Mine stopping, method of constructing same and panels thereof

Details Mine stopping, method of constructing same and panels thereof Mine stopping, method of constructing same and panels thereof

1999-04-28

2001-04-24

Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3673)

Hydraulic and earth engineering

Underground passageway, e.g., tunnel

C405S288000, C454S169000, C299S012000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06220785

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a mine stopping, a method of constructing the stopping, and panels used therein, more particularly a permanent mine stopping generally for the same purpose as the stopping disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,474 of myself and John M. Kennedy, issued Dec. 1, 1992, entitled Form for Making a Permanent Concrete Mine Stopping, a method of constructing a permanent stopping, and panels such as used in the constructing the stopping and which become synergistically incorporated therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,474 discloses a method of constructing a mine stopping by erecting two steel walls indicated at W
1
and W
2
in the patent each comprising a set
3
of elongate extensible steel panels
7
with the walls spaced apart in a passageway in a mine, pouring concrete or other suitable commercially available material sufficiently strong when hardened to provide a permanent stopping to seal off an unworked portion of a mine as disclosed in the patent, and removing the walls after the concrete (or equivalent) has hardened, leaving a concrete (or equivalent) wall per se as a permanent stopping.
Also in the background of the invention is a mine stopping made in a manner similar to that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,474 with the differences that a yielding foamed cement is poured between the walls, resulting in a permanent stopping with near zero leakage of air past the stopping.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of a near zero leakage permanent mine stopping improved over the above noted permanent mine stoppings in enabling reduction of thickness of the stopping for cost reduction while retaining strength in resistance to forces tending to cause failure of the stopping, such as forces against a face of the stopping resulting from an explosion in the mine; and the provision of a method of and panels for constructing the improved stopping.
In general, a stopping of this invention for a passageway in a mine comprises first and second walls extending transversely of the passageway from one side thereof to the other and heightwise of the passageway from the floor to the roof thereof, the walls being permanently held in generally vertical parallel relation spaced apart longitudinally of the passage and held against displacement longitudinally of the passageway, and a filling in the space between the walls having a force-transmitting relationship with the walls and having sufficient strength in tension to constitute the walls and the filling as a permanently integrated composite structure in which the walls act as flanges in conjunction with the filling as a web resistant to forces such as may be encountered in the passageway tending to bend the structure in one direction or the other longitudinally of the passage.
In general, the method of this invention for providing a stopping for a passageway in a mine comprises installing first and second walls extending transversely of the passageway generally from one side thereof to the other and heightwise of the passageway from the floor to the roof thereof, said walls as installed being permanently held in generally vertical parallel relation spaced apart longitudinally of the passageway and held against displacement longitudinally of the passageway, filling the space between the walls with a material initially in a fluent state and adapted to set in situ to a final state, wherein it has strength in tension as well as compression, said material being delivered into said space in its fluent state and allowed to set in situ to its final state, and providing a force-transmitting relationship between the filling and the walls, the filling in its final state having sufficient strength in tension to constitute the walls and the filling as a permanently integrated composite structure in which the walls act as flanges in conjunction with the filling as a web resistant to forces such as may be encountered in the passageway tending to bend the structure in one direction or the other longitudinally of the passage.
In general, a panel of this invention, for use in constructing a stopping as set forth above, comprises a first elongate sheet metal member constituting a lower member of the panel adapted for engagement of its lower end with the floor of the passageway, and a second elongate sheet metal member constituting an upper member of the panel adapted for engagement of its upper end with the roof of the passageway, said members having a telescoping sliding fit with one another to permit adjustable extension of the panel to fit the height of the passageway, each member having an inside face and an outside face in respect to incorporation of the panel in a stopping, each member having on the inside face thereof means for keying the filling and said members together.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.


REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 32675 (1988-05-01), Kennedy et al.
patent: Re. 32871 (1989-02-01), Kennedy et al.
patent: Re. 34053 (1992-09-01), Kennedy et al.
patent: Re. 34220 (1993-04-01), Kennedy et al.
patent: 2729064 (1956-01-01), Kennedy et al.
patent: 3302343 (1967-02-01), Bear
patent: 4036024 (1977-07-01), Dreker et al.
patent: 4294563 (1981-10-01), Kilburn
patent: 4478535 (1984-10-01), Kennedy et al.
patent: 4483642 (1984-11-01), Kennedy et al.
patent: 4484837 (1984-11-01), Kennedy et al.
patent: 4547094 (1985-10-01), Kennedy et al.
patent: 4784522 (1988-11-01), Mraz
patent: 4820081 (1989-04-01), Kennedy et al.
patent: 5167474 (1992-12-01), Kennedy et al.
patent: 5168667 (1992-12-01), Kennedy et al.
patent: 5401120 (1995-03-01), Hussey et al.
patent: 5725327 (1998-03-01), Hussey et al.
patent: 5879231 (1999-03-01), Sisk
patent: WO 85/04444 (1985-10-01), None

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