DESCRIPTION Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a rock reinforcement apparatus, in particular to be used in a rocky quarry, preferably in an ornamental natural stone quarry (for example marble and granite). Furthermore, preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is used to reinforce the rock of a rocky quarry, to then carry out the extraction of a bank of rock from the quarry itself.

State of the art

In the extraction of natural stones - for example of marble in general or stone materials - from a quarry, a particularly high percentage (up to 95%) of these stones is crushed into stones of very small size, pieces that are not suitable to be used for the subsequent processing phases with the aim of obtaining slabs, which normally have a length of 250 cm and a height of 160 cm.

Furthermore, some rocks, in particular the most precious ones, are subject to cracks which, following the stresses provoked in the extraction phase, break up into stones of different sizes. It is therefore necessary to reinforce, through the use of composite materials impregnated with resin, the banks - generally 600 cm high and 500 cm wide - which are progressively extracted from the quarry, to then obtain smaller blocks.

Moreover, at present, it has already been proposed to make a reinforcement of the bank to be extracted from the extraction quarry by means of panels glued on the front of the quarry itself.

This known solution, however, presents certain drawbacks, and in particular:

- it is complex to carry out as it requires creating pockets to be glued on the front of the quarry and to be filled with resin and fiberglass or carbon,

- it is dangerous to install/apply as it requires gluing on walls up to six meters high, - is not reliable as it is highly subject to weather conditions,

- requires management of environmentally hazardous resins near the quarry,

- requires to set up areas for resin storage and handling,

- the dosage of reactants may not be carried out precisely and reliably, and - produces waste and processing waste that must be managed and disposed of.

Document FR-A-2.500.053 discloses an anchor bolt for installation into a borehole drilled vertically in the roof of a mine gallery. The anchor bolt is constituted by a high adhesion profiled steel bar of cylindrical form having, on its periphery, extra thicknesses facilitating the drilling of the mortar. The distal end of the bar, which is flat, is covered with a cap made of spring steel and having, at its lower part, two wings which allow the temporary retention of the anchor bolt by anchoring themselves by their free ends in the walls of the borehole. A sleeve, made of a flexible plastic material, is positioned over the cap and maintains, at its upper part, a substantially cylindrical capsule internally containing hard grains and a liquid which is the accelerator intended for the instantaneous setting of the mortar or cement slurry which will be sent into the drilling. The capsule ends with a plug which closes the latter and which is made of a deformable material such as a flexible synthetic plastic material ensuring the sealing of the capsule and contact with the bottom of the borehole. When the drilling is carried out, the anchor bolt, held by the wings, is placed inside it, then the mortar or cement grout is injected under pressure into the drilling. In some cases, it is possible to start by injecting all or part of the cement grout or mortar and then inserting the anchor bolt. When the assembly is in place, on the threaded lower part of the anchor bolt a retaining plate on one side and nut which pushes the plate upwards until contact with the ground on the other side are positioned. Before carrying out this operation, the anchor bolt is pushed back into the borehole by means, for example, of a sledgehammer or a pneumatic hammer so that the anchor bolt, together with the sleeve, moves and penetrates as deeply as possible into the borehole by breaking the capsule which causes the liquid accelerator and the grains to spread constantly, thus easily blocking the bolt and anchoring in a very resistant mortar or cement grout. The penetration of the anchor bolt is limited by the deformation of the plug. Once the capsule is broken, the flow of the grains as well as of the liquid forming the setting accelerator takes place complementarily through the holes radially arranged on the sleeve. Of course, such holes, due to the very nature of the assembly described in such document, are only intended and configured to allow the flow of the grains as well as of the liquid acceleratotr towards the outside of the sleeve and capsule, in order to fill the borehole. The filling of the borehole is then complete.

