efficiency and driving speed than what has been possible to attain thus far, with a considerable improvement of the working environment.

A second object of the invention is to provide a method for raise mining during poor rock conditions, which is considerably safer than what has been possible thus far. According to the invention the first object has been attained in that a round cycle that includes the total time after blasting of a round up to blasting of the next round, comprises in turn the steps: a) simultaneous drilling and ventilation, b) guide rail lengthening followed by loading, c) blasting.

According to the invention the second object has been attained in that drill rig and platform consist of two separate, on the guide rail separately drivable units, and that a round cycle that includes the total time after blasting of a round up to blasting of the next round, according to a first alternative comprises in turn the steps: a) ventilation, b) rock reinforcement from the platform, c) drilling of blast holes from the drill rig, d) guide rail lengthening followed by loading from the platform, e) blasting, according to a second alternative comprises in turn the steps: a) ventilation, b) rock reinforcement and guide rail lengthening from the platform, c) drilling of blast holes from the drill rig, d) loading from the platform, e) blasting.

In the apparatus according to the invention the above mentioned objects have been attained in that the drill rig is designed for unmanned action, the drill rig and the platform consist of two separate units which are separately drivable on the guide rail, shifting means are provided for admitting removal of either of the units from the guide rail and shifting on the other unit.

In the method for attaining the first object scaling is thus eliminated and ventilation is performed at the same time as upward movement and drilling is performed. This admits that only three working steps need to be used as compared to five earlier.

By means of the method for attaining the second object adaption can be performed at need to a very safe raise mining during extremely poor rock conditions while using the same equipment as when such conditions do not prevail.

A completely remotely controlled drill rig without crew is sent up in the raise directly after the preceding round has been fired. Ventilation is started simultaneously and visibility conditions at the raise top are therefore considered to be completely acceptable for visual control by means of a television camera/monitor when the rig arrives at the drift top. The movements of the drill boom can be computer controlled according to a determined drilling plan. The movements of the drill feeder and the starting and stopping impulses of the drill rig can either be remotely controlled, or these movements as well as start and stop impulses can be integrated into the data program.

After finished drilling the drill rig is moved down to the bottom and is shifted out of the guide rail path. A specially designed working hoist is shifted into the guide rail path equipped with brackets for one or more new guide rail sections and mechanically arranged drilling equipment for drilling holes for anchoring bolts, and reinforcing bolts, if any, into the rock wall. From this working hoist guide rail lengthening/loading is performed by one or two men who also make necessary inspection of the rock surfaces for taking decisions regarding reinforcing works, if any. When the loading and inspection has been finished the lift is moved down to the drift floor.

Blasting is performed remotely controlled from the drift bottom by means of equipment according to the Nonel system, in which initiation is carried through by means of compressed air without use of electrical signals, whereby unintentional initiation from the electric system of the equipment is completely eliminated.

When blasting has been performed the working hoist is shifted out of the guide rail path and is replaced by the drill rig which is immediately sent up in the raise for beginning a new round cycle.

The invention has a number of advantages. It is advantageous from a working environment point of view that no crew at all is present in the drift during the drilling work. There is, however, possibility for inspection of rock surfaces and reinforcement by crew being in the shaft for guide rail lengthening and loading, the shaft having been effectively ventilated before this working step during the earlier working step. In a way considerably simpler than earlier, the drill rig can now, without increase of dimensions and claims for a lowest weight, decided for security reasons, be equipped with a very forceful drill machine, which should reduce the drilling time. This in turn guarantees a considerably higher efficiency/driving speed which well justifies the cost increase due to the drill machine.

The drill steel length and thereby the duration of the round should be able to be considerably lengthened in the long run, as compared to that being the case earlier in connection with raise mining with manual drill machines, and also be able to be adapted to rock quality and raise dimensions.

