CA1237905A - Ice crib - Google Patents

Abstract

ICE CRIB

Abstract An ice crib for use in retreat mining to support the overburden is formed of fresh water ice, the freezing and melting of which is controlled in situ by flow therethrough of temperature regulated brine.

Description

: I I

1 The present invention relates to mining equipment

2 and, more particularly, to ground support equipment for use

3 in underground openings.

In underground mining, pillars are left within any 6 mined cavity or room in order to provide support for the 7 overburden. Usually, attempts are made at recovering the 8 material of value represented by the pillars before abandonment 9 of the mined area or termination of the mining operation.
Particularly, in coal and other mining operations, mechanical 11 means are usually employed to serve the function of pillars.

13 During recovery of the pillars or mechanical 14 substitutes therefore a continuing danger of injury, loss of fife, damage or burial of equipment continually exists.
it 17 In United States Patent No. 1 t Z07,569 there is 18 described a method for supporting the roof of mine tunnels 19 or other underground cavities during second mining operations and to provide a substitute for the pillars to be mined, props, 21 cogs or pillars that have become weakened. It is suggested 22 that the mine cavities be filled with blocks of ice, which 23 ice is caused to flow to fill all of the cavities by placing Z4 the ice under very substantial pressure. A similar system of employing ice flow is described in United States Patent I No. 3,790,215. Elerein, the mine is filled with ice which ice 27 progressively and continuously slows during the primary mining 28 operation to provide requisite support for lateral and hanging 29 rock walls. Necessarily, a very substantial pressure equivalent to a vertical height of twenty-two or more meters of ice is 31 necessary.

: 9~5 1 Roof supports in the configuration of air inflatable 2 tires are described in United States Patent No. 2,861,429.
3 Structure is also described therein for accommodating transport

4 of such supports from one location to another within the mine.
United States Patent No. 2,990,166 is directed to air inflatable 6 cushions cylindrical in configuration. United States Patent 7 No. 3,508,408 is directed to a pneumatic cushion particularly 8 adapted for coal mines and having particularly oriented 9 multiple plies of textile cords extending helically thereabout.
United States Patent No. 4,072,015 is directed to air inflatable 11 bladders for plugging bore holes to permit injection and 12 containment of a fluid within the bore hole to provide ground 13 support for the bore hole.
I
The present invention is directed to a crib formed 16 of ice to serve as a pillar for support of the overburden. The 17 apparatus employed includes a length of two concentric tunings 18 rolled or folded upon itself to provide a cross-section, when 19 inflated, equivalent to that of the space to be occupied. Fresh water is injected into the outer tubing and brine, chilled to Al a temperature below zero degrees centigrade, flows continuously 2Z through the inner tubing The brine will draw off heat from the 23 surrounding fresh water and in due course the fresh water 24 will freeze. The resulting block of ice will provide structural support in the manner of a pillar or other support whether a jack, I a concrete column or a timber crib. On completion of the 27 mining operation and to bring about cave-in, the flow of chilled 28 brine may be stopped to permit gradual melting of the ice;
29 alternately non-chilled urine may be passed through the block of ice to draw off heat, promote more rapid melting and 31 partially chill the outflowing brine for use in constructing other 3'79(1~ 1 1 ¦ ice cribs. The melting of the crib is relatively slow 2 ¦ which provides adequate time for evacuation of all equipment 3 and personnel prior to cave-in. It may also be noted that 4 water expands when it freezes, which expansion serves in the manner of providing a pre-stressed pillar for the roof, 6 drive or drift within which the ice crib is to be formed. This 7 capability exists only with very expensive mechanical jacks.

9 It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive readily erectable ice crib.

12 Another object ox the present invention is to provide 13 a pre-stres~ed ice crib.

Yet another object of the present invention is to 16 provide an expendable vice crib.

18 Still another object of the present invention is to 19 provide structure for forming an ice crib ox unlimited size and configuration.

22 A further object of the present invention is to 23 provide an ice crib automatically conformable to the space 24 within which it is to be used.

I A yet further object of the present invention is to 27 provide an ice crib for underground openings which will permit 28 on command the ground to subside and rose the underground 29 openings 31 A still further object of the present invention is . . I

I 12~790S

l to provide an ice crib compatible for storage and transportation.