Document DE-A-3.304.071 discloses a dowel for anchoring in receiving materials having cavities, by means of a hardening single or multi-component compound, preferably arranged in destructible containers, consisting of an anchor sleeve provided with load application means, having radial outlet openings and a pressing-out element for the compound. The dowel consists of an anchor sleeve and a base part, which is relatively displaceable with respect to the anchor sleeve. The anchor sleeve has a flange and an internal thread at the rear end. In the front area the anchor sleeve is provided with radial outlet openings. An intermediate wall is arranged approximately in the middle region of the anchor sleeve. The base part has two rearwardly extending webs, the rear end of which is bent outwards at right angles. The intermediate wall is provided with passage openings for the webs. The anchor sleeve also has longitudinal slots for the rear ends of the webs of the base part. Between the base part and the intermediate wall two destructible containers are arranged. Such containers contain a first component and a second component. Both the anchor sleeve and the base part are provided with lugs and for destroying the containers. When the dowel is set, it is first inserted into a receiving material having cavities until the rear ends of the webs come to rest on the surface of the receiving material. When the anchor sleeve is driven further into the receiving material, the base part is displaced relative to the anchor sleeve. The two lugs approach each other and destroy the container. The two components contained in separate compartments can now react with one another and form a hardening mass or compound. Depending on the type of components, the mass can also foam up while increasing its volume. When the anchor sleeve is pushed in further, the compound is pressed out through the outlet openings into the cavities of the receiving material. The anchor sleeve is driven in as far as the stop of the flange on the surface of the receiving material or on the rear ends of the webs. The space between the base part and the intermediate wall is reduced and the mass is pressed out through the outlet openings. Therefore, such outlet openings, due to the very nature of the assembly described in such document, are only intended and configured to allow the flow of the compound towards the outside of the anchor sleeve, in order to fill the cavities of the receiving material. The hardening mass forms a form fit with the cavities of the receiving material. After the compound has hardened, a fastening element can be screwed into the internal thread of the anchor sleeve.

Purposes of the invention

The object of the present invention is to propose a rock reinforcement apparatus, in particular of a rocky quarry, preferably in an ornamental natural stone quarry (for example of marble and granite), which allows to solve the aforementioned drawbacks present in traditional solutions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reinforcement apparatus which is suitable for reinforcing the rock of a rocky quarry, in order to then be able to extract a bank of rock from said quarry.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reinforcement apparatus which, in the extraction phase from the rocky quarry of a bank, allows to reduce or eliminate the crushing of the rock into pieces/stones of very small size or in any case into pieces that would not then be usable for obtaining slabs of said rock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reinforcement apparatus which is not dangerous during its preparation, installation and/or use.

Another object of the invention is to propose a reinforcement apparatus which can be implemented easily, quickly and with low costs.

Another object of the invention is to propose a reinforcement apparatus which can be implemented easily, quickly and with low costs.

Another object of the invention is to propose a reinforcement apparatus which does not leave hazardous waste in the quarry.

Another object of the invention is to propose a reinforcement apparatus which has an alternative and/or improved characterization with respect to traditional solutions.

All these objects, both individually and in any combination thereof, and others which will result from the following description are achieved, according to the invention, with a reinforcement apparatus as described in claim 1.

Brief description of the Figures

The present invention is further clarified below in the following a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limiting example only with reference to the attached drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a perspective view of the reinforcement apparatus according to the invention, figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the reinforcement apparatus according to the invention outside a hole made in a portion of rock, figure 2a shows an enlarged detail of fig. 2, figure 3 shows a side view of the apparatus according to the invention, with the piston partially inserted inside the cartridge, figure 4 shows the apparatus according to section IV-IV of fig. 3, figures 4a - 4c show corresponding enlarged details of fig. 4, figure 5 shows a perspective view of the cartridge of the apparatus according to the invention, figure 5 a shows an enlarged detail of fig. 5, figure 6 shows, according to a diametrical section of the hole made in the rock to be reinforced, a detail of the apparatus according to the invention, figure 7 shows the apparatus according to section VII- VII of fig. 6, figure 8 shows a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention in the first configuration (i.e. with the piston which is entirely, or for the most part, external with respect to the cartridge) and on the outside of the hole, partially sectioned, obtained in the rock to be reinforced, figure 9 shows a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention in the first configuration (i.e. with the piston which is entirely, or for the most part, external to the cartridge) and inserted in the partially sectioned hole, obtained in the rock to be reinforced, figure 10 shows a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention - inserted in the hole, partially sectioned, obtained in the rock to be reinforced - with the piston that has been almost entirely inserted inside the cartridge (and is therefore in the passage from the first to the second configuration), figure 11 shows a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention in the second configuration (that is, with the piston which is entirely inserted inside the cartridge) and inserted in the partially sectioned hole made in the rock to be reinforced, figure 12 shows, according to a diametrical section of the hole made in the rock to be reinforced, a detail of the apparatus according to the invention when it is in the second configuration (i.e. when the piston is fully inserted inside the cartridge) and inserted in the partially sectioned hole, obtained in the rock to be reinforced, figure 13 shows, according to a side view, two apparatuses according to the invention inserted in sequence in the same hole, partially sectioned, obtained in the rock to be reinforced, figure 14 shows a perspective view of the reinforcement apparatus according to further embodiments of the invention, figure 15 shows a perspective view of the cartridge of the apparatus according to further embodiments of the invention, figure 15a shows an enlarged detail of fig. 15, figure 16 shows a perspective view of the reinforcement apparatus according to still further embodiments of the invention, figure 17 shows a perspective view of the cartridge of the apparatus according to still further embodiments of the invention, figure 17a shows an enlarged detail of fig. 17, figure 18 shows a partial cross-section view perspective view of the apparatus according to further embodiments of the invention, figure 18a shows an enlarged detail of fig. 18, figure 19 shows a perspective view of the cartridge of the apparatus according to further embodiments of the invention, figure 19a shows an enlarged detail of fig. 19. Detailed description of the invention

