Roof bolts for use in mines, a method for their production and a method for their installation

1. A roof bolt and nut in screw threaded engagement, said bolt comprising a shaft, having a longitudinal axis for insertion in a hole drilled in a mine roof and a threaded portion engaged by the nut whereby the bolt may be rotated and wherein the nut is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the bolt so that when the bolt is rotated by means of the nut, the bolt is caused to describe a circle of greater diameter than its own diameter, the amount of said offset being from about 0.015 to about 0.50 inches, and wherein the nut is releasably locked in screw threaded engagement with the bolt so that the bolt can be rotated by means of the nut.

2. The roof bolt as claimed in claim 1 wherein the offset is from about 0.02 to about 0.25 inches.

3. The roof bolt as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nut breaks out of being releasably locked in screw threaded engagement with the bolt above a selected torque.

4. A system for roof bolting, said system comprising a roof bolt, a nut releasably locked in screw threaded engagement with the bolt, and means for rotating the roof bolt, said means including a chuck for holding the end of the roof bolt and adapted to rotate the bolt by means of the nut, said bolt comprising a threaded shaft having a central axis and wherein the chuck is adapted to rotate the bolt so that the shaft of the bolt rotates about an axis which is offset with respect to the central axis of the shaft whereby the shaft is caused to describe a circle of diameter greater than its own diameter.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the chuck is adapted so that the offset is from about 0.015 to about 0.50 inches.

6. A roof bolt and nut in screw threaded engagement, said bolt comprising a shaft with a longitudinal axis, for insertion in a hole drilled in a mine roof and a threaded portion engaged by the nut whereby the bolt may be rotated and the nut is releasably locked in screw threaded engagement with the bolt so that the bolt can be rotated by means of the nut and above a selected torque the nut will break out, and wherein the nut is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the bolt so that when the bolt is rotated by means of the nut, the bolt is caused to describe a circle of greater diameter than its own diameter, the amount of said offset being form about 0.02 to about 0.25 inches.

7. A system for roof bolting, said system comprising a means for rotating a roof bolt, said means including a chuck for holding an end of the roof bolt, said bolt comprising a shaft having a central axis, and wherein the chuck is adapted to rotate the bolt by means of a nut which nut is releasably locked in screw threaded engagement with the bolt so that the shaft of the bolt rotates about an axis which is offset with respect to the central axis of the shaft whereby the shaft is caused to describe a circle of diameter greater than its own diameter, the amount of said offset being from about 0.02 to about 0.25 inches.

8. A nut suitable for use with roof bolts of the type having a threaded end portion, said nut comprising a body having a tapped hole and where the central axis of the tapped hole is offset with respect to the central axis of the body of the nut, the amount of offset being from at least 0.015 to 0.50 inches, and wherein the nut further comprises means for releasably locking the nut to a roof bolt.

9. A nut as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the amount of offset is from about 0.02 to 0.25 inches.