Description of the drawings. Embodiments of the invention shall now be described more closely below with reference to the attached drawings on which

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a first working unit which has been moved up on a guide rail in a raise and includes a drill rig which has been extended and is ready for drilling,

Fig. 2 in a similar side view as in Fig. 1 shows the working unit with the drill rig in a collapsed condition,

Fig. 3 shows a view in the direction of arrows III-III in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 in a side view shows a drive unit for i.a. the working unit according to Figs. 1-3,

Fig. 5 shows an end view in the direction of arrows V-V in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a side view of the inner of a protecting and parking drift from which said raise extends upwards,

Fig. 7 shows an end view in the direction of arrows VII- VII in Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 shows a section in the direction of arrows VIII- VIII in Fig. 7 illustrating a plan view of the parking drift,

Fig. 9 is a side view of a roller support intended i.a. for the working unit according to Figs. 1-3,

Fig. 10 shows a section in the direction of arrows X-X in Fig. 9, Fig. 11 and 13 in an enlarged scale show side views of part of the guide rail curve shown in Fig. 6 for illustrating the mounting of a directional laser,

Fig. 12 and 14 show sections in the direction of arrows XII-XII in Fig. 11 and in the direction of arrows XIV-XIV in Fig. 13,

Fig. 15 is a similar side view as in Fig. 1 although in a smaller scale for illustrating a first step of a first embodiment of the method according to the invention,

Figs. 16a-d are side views in the same scale as in Fig. 15 of a second working unit which has been moved up on the guide rail in the raise and is intended to be used for manual works in the raise, the respective Figures being intended to illustrate different actions of a second step of the method according to the first embodiment, Fig. 17 in a side view in the same scale as in Figs. 15 and 16 is intended to illustrate a third step of the method according to the first embodiment,

Fig. 18 in a side view and in the same scale as in Figs. 15-17 is intended to illustrate a first step of a second embodiment of the method according to the invention,

Fig. 19 in a side view and in the same scale as in Fig. 18 is intended to illustrate a second step of the second embodiment of the method according to the invention,

Fig. 20 in a side view and in the same scale as in Figs. 18 and 19 is intended to illustrate a third step of the second embodiment of the method according to the invention,

Figs. 21a-c are side views in the same scale as in Figs. 18-20 of a second working unit which has been moved up on the guide rail in the raise and is intended to be used for manual works in the raise, the respective Figures being intended to illustrate different actions of a fourth step of the second embodiment of the method according to the invention.

Preferred embodiments.

On the drawings 2 designates the walls in a raise which can be vertical or inclining. On a wall, in the present case the hanging wall, a guide rail 4 is attached. With reference to Fig. 6 the raise extends in a known way downwardly to a parking drift 6 located so as to be protected.

In Figs. 15 and 16a-d there is shown a working unit 8 and 10, respectively, which has been moved up on the guide rail 4 to a working position in the upper end of the raise, the unit 8 in Fig. 15 consisting of an unmanned and remotely controlled drill rig for drilling loading holes, and the unit 10 in Fig. 16a-d consisting of a working hoist from which manual work is performed according to that described below. The unit 8 is also shown in a more detailed way in a greater scale in Figs. 1-3. The guide rail 4 is joined of a plurality of sections 4', 4" ..., following on each other, cf. Fig. lib, by means of bolt joints not shown. Each guide rail section is attached by means of attaching bolts 12 to the rock wall, and each section, such as 4' , furthermore rests with its lower end on the upper end of the guide rail section, such as 4", following immediately below. Particularly referring to Figs. 4 and 5, each guide rail section is constructed by a guide rail element 14 proper in the shape of a beam with two parallel tooth or pin rack paths 14' and 14", and a part 16 containing pipe lines. These pipe lines are intended for transporting drive fluids to the units 8 and 10 and for ventilation of the raise. In Fig. 6 such a ventilation pipe 18 is shown which extends from the guide rail 4 to a ventilation fan 20 in the parking drift 6. The units 8 and 10 are here assumed to have, as an example, two constructional details which are partly made with the same basic design which is described briefly below and shown in greater detail in Figs. 4 and 5, and 9, respectively. Although not shown or described below, the description and the drawings for the rest do not exclude further agreements between constructional details of the units 8 and 10.

More particularly, the units 8 and 10 have each two drive units 22, one for each of the parallel tooth or pin rack paths 14' and 14". Each such drive unit includes driven tooth or pin wheels 23, which engage the corresponding tooth or pin rack path 14' and 14", respectively. In Fig. 5 only one tooth or pin wheel of the respective drive unit is visible. The two drive units 22 which are included in each of the units 8 and 10, respectively, and are thus arranged in parallel, are interconnected by means of a drive frame generally designated 24. Basically, the drive units 22 can be of a design known per se to the man of the art, whereby e.g. units of the type Alimak STH-5 can be mentioned, to which is referred for closer details. The present invention is however of course not limited to the use of units of this type.