As can be seen from the figures, the rock reinforcement apparatus 1, in particular to be used in a rocky quarry, preferably in an ornamental natural stone quarry (for example marble, granite or stone materials in general), comprises a cartridge 2 configured to contain at least one component in the liquid/fluid state. The rock reinforcement apparatus 1 further comprises a piston 20 which is configured to be inserted and slide longitudinally inside said cartridge 2.

Preferably, the apparatus 1 is suitable to be used to reinforce a portion of rock 3 of a rocky quarry, to then carry out the extraction of a bank of rock from the quarry itself, from which then to obtain corresponding slabs. Suitably, said at least one liquid/fluid component, which is contained in the cartridge 2, comprises and/or consists of at least one anchoring chemical agent.

Preferably, said at least one liquid/fluid component comprises polyester resins, polyurethane resins, vinyl ester and epoxy resins. Conveniently, the cartridge 2 is configured to contain inside it, separately from each other (i.e. in order to avoid their mixing), at least two components in the liquid/fluid state, preferably a resin and a hardener. In particular, the two components are suitably selected, also in terms of quantity, so that their mixing causes the resin to solidify, as well as - preferably - the achievement of the desired chemical -physical characteristics, in particular in order to act as a anchoring product. For example, said two components are suitable for making a fully polymerized two-component epoxy resin.

Conveniently, the cartridge 2 has a longitudinal development and, in particular, comprises at least a jacket 4 and/or 6 which internally delimits a corresponding chamber 5 and/or 7 for containing at least one component in the liquid/fluid state.

Conveniently, in the case of a single-component cartridge 2, the external jacket internally delimits only one chamber containing a single component in the liquid/fluid state which, by itself, defines an anchoring product 26, which is intended to harden/solidify.

Conveniently, in the case of a two-component cartridge 2, the cartridge itself comprises two or more coaxial tubular jackets 4, 6 and positioned one inside the other. In particular, an external jacket 4, with a larger cross section, and an inner jacket 6, with a smaller cross section, are provided. More in detail, the inner jacket 6 internally delimits a first chamber 5 for containing the first component, while the interspace between the inner jacket 6 and the outer one 4 defines a second chamber 7 for containing the second component.

Substantially, therefore, inside the cartridge 2, the two components are contained in at least two corresponding chambers 5 and 7, defined separately from each other inside the cartridge itself, so as to avoid the union and mixing between said two components. Suitably, in the case of a multicomponent cartridge 2 (i.e. with three or more components), the cartridge is configured to define inside three or more chambers for containing corresponding components in the liquid/fluid state which, once mixed together according to suitable predefined quantities, define an anchoring product 26, which is destined to harden/solidify.

In particular, each component can be dispersed inside the corresponding chamber 5 and/or 7 of the cartridge 2, or it can be contained/packed in a bag/wrapper - preferably made of flexible material - which is inserted inside the corresponding chamber 5 and/or 7, and destined to be then squeezed under the pushing action of a piston, as will become clearer below.

The cartridge 2 is also provided with at least an opening for the outlet 8’ and/or 8” (see e.g. fig. 5) of each component from the respective chamber 5 and/or 7 in which it is contained. In particular, said at least one outlet opening 8’ and/or 8” is defined at a first end 9 of the cartridge 2, i.e. the end which, in use, is the inner one and which, as such, is more inserted inside the hole 10 obtained in the portion of rock 3 to be reinforced.

In particular, at the first end 9 of the cartridge 2, the first chamber 5 is provided with at least a first opening 8’ for the first component to come out. Conveniently, at the first end 9 of the cartridge 2, the second chamber 7 is provided with at least a second opening for the second component to come out.

Conveniently, the cartridge 2 is pre-packaged and, in particular, the two chambers 5 and/or 7 of said cartridge are filled with the corresponding two components to be mixed. Advantageously, the two chambers 5 and/or 7 are shaped and sized in such a way as to contain quantities of the first and second components such that, once mixed, they allow to obtain an anchoring product 26, which is intended to harden/solidify.

Conveniently, at said first end 9, said first 8’ and second opening 8” are connected - preferably by means of suitable ducts 11 obtained in a connecting tip 12 - with a mixing element 13 where the two components contained in the cartridge are combine and are thus mixed. Preferably, as said, the cartridge 2 is connected to the mixing element 13 by means of a connection element 12 shaped like a tip.