3 These and other objects of the present invention will 4 become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

7 The present invention may be described with greater 8 specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, 9 in which:

if Figure 1 is a plan view of an underground mine 12 having ice cribs for support of the overburden;

14 Figure 2 is a plan view of a retreat mining operation having ice cribs to support the overburden;
16 . .
17 Figure 3 illustrates bed separation;

. Figure 4 illustrates non-closure of bed separation with a prior art timber crib;
I
22 __ Figure 5 illustrates closure of bed separation within 23 an ice crib;
I
Figures 6, 7 and 8 illustrate, serially, use of an I ice crib in a punch mine operation;

28 Figure 9 illustrates the structure ox the present 29 invention; and 31 ¦ Figure 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the 32 ¦ present invention in operation

- 5 -I 2~17905 1 ¦ Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a mine having 2 ¦ an underground room in which retreat mining is in progress and pry or 3 to robbing the pillars. A plurality of drives (drifts) 10, 4 12, 14, 16 and 18 intersect one or more of panels (cross cuts) 20, 22, 24 and 26. A plurality of pillars are defined by the

6 respective circumscribing drives and drifts, which pillars

7 provide support for the overlying ground or overburden.

9 The pillars represent material of value to be mined but mining of the pillars by retreat mining would cause 11 subsidence and cave in of the overburden unless support therefore 12 were maintained. These pillars are identified by reference 13 numerals 28 through 39. The mining limit of the mine is 14 identified by czarinas numeral 40, which limit represents the extent to which mining may be conducted as a result of 16 limitations in the lease or ownership of the ground. Similarly, 17 drives 10 and 18 represent the lateral extent to which the 18 mine may be mined.

Prior to mining of any of the pillars, the present 21 invention is employed to develop a block of ice located within 22 one or more of the drives and drifts to provide support for 23 the overburden during mining ox the pillars. These blocks 24 of ice produced by the present invention and referred to as ice cribs are identified by numerals 42 to I It may be noted I that the ice cribs formed vary in length to meet the 27 requirements of each particular location and which variability 28 is a feature of the present invention. Moreover, ice cribs 42, 29 43 and 44 provide vertical support for the overburden and extend between the let and right sides of the respective drives and 31 panels and to mining limit 40. Ice cribs 45 and 46 provide 1 ~3~9~

1 support for the overburden and extend between the left and 2 right ribs within drive 12.

4 After erection of ice cribs 42 to 46, the first cut made in each pullers adjacent the respective ice crib and 6 identified by the letter A. On completion of each cut I, an 7 ice crib is formed in the space vacated to provide a temporary

8 substitute support for the overburden. Further cuts B and C

9 are made successively in each pillar. After each such further cut, if needed, a further ice crib is substituted in place of 11 the cut to provide support for the overburden when required and 12 dependent upon the structure and composition of the overburden.
13 After each pillar has been removed, the support previously 14 provided thereby is low obtained from the respective ice crib(s).
Such support will continue until the ice crib(s) melts.
I
17 By controlling the rate of ice melt of each ice crib, 18 the rapidity of subsidence of the overburden can be controlled.
19 such control affords total and complete removal of all mining equipment, materials and personnel from each given area to 21 eliminate injury or loss due to rock burst or subsidence. It 22 may also be pointed out that as no timber cribs, metal jacks, 23 chocks or other equipment need be recovered by personnel, 24 the safety hazards attendant such recovery are totally eliminated 26 Because of the relatively low cost of the structure 27 of which each ice crib is formed, non recovery thereof is general 28 affordable; the loss of the ice crib structure may be somewhat 29 ameliorated by using the melting ice crib as a heat sink to chill the fluid to be used in forming other ice cribs.

..

1 ¦ An ice crib used as a heat sink will acquire heat more rapidly 2 than otherwise. The heat acquisition can no regulated to some 3 extent and thereby be used to melt the ice crib at a relatively 4 controllable rate.
6 Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a room containing 7 material of value to be mined by the pocket and wing method.
8 The room is bounded by drive 48, drift 50, limit 52 defining an 9 edge of gob and limit 54 defining a further edge of the gob.
First, a pocket 56 is mined from drift 50 to limit 54. Secondly, 11 a further pocket 58 is mined from pocket 56 to limit 52. Prior 12 to the mining of these pockets and to provide support for the 13 overburden which may be needed as a result of the unsupported 14 area defined at or about the intersection of pockets 56, 58 and drift 50, ice crib 60 is developed at the end of drift 56 16 adjacent limit 52.

18 The mining of pillar 62 of material of value 19 bounded by pockets 56, 58 and limits 52, 54 is made by taking successively a plurality of angled cuts 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69 21 and 70. On completion of one or more of the cuts, ice cribs 72, 22 circular in plan form as illustrated, may be erected within I the areas defined in Figure 2 as pockets, 56, 58 and cuts 64 throw oh 24 70. Ice cribs 72 may be of different size (diameter), depending upon the composition of the overburden and the resultant loads to I be supported. The placement of ice cribs 72 is similarly to be 27 determined by the structural integrity of the overburden and 28 will vary from location to location. Accordingly, the placement 29 thereof depicted in Figure 2 is to be construed only as representative of the ice crib size and location of placement.