Above the drive frame 24 each of the units 8 and 10, respectively, furthermore has a roller support 26 engaged with the guide rail 4. In Fig. 9 this roller support is shown in greater detail for the unit 8 as having been moved up to the top of the guide rail, the reason for this appearing further on in the description. More particularly, the roller support 26 has rolls 28 freely running on the guide rail. Also as regards the roller support 26 it can be said that it basically can be of a design well known per se to the man of the art. The present invention is, however, of course neither here limited to the use of roller supports of this type.

By the drive frame 24 and the roller support 26 there is carried via a pivot 30 and 32, respectively, a frame stand which for the unit 8 is designated 34, cf. Fig. 1, and for the unit 10 is designated 36, cf. Fig. 16a. This frame stand in each unit 8 and 10, respectively, carries a platform 38 and 40, respectively. The frame stand 30 and platform 34 of the unit 8 are shown more in detail in Figs. 1-3, and the frame stand 32 and the platform 40 of the unit 10 are shown in Fig. 16.

As an example of a more detailed basic design of a drive support and roller support of the type briefly described above, as well as the support of frame stand and platform by these elements, reference can e.g. be made to the Swedish patent 454,613, and no further description is therefore required here. Referring to Fig. 1, the unit 8 furthermore includes a safety brake 42 movable on the guide rail 4 and carried by a further roller support 43, which is connected to the roller support 26 by means of a link 44. Referring to Figs. 16a-d the unit 10, however, has a safety brake 46 concatenated with its roller support 26.

The units 8 and 10 each furthermore has a power unit 48 and 50, respectively, carried by the respective frame stand 34 and 36 for powering drill rigs as well as other hydraulic equipment. These power units are shown to include three hydraulic pumps each, viz. 52, 54, 56 and 58, 60, 62, respectively, powered by an electric drive motor 64 and 66, respectively, cf. Fig. 1 and Fig. 16a, respectively.

The safety brakes and power units briefly described above can basically be designed in a way known per se and need therefore not be described more closely below. As regards the safety brakes, reference can e.g. be made to some Alimak type, e.g. Alimak GA-5.

With reference to Figs. 1-3 the frame stand 34 carries a drill rig generally designated 67 and having a drill boom 68 pivotally carrying a guide 70 for a drill feeder beam 72. The drill feeder beam 72 in a conventional way carries a hydraulic drill machine 74, the drill steel of which is indicated at 76. The drill boom 68 is equipped with an attache ent to a slide 80 slidable on the frame stand 34 along a guide 78 and enabling the unit 67 to be moved along its length axis from the protruding position shown in Fig. 1 to a collapsed position essentially within the constructional length of the drive machinery, shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

With reference to Figs. 16a-d the frame stand 36 of the unit 10 carries a lift cage 82 for passenger transport located below the work platform 40.

The platform 40 is equipped with a support for a new guide rail section, and a setting device of which a portion 84 is visible in Fig. 16a and by means of which a new guide rail section 4''' simply can be moved to a correct position for connection to the existing guide rail string 4. Said support and setting devices can be of a kind well known in the art of raise mining and need therefore not be described or shown more closely here. The movement by means of the setting device is, however, indicated at 86 in Fig. 16a.

Furthermore there is on the unit 10 a mechanically arranged drill equipment 88 for drilling holes for anchoring bolts for the new guide rail section 4"', cf. Fig. 16b, and possibly for reinforcement bolts in the rock wall, cf. Fig. 16d.

With reference to Figs. 6-8 the equipment also includes a guide rail change over device generally designated 90 and hanging in the roof of the parking drift 6. The device 90 includes a pair of transversely extending rails 92, along which the working units 8 and 10 have each its parking site 94 and 96, respectively. Between the sites 94 and 96 an end portion 98 of the guide rail 4 ends. On the rails 92 a shifting carriage 100 is movable. By means of the carriage 100 the units 8 and 10 can be shifted into and out of the guide rail path 98 from and to, respectively, its parking site. In Figs. 6 and 7 the unit 8 is shown as shifted onto the guide rail path 98 with the drill rig 67 in a collapsed position, and the unit 10 shifted onto its site 96. As an alternative to the above described change over device the units 8 and 10 can each be carried on a rubber wheel carried wagon rolling on the drift floor and being able to be docked to the guide rail.