Suitably, the mixing element 13 operates as a static mixer; in particular, the mixing element 13 comprises within it a common path, for example a "spiral", in which the two leaking components are mixed separately/in parallel from the cartridge 2. Advantageously, the apparatus 1 can also comprise a spacer element 14 inside which the mixing element 13 is removably inserted. Conveniently, the spacer element 14 is configured to distance the cartridge 2 from the bottom 29 of the hole 10 (in the case of the first apparatus inserted), or from the previously inserted apparatus (in the case of devices inserted after the first).

The apparatus 1 according to the invention also comprises at least a passage 18 (see e.g. fig. 5a), which is defined in/between said cartridge 2 and/or the piston 20, and which is configured to allow the anchoring product 26, which fills the space 27 between the cartridge 2 and the hole 10, to enter inside the cartridge itself, thus filling it at least in part, preferably entirely, so as to properly define, once said anchoring product 26 has solidified/hardened inside the cartridge 2 with inside the piston 20, a structural reinforcement system.

Conveniently, at the other/second end 15 (i.e. the end which - in use - is more external) of the cartridge 2, a sealing element 16 is provided which is slidingly housed inside the cartridge and seals each chamber defined inside the cartridge itself. Suitably, said sealing element 16 is configured to interact with the wall/s which delimits/delimit each chamber, thus avoiding the passage of the liquid/fluid.

Preferably, said sealing element 16 is a sealing plug and comprises an internal circular portion 16’ for closing/plugging the first chamber 5, and an external annular portion 16” for closing/plugging the second chamber 7.

Advantageously, the sealing element 16 is inserted slightly inside the cartridge 2 so as to be spaced from the outer edge 17 of the cartridge itself; preferably, moreover, the outer edge 17 of the cartridge 2, and in particular the outer edge of the external jacket 4 of the cartridge, is provided with notches which define said passages 18 (see e.g. fig. 5a).

The apparatus 1 also comprises the above-mentioned piston (piston) 20 which is configured to be inserted and slide longitudinally inside the cartridge 2 from said second end 15 towards said first end 9, so as to push at least one component in the liquid/fluid state to come out from said cartridge 2 so that it, alone or mixed with at least another liquid/fluid component contained in said cartridge 2, defines an anchoring product 26 which fills the space 27 between the cartridge 2 and the hole 10.

In particular, the piston 20 is intended to be pushed from the outside so as to slide with rectilinear motion from the outside to the inside of the cartridge 2, thus crossing the latter along its direction of longitudinal development.

Conveniently, the piston 20 is configured to act, with its internal end part 21, on the sealing element 16 provided in the cartridge 2 and thus to push said sealing element 16 to slide inside at least one chamber provided in the cartridge itself thus causing at least one chamber to exit from said chamber, through the respective outlet opening 8’ and/or 8”, the corresponding component contained in the chamber itself.

Suitably, the piston has a longitudinal development with an external end part 22 which is obtained at the opposite end with respect to the internal end part 21. Conveniently, the piston 20 has a diameter of the cross section smaller than that of the cartridge 2 and such that it can be inserted and scroll inside the latter.

Suitably, the stroke of the piston 20 inside the cartridge 2, and in particular inside each chamber 5 and/or 7, is configured to push/extrude said at least one component contained in the cartridge, to make it come out - through the opening 8’ and/or 8” - on the outside of the cartridge 2 at the first end 9, to thus fill the hole 10 and also to return, via the at least one passage 18 (fig. 5a), inside the cartridge 2 itself containing the piston 20 inside which - following said thrust - it is at least partially inserted inside said cartridge 2. Suitably, the apparatus 1 is configured to assume at least two configurations:

- a first configuration (see fig. 9) in which the piston 20 is external, or for the most part external, with respect to the cartridge 2 containing at least one component in the fluid/liquid state,

- a second configuration (see fig. 11) in which the piston 20 is inserted, completely or for the most part, inside the cartridge 2, thus causing the at least one liquid/fluid component to escape from at least one opening 8’ and/or 8 (see e.g. fig. 5) provided at the first end 9 of the cartridge itself.

Suitably, the apparatus 1 is configured to pass - following the application of an external thrust at the external end part 22 of the piston 20 - from said first configuration to said second configuration.

Conveniently, according to possible embodiments, the piston 20 comprises an internal structure 23 and an external structure 24, both longitudinally developed.

Advantageously, according to possible embodiments, the internal structure 23 is defined by a bar which is preferably internally full. Conveniently, the bar of the internal structure 23 can have a circular or polygonal cross section, for example square. Advantageously, according to possible embodiments, the external structure 24 comprises a substantially tubular shape, with a substantially annular cross section, with a central cavity inside which the internal structure 23 is positioned.

