Development of an effective pinch bar

Abstract

During this project both lightweight pinchbar and Mechanical jaws concepts were developed to a tested prototype. An experimental development model was first designed, built and tested, after which design reviews were held and prototypes built. The prototypes were tested in the laboratory after which the design was again modified. The prototypes were then evaluated underground in platinum, gold and coal mines. The underground evaluations showed that the prototypes were effective but that they could be further improved with certain minor modifications. The underground evaluations showed that both the lightweight equipment is designed to reduce exposure to falls of ground, and to assist in reducing operator stress and fatigue. These tools will have an impact in addressing rock fall fatalities and injuries associated with making safe or barring activities. The tools will also improve the overall quality of barring, especially in excavations requiring a lot of work, and this will reduce the rock fall hazard from loose pieces becoming dislodged 3 in the longer term. It is recommended that both making safe tools be manufactured and marketed by an industrial partner once they have been improved, based on the findings of the underground trials.