The method steps 1-3 according to the invention for raise mining will now be described more closely with reference to Figs. 15-17.

In Fig. 15 the completely remotely controlled unit 8 with a drill rig 67 has been sent up in the raise in order to begin step 1 directly after the blasting of a preceding round. The ventilation is started during the upwards movement and proceeds all the time the unit is in the drift wherefore the visibility conditions become completely acceptable for visual supervision via TV camera/monitor when the unit is on the spot in the raise top. Drilling of drill holes 102 is performed. The movements of the drill boom 67 are computer programmed according to a predetermined drilling plan. The movements of the feeder 72 and the drill machine 74 are remotely controlled; as an alternative these movements as well as start/stop impulses are integrated in the computer program.

With reference to Figs. 9 and 10, which illustrate the roller support 26 moved up to the top 104 of the guide rail 4, water enough for cooling/removal of drill cuttings from the drift floor is provided in one of the pipes of the guide rail to the guide rail top, said pipe having there a mouth 106 provided with a special valve 108. At the end of a connection 110 to the drill rig a pipe 112 is connected which has a valve element 114 intended for co-operation with the valve 108. The pipe 112 is mounted in an attachement 116 movable in the length direction of the guide rail for providing necessary "length tolerance" in case of different distances between guide rail top and raise end face. In Fig. 10 there is also shown a mouth 118 of a guide rail pipe for transporting a pressure medium intended to be used for pressurizing the drill machine for protecting it against introduction of dirt particles.

Conventionally, in accordance with the Alimak method, ventilation of the shaft has been performed by means of compressed air which is guided up to the drift end via the pipes included in the guide rail. The method is expensive due to the need of compressed air, and temperature decreasing, resulting in the formation of water mist.

In the present case, however, the guide rail includes a considerably thicker pipe 18, cf. Fig. 6, which may have a diameter of 160 mm, and through which the ventilation is provided by means of one or more fans, cf. 20 in Fig. 6.

Basically, this can be performed in the same way as in the old method and the ventilation can be on during the time work is proceeding at the raise top and create a very good working environment in the raise.

The air can furthermore be tempered, i.e. be cooled or warmed as required by the conditions.

As an alternative the air stream may, however, be reversed through a system of fans, not shown, located with a certain mutual distance, and immediately after the round has been shot a main part of the nitrogen shooting gases created by the shooting, may therefore be sucked up and transported via the ventilation pipe 18 down to the base station and thereafter out into the ordinary ventilation system of the mine.

The unit 8 is remotely controlled via a cable for up and down movement and for being locked by means of hydraulic jacks against the rock wall 2 during drilling. Supervision of the guide rail and rock walls is performed via TV cameras located on the unit 8 and a monitor 120 on a control table 122 in the base station. A drilling program can be programmed in a computer mounted on the unit 8 and remotely controlled from the control table 112 via a cable. As an alternative the drilling program can be performed by remote control from the parking drift 6 while using audiovisual supervision by TV cameras and monitor. The drilling program which includes drilling holes, on the one hand holes parallel to the length axis of the raise, on the other hand holes extending under an angle to the same, has, as regards the parallel holes, two or more programmed "collaring points", which are varied between the different rounds for avoiding drilling in a not detonated explosive. Collaring of the drill feeder 72 against the rock wall and manipulation of the drill machine 74 can be performed by means of remote control via cable from the control table 112, or be integrated into the computerized drill program.

All control lines are gathered in a cable with heavy shielding particularly manufactured for the purpose, for avoiding magnetic influence from the power cable. Power and control cables lie well protected in the guide rail construction.

In the lowermost straight guide rail section of the guide rail path laser equipment can be mounted for continuous or frequent supervision of the straightness of the guide rail path and the direction of a newly mounted guide rail section. In that connection two possibilities are conceivable, viz. to attach the laser, designated 124, on the outer guide rail, as indicated in Figs. 11 and 12, or in the ventilation pipe 18, as indicated in Figs. 13 and 14.