Preferably, according to possible embodiments, the external structure 24 is defined as a plurality of bars arranged - parallel between them - so as to define a tubular structure with a substantially annular section (i.e. internally empty). Conveniently, the bars of the external structure 24 can be mutually spaced apart, or the adjacent ones can be in mutual contact and, possibly, can also be fixed to each other. Conveniently, the bars of the external structure 24 can have a circular or polygonal cross section, for example square. Suitably, the internal structure 23 and the external structure 24 have substantially the same length.

Conveniently, the internal structure 23 and the external structure 24 are slidingly connected to each other. Preferably, for this purpose, a flange can be provided on which both structures are fixed.

Suitably, the internal structure 23 of the piston 20 is configured to act on the circular internal portion 16’ of the sealing element 16 so as to penetrate, insert and slide - preferably for its entire longitudinal development - inside the first chamber 5, so as to extrude the first component present in said first chamber, thus pushing it to exit from said first chamber through said at least a first opening 8’.

Suitably, the external structure 24 of the piston 20 is configured to act on the external annular portion 16” of the sealing element 16 so as to penetrate, insert and slide - preferably for its entire longitudinal development - inside the second chamber 7, so as to extrude the first component present in said second chamber, thus pushing it to exit from said second chamber through said at least a first opening 8’.

Furthermore, as mentioned, the internal end part 21 of the piston 20 acts on the sealing element 16 and/or is associated with the latter. On the other hand, in correspondence with the other end part of the piston - that is, on the external end part 22 - a cap element 25 is provided. Preferably, said cap element 25 is associated with the external end part 22 of the internal end part 21 and external 22 of the piston 20.

Advantageously, the cap element 25 has a cross section such as to be able to be inserted and slide inside the hole 10 to be reinforced, and at the same time to hermetically seal the inner area of the hole 10 in which the apparatus 1 has been inserted. In more detail, therefore, the cap element 25 is configured to engage by interference (i.e. press-fit) inside the hole 10 to be reinforced, thus closing/isolating from the outside the inner area of the hole itself. In essence, the cap is configured (in terms of size and shape) to interact with the internal walls of the hole 10 to thus avoid the passage of liquid/fluid components between the cap itself and said internal walls.

Advantageously, the cap element 25 is also configured to act as a pusher for the piston 20; in particular, on this element 25 a thrust force/pressure is applied/exerted manually or by an external thrust machinery (presser) to transmit it to the piston 20, and thus cause the insertion movement of the latter to the inside the cartridge 2, and thus pass the apparatus 1 from the first to the second configuration.

Suitably, the diameter of the cap element 25 is greater than or equal to the external diameter of the cartridge 2, and in particular the diameter of the external jacket 4 of said cartridge; advantageously, this allows the cap element 25 to come into contact with the outer edge 17 of the cartridge 2.

Conveniently, the piston 20 is configured so as to push the sealing element 16 towards and to the first end 9 of the cartridge 2, thus causing each component to escape from the respective chamber in which it is contained. Conveniently, the limit switch for the sliding of the piston 20 inside the cartridge 2 is defined at the second end 15 of the cartridge itself, and in particular by the reference of the cap element 25 of the piston with the outer edge 17 of the cartridge 2.

Conveniently, the limit switch for sliding the piston inside the cartridge 2 can be defined at the first end 9 of the cartridge itself, and in particular it is defined by the striker of the sealing element 16 associated with the internal end part 21 of the piston 20 with the tip 12 provided at the first end 9 of the cartridge.

Conveniently, the cartridge 2 and the piston 20 are configured so that, when the piston 20 reaches the limit switch provided inside the cartridge 2, the cap element 25 comes into contact with the outer edge 17 of the cartridge itself. Conveniently, the piston 20 has a longitudinal development equal to or slightly greater than that of the cartridge 2, to allow the piston to pass completely through said cartridge, and thus guarantee the complete escape of the components contained in the respective chambers of the cartridge.

In essence, the piston 20 has a longitudinal development such that, when it ends its stroke inside the cartridge 2, it causes the complete escape of said at least one component contained in said cartridge.

Advantageously, the cartridge 2 and the piston 20 substantially define a syringe apparatus, given that following the application of a thrust on the external end of the piston 20, the latter penetrates and slides inside the cartridge 2 to cause the escape liquid/fluid components contained in the cartridge through the openings 8’ and/or 8” provided at the first end 9 of the cartridge itself. In particular, the cartridge 2 constitutes the hollow cylinder of the syringe, in which at least one liquid/fluid component is contained, and inside which the piston 20 slides which precisely acts as a piston to push said at least one liquid/fluid component - each of which it is contained in a respective chamber provided in the cartridge itself - to come out through the respective openings obtained in said hollow cylinder defining the cartridge.

