METHOD OF DEVELOPMENT WORKING SUPPORTING Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: mining industry; applicable in extraction of individual or series of contiguous flat and inclined coal seams with room-and-pillar mining system under conditions of any beds of side rocks including those with heaving seam floors. SUBSTANCE: method of supporting of development workings with help of yielding pillars includes formation in them of artificially weakened layer with preset compression properties and subsequent deformation of pillars under effect of rock pressure. Artificially weakened layer is formed by drilling of a row of horizontal holes located uniformly over entire width of pillar, installation in holes of hoses of pneumo- or hydro- balloon support provided with discharge valves and ensuring initial pressure in them equaling acting on pillar specific load. Discharge valves are controlled and may be adjacent for pressure within 75-80% of pillar strength limit for single axis compression. Hole diameter is selected equal to expected displacement of roof for entire period of supported working. EFFECT: higher efficiency and safety of work in mineral seam extraction by any system of mining with use of pillars for supporting of mine workings. 3 cl, 1 dwg