Lobster - Cable Bolt Management System
The Lobster Cable Bolt Management System has been designed to improve personnel safety and increase efficiency whilst installing cable bolts into roof strata. The Lobster becomes an integral part of your drill rig and performs the previously arduous and injury prone task of installing cable bolts into the roof strata.
The primary functions of the Lobster are feed in/out (feeds the cable bolt into/out of the pre-drilled hole in the strata), pinch open/close (pinches or releases the cable bolt for feeding into the strata) and, if specified, grip open/close (performs the functions of the existing gripper jaws on the host machine). This allows for a reduction in the amount of physical labour required for bolt installation, provided in a package that is MDG compliant and adaptable to your requirements.
Integration With Drill Rig
The Lobster is offered in 2 basic models: the Lobster KH (Keep Headplate) and the Lobster HR (Headplate Replacement).
- The Lobster KH is mounted on top of your existing drill rig head plate and provides cable bolt feeding functionality whilst maintaining the standard components and function of the host machine.
- The Lobster HR is attached directly to the feed frame rods of the host machine by removing the existing head plate. The Lobster HR has integrated gripper jaws mounted on the top of the Lobster which replace the gripper jaws previously used in the standard head plate.
- We can provide a Grippers Only option so that the Lobster grippers can be used without the cable bolt feeding portion of the Lobster HR.
Configurations
We have developed over 10 different implementations of the Lobster covering the industries most common drill rigs with varying centre-distances and orientations. If your requirements fall outside of these predesigned Lobsters then we will customise the implementation to suit your host machine and site-specific requirements. each with it's own sub-configuration to suit left hand and right hand installations.
Each Lobster design can also be configured with either left or right hand 'Pinch' opening and most have multiple options for the position of the hose connection manifold to best suit the system installation.
Safety
At it's core the Lobster is a piece of safety equipment. The Lobster is designed to remove operators from the often injury causing physical exertion associated with cable bolt installation. So as not to introduce new safety issues, the Lobster has a number of built in safety functions including:
- Hydraulic latching on the pinch function- to positively hold the cable bolt without operator input until it is in a safe place (e.g. in the dolly) for release.
- Two hand control - In order to feed the cable bolt the operator is required to use both hands, this reduces the chances of any free hand entanglement.
- Emergency stop - as the Lobster is fully integrated with the host machine any emergency hydraulic stop will also stop the Lobster.
Aditional Mass and Size
The mass of a Lobster may be anywhere between 110kg and 160kg depending on its specific configuration. Typically for a Lobster KH installation around 110kg of extra weight is added to the drill mast. A Typical Lobster HR installation will be about 80kg heavier than a standard headplate.
The Lobster has been designed to minimise the increase in the envelope of the head of the bolting rig. Lobster HR units will add approximately 145mm to height (depending on the dimensions of the original head plate). All Lobster KH units will add 160mm to the overall height.
If space is tight on your host machine- specific mass and dimensional increases can be supplied upon enquiry.
Operation and Servicing
Typically the Lobster functions, pinch and feed, are operated via the included control cabinet. The gripper jaws of a Lobster HR will remain as standard on the host machine.
Lobsters have a number of easily accessed service elements including:
- Grease points for bearings/bushings
- Replaceable drive wheel grip segments
- Replaceable gripper jaws (Lobster HR only)
- Replaceable components (hydraulic cylinder and idler wheel)
Operating parameters:
- Maximum hydraulic supply pressure: 207 bar
- Minimum flow rate: 5 L/min
Process of Supply
If you are interested in fitting your machinery with Lobsters please complete the RFQ Questionaire (see link below) and return it to us. Using this information we will provide you with current pricing for your specific installation requirements.
Upon receipt of a purchase order your Lobster will be configured, manufactured and assembled. Typically you will recieve your order within 8 to 12 weeks.
If required after delivery- a Conway Engineering representative can be on site to supervise the installation and commisioning of the Lobster and train operators in its use.
As well as retrofitting to existing underground installations, we can communicate with your machine supplier to have the Lobster installed prior to delivery so that you have the complete integrated system from day one.
Lobster Images