Conveniently, the cartridge 2 and/or the piston 20 are made of composite materials, preferably are made by pultrusion, for example with a resin matrix and reinforcements in glass fiber or carbon fiber or synthetic fibers (for example aramid). Suitably, the cartridge 2 and/or the piston 20 are made of metal, preferably aluminum. Advantageously, for example, the cartridge 2 has a length of about 1000 mm and a diameter of 40 mm.

Advantageously, the cartridge 2 is made of a material which allows it to act as a structural element. Advantageously, the cartridge 2 is configured (in terms of shape and/or dimensions) to act as a structural element.

Advantageously, the piston 20 is made of a material which allows it to act as a structural element. Advantageously, the piston 20 is configured (in terms of shape and/or dimensions) to act as a structural element.

The operation of the reinforcement apparatus 1 according to the invention is clear from what has been described. At first, at least one hole 10 is made in the rock to be reinforced, in particular this hole is made directly on a portion of rock 3 of the quarry, and preferably on a bank of rock to be reinforced and which is intended to be then extracted/removed from the quarry. More in detail, the hole 10 is made dry and, suitably, it is made inside the portion of rock to be reinforced.

Suitably, to reinforce the rock, a series of (at least two) apparatuses 1 are used which are stacked inside the hole 10 and which in particular, in sequence, are first inserted and then activated so as to pass from the first to the second configuration, to "piling" and thus reinforcing said hole.

In particular, for each apparatus 1, the apparatus itself is assembled first by inserting the corresponding piston 20 inside the cartridge 2, which is preferably pre-packaged, at the second end 15 of said cartridge. In particular, the piston 20 is inserted slightly inside the cartridge 2 until it brings its internal end part in contact with the sealing element 16. Preferably, moreover, in correspondence with the first end 9 of the cartridge, a mixing element 13 is grafted (in the case of a cartridge containing two or more components). Suitably, the apparatus 1, thus assembled, is inserted inside the hole 10.

Alternatively, the apparatus 1 can be assembled directly inside the hole 10, by sequentially inserting its various components and, in particular, first - preferably - the spacer element 14 is inserted inside the hole 10, then the cartridge 2 with the mixing element 13 is inserted inside the hole so that the latter penetrates inside the spacer element 14, and finally the piston 20 is inserted inside the same hole 10 so that its internal end part 21 penetrates inside the cartridge 2 until it comes into contact with the sealing element 16.

By means of an external thrust machine (presser), not shown, a force/pressure is then applied to the cap element 25 acting as a pusher, so as to pass the apparatus 1 from the first to the second configuration. In particular, in doing so, the piston 20, acting on the sealing element 16, is pushed and slides inside the cartridge 2, thus causing the at least one anchoring component contained in the cartridge to come out of the cartridge. Conveniently, in the case of a cartridge comprising two or more chambers 5 and 7 for corresponding components, the structures 23 and 24 of the piston 20 act on the respective portions 16’ and 16 of the sealing element 16, thus causing the sliding of said portions and therefore the release of each component, contained separately in the cartridge, inside the mixing element 13, in order to obtain - following the union/mixing of said two components - a product 26 which is intended to harden/solidify, to act as an anchor.

Then, the anchoring product 26 coming out of the apparatus 1 - i.e. coming out of the cartridge 2 (in the case of a single-component product) or from the mixing element 13

(in the case of a two-component or multi-component product) - fills the space 27 defined between the cartridge 2 and the hole 10, so as to create, following its hardening/solidification, a stable gluing/anchoring of the cartridge 2 within the hole 10. Furthermore, the anchoring product 26, emerging from the apparatus 1, and which is in excess with respect to that which fills the space 27 between the cartridge 2 and the hole 10, is retained inside the hole 10 by the cap element 25 provided at the external end part 22 of the piston 20 which had previously been inserted completely or for the most part inside the cartridge 2 to cause the component/constituent/s of the anchoring product to come out. Suitably, therefore, in this way, the anchoring product 26 in excess does not retum/goes back towards the outside of the hole 10, but enters inside the cartridge 2; in particular, the excess anchoring product 26 in the space 27 enters, through the passages 18 (see e.g. fig. 5a) preferably provided at the outer edge 17 of the same cartridge 2, into at least one chamber of the cartridge, thus filling the spaces present between the piston and the cartridge itself. More in detail, through the passages 18, the excess anchoring product 26 enters the second chamber 7 (i.e. the outermost chamber) - which is now internally completely, or for the most part, crossed by the external structure 24 of the piston 20 - for thus filling the gaps between the bars of the external structure 24 and the walls that delimit the second chamber 7.