After finished drilling, the unit 8 is moved down to the parking drift 6 and shifted out of the guide rail path according to that described above with reference to Figs. 6- 8. The unit 10 with a new guide rail section 4 ' ' ' now shifted onto the guide rail path, is moved with one or two men up to a first working position in the drift, shown in Fig. 16a. The method step 2 is now started by turning in the new guide rail section 4^, ' by means of the above mentioned setting device, cf. 86, to a correct position and connecting it to the existing guide rail string 4.

After the working hoist has been moved up to the location shown in Fig. 16b, the drilling equipment 88 is placed in position for drilling drill holes for anchoring bolts radially with respect to the length axis of the shaft according to that indicated at 126 in the Figure. Thereupon the anchoring bolts are put in place.

After the unit 10 has been moved up on the new guide rail section 4''' to the position shown in Fig. 16c, loading is started of the blast holes 102 drilled in step 1, as indicated at 128 in the Figure.

Fig. 16d illustrates at 130 how also drilling holes for rock reinforcement bolts by means of the drilling equipment 88 are drilled radially outwardly in the raise wall at need or according to a drilling plan for systematic rock reinforcement. At need the drilling equipment 88 can be angled +/- 45° with respect to the length axis of the raise. When loading and other actions according to Figs. 16a-d have been performed, the unit 10 is moved down to the parking drift 6.

Step 3 of the method, i.e. blasting, illustrated in Fig. 17, is performed remotely controlled from the parking drift 6. As an example this can be carried through by means of equipment according to the "Nonel system", in which electric ignition is not used. This system eliminates unintentional initiation from the electric system of the equipment.

When blasting has been performed the unit 8 after having been shifted onto the guide rail path is immediately moved upwards in the raise, while leaving out scaling, for starting a new round cycle according to that described above with reference to Figs. 15-17.

In case of raise mining in very poor rock it can be required that the action according to Fig. 15 is preceded by a temporary rock reinforcement of a mined portion immediately after blasting, before drilling of the next round is started. This reinforcing work can consist in rock bolting and/or shotcreting carried through by staff on the unit 10. This in turn also presupposes, however, that ventilation of the raise from dangerous nitrogen gases is made first. After the reinforcing work follow steps essentially according to those illustrated in Fig. 15, 16a-16c and 17.

That just stated also appears more closely from Figs. 18- 20 and 21a-21c.

In step 1, and with reference to Fig. 18, only ventilation, indicated at 132, is carried through via the tube 18 shown in Fig. 6.

The second step appears from Fig. 19, in which the manned unit 10 has been moved up from the parking drift 6 in the drift 2. At 134 there is illustrated a part of the reinforcing work implying that by means of the drilling equipment 88 drill holes for rock reinforcing bolts are drilled radially outwardly into the raise wall, as has also been described above in connection with Fig. 16d. As appearing there, this can be carried through at need or according to a drilling plan for systematic rock reinforcement, the drilling equipment then being able to be angled +/- 45° with respect to the length axis of the raise. Another part of the reinforcement work is indicated at 136, implying that shotcreting or grouting is performed from grouting nozzles indicated at 138.

After finished reinforcement the unit 10 is moved down to the parking drift 6 and is shifted out of the guide rail path in accordance with that described above with reference to

Figs. 6-8. The remotely controlled unit 8 with drilling unit 67, now shifted onto the guide rail path, is moved up in the raise for performing drilling of blast holes 102, Fig. 20, in step 3. This step is performed with the drilling unit 67 in the same way as has been described above for the step illustrated in Fig. 15, but of course without need of performing the ventilation step made in this connection.

After finished drilling the unit 8 is moved down to the parking drift 6 and shifted out of the guide rail path according to that described above with reference to Figs. 6- 8. The unit 10 with a new guide rail section 4''', now shifted onto the guide rail path, is moved with a crew up to a working position in the raise, shown in Fig. 21a. The new guide rail section 4 ' ' ' is turned by means of the above mentioned setting device, cf. 86, into a correct position and is connected to the existing guide rail string 4.

After the working hoist having been moved up to the position shown in Fig. 21b, in the same way as has been described above in connection with Fig. 16b, the drilling equipment 88 is placed in position for drilling drill holes for anchoring bolts radially to the length axis of the shaft according to that indicated at 126 in the Figure. Thereupon anchoring bolts are put into place. After the unit 10 having been moved on the new guide rail section 4 ' ' ' to the position shown in Fig. 21c, in the same way as described above in connection with Fig. 16c, loading is started of the blast holes 102 drilled in the step according to Fig. 20, indicated at 128. When the loading and other actions according to Figs.