Suitably, the solidification of the anchoring product 26 is then expected, which thus makes the cartridge 2 adhere to the internal walls of the hole 10 and also to the piston 20 inserted/extruded inside the cartridge itself, thus obtaining a monolithic apparatus which is fixed/attached/integrated within the hole 10.

Suitably, these operations are repeated for each apparatus 1 which, in sequence, one after the other, is inserted inside the hole 10. Conveniently, while the first apparatus 1 is inserted inside the hole 10 so as to go into contact (preferably by means of the spacer element 14) against the bottom 29 of the hole itself, each apparatus 1 inserted after the first is inserted inside the hole 10 so as to come into contact (preferably by means of the spacer element 14) against the cap element 25 of the previously inserted apparatus (cf. Fig. 13).

For example, the hole 10 obtained on the portion of rock 3 to be reinforced can have a diameter of about 40-50 mm, preferably about 43 mm, and a drilling depth (i.e. longitudinal development) of about 5000 mm. Conveniently, in this case, for the reinforcement, an apparatus 1 with cartridge 2 having a diameter (in particular of the external jacket 4) of about 40 mm, and a longitudinal development of about 1000 mm is used. Therefore, in this case, after inserting a first apparatus 1 inside the hole 10 and after activating said first apparatus to make it pass from the first to the second configuration, the operations described above are repeated with four other apparatuses 1 until it substantially occupies the entire depth/longitudinal development of the hole 10. Advantageously, the rock portion 3 of the quarry, thus reinforced with two or more apparatuses 2 inserted and actuated (i.e. brought into the second configuration), can then be cut in the traditional way to obtain a bank of rock to be removed from the rest of the quarry.

Figs. 14, 15, 15a, 16, 16a, 17, 17a, 18, 18a, 19, 19a, are used to describe further embodiments of the apparatus 1 according to the present description, which can be combined with all the embodiments described here, in which the cartridge 2 comprises at least one passage 118, or a plurality of passages 118, provided along the lateral surface of the cartridge 2 itself. These one or more passages 118 are configured to allow the anchoring product 26, which fills the space 27 between the cartridge and the hole 10, to enter the cartridge 2 itself, thus filling it at least partly, preferably entirely, in order to suitably define, once the anchoring product 26 has solidified/hardened inside the cartridge 2 with the piston 20 inside it, a structural reinforcement system, in a similar manner to the embodiments described using figs. 1-13.

In the embodiments described using figs. 14, 15, 15a, 16, 16a, 17, 17a, 18, 18a, 19, 19a, there can also be, possibly suitably adapted, elements common to the embodiments described using figs. 1-13. For example, the sealing element 16 as above is present, which advantageously prevents unwanted leakages of the anchoring product 26, thus helping to guarantee that the latter re-enters the cartridge 2 through the one or more passages 118 and possibly one or more passages 18, if provided. Furthermore, by way of example, the piston 20, the mixing element 13 and the spacer element 14 are also shown, described using figs. 1-13.

In the embodiments described using figs. 14, 15, 15a, 18, 18a, 19, 19a, said one or more passages 118 are also provided, in addition to the at least one passage 18, or several passages 18, provided in correspondence with the second end 15 of said cartridge 2. In such embodiments, therefore, the anchoring product 26 re-enters the cartridge 2 not only from the at least one passage 18, or several passages 18, but also from the other one or more passages 118.

In the embodiments described using figs. 16, 17, 17a, said one or more passages 118 are provided to replace the at least one passage 18, or several passages 18, which are provided in correspondence with the second end 15 of said cartridge 2. In the embodiments described using figs. 16, 17, 17a, therefore, only said one or more passages 118 are present, and not the at least one passage 18, or several passages 18. In these embodiments, therefore, the anchoring product 26 re-enters the cartridge 2 only from the at least one passage 118, or the plurality of passages 118.

In the embodiments described using figs. 14, 15, 15a, 16, 16a, 17, 17a, 18, 18a, 19, 19a, the at least one passage 118 as above can be made as a slot, slit, notch, window or opening passing through the lateral surface of the cartridge 2 In the case of several passages 118, they can be present and interspaced at a predefined pitch.

For example, the one or more passages 118 can be in the shape of an arc of a circle that develops along part of the circumference of the lateral surface.

In embodiments described using figs. 14, 15, 15a, 16, 16a, 17, 17a, 18, 18a, 19, 19a, a plurality of passages 118 can be present in the cartridge 2. In this case, in possible implementations, this plurality of passages 118 is present in a first part of the lateral surface of the cartridge 2 that extends from the second end 15 of said cartridge 2. In possible further implementations, the first part of the lateral surface of the cartridge 2, where said one or more passages 118 are present, has a length, measured from said second end 15 of said cartridge 2, smaller than 0.66 times, in particular 0.5 times, more particularly 0.4 times, even more particularly 0.33 times, the overall length of the cartridge 2.

In further embodiments described using figs. 18, 18a, 19, 19a, the cartridge 2 is not filled as described with reference to the embodiments described using figs. l-17a. In this case, the cartridge 2 in fact provides a single jacket 4 that defines an internal chamber 7. In these embodiments, the one or more components that define the anchoring product 26 are inserted into the cartridge 2 already pre-packaged in a respective closed tubular body 28, in particular a wrapper/bag. This closed tubular body 28, in particular a wrapper/bag, is inserted and housed inside the corresponding containing chamber 5, 7. For example, in possible implementations, the cartridge 2 provides only one containing chamber 5, 7. For example, the cartridge 2 does not provide, as in other embodiments described here, the jacket 6 that defines, in cooperation with the jacket 4, the two separate and coaxial chambers 5, 7. In these embodiments, on the other hand, only the outer jacket 4 is present defining the single chamber 7 in which one or more closed tubular bodies 28 are positioned. In these embodiments, since the structure of the cartridge with coaxial chambers 5, 7 is not provided, the piston 20 can be made with a single longitudinal structure, for example a bar, able to slide in the cartridge and thrust on the one or more closed tubular bodies 28 present therein.

In the case of several components defining the anchoring product 26, for example two components, such as a resin and a hardener, two closed tubular bodies 28 can be provided, in each of which a respective component is present, or a single closed tubular body 28 can be provided that is configured with separate chambers, in each of which a respective component is present, so that the two components do not mix before use. Generally, the closed tubular body 28 as above is made of a suitable flexible material, which can be deformed and destroyed by the thrusting action of the piston 20. Although figs. 19, 19a show a cartridge 2 in which both one or more passages 118 and also one or more passages 18 are provided, it is clear that these embodiments could provide only the presence of the one or more passages 118, or even only the presence of the one or more passages 18. The apparatus 1 according to the invention substantially acts as a reinforcement pole which can be solidified, inside a hole 10 obtained in the rock to be reinforced, by means of progressive self-impregnation and, advantageously, reinforces without generating waste or scraps. In addition, the cartridge itself and the piston, in addition to operating synergistically to cause the controlled and safe release of the component(s) defining the anchoring product intended to solidify, remain inside the hole itself and act themselves by reinforcing elements.

The present invention also relates to a machinery comprising at least a reinforcement apparatus 1 - as described above - and a thrusting machine (not shown) which can be positioned in correspondence with the hole 10, obtained in the portion of rock 3 to be reinforced, and which is configured to push the piston 20 into 20 the cartridge 2 and thus cause each apparatus 1 to pass - once inserted inside the hole 10 - from:

- first configuration, in which the piston 20 is extracted from the cartridge 2 containing at least one liquid/fluid component, at the

- second configuration, in which the piston 20 is inserted completely or for the most part inside the cartridge 2.

Conveniently, in the passage from the first to the second configuration, the liquid/fluid components, contained separately in the cartridge 2, come out of the latter the latter to thus obtain - preferably after their mixing (in the case of two or more components) - an anchoring product 26 intended to solidify. Then, the anchoring product 26 emerging from the first end 9 from the apparatus 1 fills the space 27 between the external wall of the cartridge 2 and the internal wall of the hole 10, and also goes up towards the second end 15 of the cartridge itself where - through the passages 18 (see e.g. fig. 5a) preferably defined at the outer edge 17 of the cartridge 2 - enters the inside of the cartridge 2 containing the extruded piston 20.

Advantageously, the aforesaid machinery is also configured to insert, in sequence, one apparatus at a time inside the hole 10 obtained in the portion of rock 3 to be reinforced. Conveniently, the aforesaid machinery can be configured to insert the hole 10 inside, separately, firstly the cartridge 2 and then the piston 20, so that their assembly takes place inside the hole itself; or it can be configured to insert inside the hole 10 the already pre-assembled apparatus 1, that is with the piston 20 already partially/initially inserted inside the cartridge 2.

From what has been said, it is clear that the reinforcement apparatus 1 is particularly advantageous in that:

- allows to store only ready-made components (i.e. cartridges) ready for use,

- avoids handling and contact with dangerous liquid/solid components,

- does not require having to dose liquid/solid components, thus avoiding any weighing errors

- does not require the handling of large packages, such as drums, tanks, cans, etc.

- does not produce any waste or waste,

- its use can be automated, through the use of a suitable machinery, thus making the reinforcement process particularly safe.