21a-c have been carried through the unit 10 is moved down to the parking drift 6.

The last step, i.e. blasting, is performed in the same way as has been described above in connection with Fig. 17, remotely controlled from the parking drift 6. As an example this can be carried through with equipment according to the "Nonel system", in which electric ignition is not used. This system eliminates unintentional initiation from the power system of the equipment. As an alternative rock inforcement can be carried through remotely controlled in step 2 from the parking drift and then e.g. consist in scaling of the rock surfaces with water under high pressure and grouting of a concrete layer, e.g. with a thickness of approximately 5 cm. If desired, and as an alternative to the sequence of acting steps according to Figs. 19-21b, the steps 21a and 21b can follow from the platform in direct connection with the step according to Fig. 19, and the drilling step according to Fig. 20 thus follow thereafter, immediately before the step according to Fig. 21c.

Claims

Claims .

1. A method for raise driving in which the driving is performed from equipment that is movable along a guide rail applied on the wall of the raise, said guide rail being lengthened as the work proceeds, includes a drill rig by means of which blasting holes are drilled in the upper end face of the raise, and a platform, from which staff can perform manual work such as loading of the blast holes, characterized in that a round cycle that includes the total time after blasting of a round up to blasting of the next round, comprises in turn the steps: a) simultaneous drilling and ventilation, b) guide rail lengthening followed by loading, c) blasting.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that in step a) the drilling is performed by means of an unmanned drill rig.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in step a) the ventilation is started during the movement of the drill rig to the upper end face of the raise.

4. A method according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that drill rig and platform consist of two separate, on the guide rail separately drivable units, step a) is finished by moving away the drill rig from the raise and the guide rail, and step b) is started by moving the platform onto the guide rail and upwards movement to the working site.

5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that immediately after step c) , without any preceding scaling of roof and walls of the raise, the drill rig is moved up in the raise for starting a new round cycle with step a) .

6. A method for raise mining in poor rock, in which the driving is performed from equipment that is movable along a guide rail applied on the wall of the raise, said guide rail being lengthened as the work proceeds, includes a drill rig by means of which blasting holes are drilled in the upper end face of the raise, and a platform, from which staff can perform manual work such as loading of the blast holes, characterized in that drill rig and platform consist of two separate, on the guide rail separately drivable units, and that a round cycle that includes the total time after blasting of a round up to blasting of the next round, comprises in turn the steps: a) ventilation b) rock reinforcement from the platform, c) drilling of blast holes from the drill rig, d) guide rail lengthening followed by loading from the platform, e) blasting.

7. A method for raise mining in poor rock, in which the driving is performed from equipment that is movable along a guide rail applied on the wall of the raise, said guide rail being lengthened as the work proceeds, includes a drill rig by means of which blasting holes are drilled in the upper end face of the raise, and a platform, from which staff can perform manual work such as loading of the blast holes, characterized in that drill rig and platform consist of two separate, on the guide rail separately drivable units, and that a round cycle that includes the total time after blasting of a round up to blasting of the next round, comprises in turn the steps: a) ventilation b) rock reinforcement and guide rail lengthening from the platform, c) drilling of blast holes from the drill rig, d) loading from the platform, e) blasting.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that in step c) the drilling is performed by means of an unmanned drill rig.

9. A method according to any of claims 6-8, characterized in that step b) is started and ended by moving on and moving off, respectively, the platform on and from, respectively, the guide rail, step c) is started and ended by moving on and moving off, respectively, the drill rig on and from, respectively, the guide rail, step d) is started and ended by moving on and moving off, respectively, the platform on and from, respectively, the guide rail.

10. Apparatus for raise mining, including equipment that is movable along a guide rail applied on the wall of the raise, said guide rail being lengthened as the work proceeds, includes a drill rig by means of which blasting holes are drilled in the upper end face of the raise, and a platform, from which staff can perform manual work such as loading of the blast holes, characterized in that the drill rig is designed for unmanned action, the drill rig and the platform consist of two separate units which are separately drivable on the guide rail, shifting means are provided for admitting removal of either of the units from the guide rail and shifting on the other unit.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the same includes ventilation means for ventilation of the raise during upwards transport of the drill rig in the raise and drilling.