32 The material of value to be mined between pocket 56 1 ~3~9C~

1 ¦ and drive 48 is divided into two areas by mining a further 2 ¦ pocket 74 extending from drive 48 to pocket 56. Prior or 3 ¦ subsequent thereto, ice crib 76 may be erected within drive 48 ¦ adjacent limit 54 as a substitute for the support withdrawn ¦ by mining of the material of value.

I -7 Pillar 78 is mined by a series of angled cuts 80, 81, 8 82, 83 and 85. Subsequent to one or more of these cuts, further ice cribs 88 may be located within pocket 74 and in the areas represented by one or more of the cuts made into pillar 78.

11 Again, ye number and size of ice cribs 88 is primarily dependent 12 upon the composition and structural integrity of the overburden.

14 Pillar 90 is mined by taking a plurality of cuts 92, 93, 94, 95, 96 and 97~ Subsequent to taking one or more 16 of these cuts in pillar 90, further ice cribs 100 may be 17 located within drive 48, drift 50 and one or more of the areas I represented by cuts '92 to 97. Again, the selection of size and 19 number of such ice cribs is dependent upon the composition and structural integrity of the overburden.

22 -- After all ox the material of value has been removed 23 from the room bounded by drive 48, drift 50 and limits 52, 54, 24 subsidence or cavern of the overburden may be undertaken. By selective melting of ice cribs 60, 72, 76, 88 and 100, controlled I and regulated subsidence may be accomplished. Preferably, 27 the melting of the ice cribs is regulated to extend uniformly I from limits 52, 54 to drive 48 and drift 50.
I

It may be appreciated that all mining equipment and 31 materials to be removed from the room can be so removed sub-32 staunchly in advance of any subsidence. Furthermore, all _ g _ ., . 3l~3~ 5 l ¦ personnel can and will be evacuated long before any subsidence 2 occurs. Therefore, loss of equipment and material is avoided 3 and hazards to personnel as a result of the subsidence are 4 totally eliminated.

6 referring to Figure 3, there is illustrated an Elena 7 tonal view of a conventional drive or drift, such as illustrated 8 in plan view in Figures l and 2. As soon as the material of value 9 has been removed to form the drive or drift, floor 102 begins to heave and roof 104 begins to sag. This usually results if in separation between beds 106, 108 and beds 110, 112 and 114.

12 The separation further weakens the structural integrity of the 13 roof and at some point failure will occur resulting in partial 14 or complete Caesar of the drive or drift.
I :
16 A conventional timber crib 116 is illustrated in 17 Figure 4. Such a timber crib is placed within an opening or 18 drive or drift to provide physical support between floor 118 lo and root 120. The timber crib will generally halt further bed separation for a period of time. However, the continuing 21 pressure placed upon the timber crib coupled with the fact 22 that a timber crib is compressible will still result in 23 continuing but decelerated sag of roof 120. At some point in 24 time, and it is only a matter ox time, subsidence or cavern will occur. It may also be note that the timber crib is I generally not recoverable without substantial hazard to both 27 equipment and personnel. Alternatives to the traditional 28 limber crib are hydraulic jacks which can be expanded in a 29 manner a wooden crib cannot be and any separation between the layers in a roof or floor can be closed; but, such hydraulic 31 jacks are too expensive to be used as disposable items. On 1237~05 1 ¦ removal thereof, hazards to both equipment and personnel will 2 ¦ and do exist. Other means such as chocks of various types have been used but the underlying problems continue to remain with 4 a change being only one degree of severity.
6 Referring to Figure 5, there is shown an opening 122 7 of a drive or drift, of the type shown in Figure 3. To support 8 roof 124 and prevent separation of beds 126, 128 in floor 130 9 and between beds 132, 134 and 136 in the roof, an ice crib 138 is placed therein. The ice crib includes an envelope 140 11 generally defining the height, width and length of the ice crib 12 and which envelope is generally commensurate with the cross 13 section of opening 122 and the length along which the ice crib 14 is to provide support. On freezing of the water to form the ice crib volumetric expansion occurs. Such expansion results I in preloadiny or prestressing the beds of floor 130 and roof 124 17 to preclude any separation from beginning, or, if it has begun, 18 to close any separation between the beds in the floor and/or the 19 roof. Thus, the benefits of a hydraulic jack are achieved by the ice crib and yet the expenses attendant a hydraulic jack, 21 both in terms of capital costs, maintenance and labor are 22 obviated.

24 To reduce the rate of heat flow to ice crib 138 from floor 130 or roof 124, pads of insulation 142, 144 may be employed .
26 Such pads of insulation also have a secondary benefit in that 27 unevenness of both the floor and the roof are somewhat 28 accommodated by penetration into the pads and thereby reduce 29 the degree and extent of any stress concentrations that would otherwise be produced in envelope 140 of the ice crib.

~;~379()5 1 Referring jointly to Figures 5, 6 and 7, there is l shown a method for punch mining and with which method the 3 ¦ ice cribs are particularly useful. The process of punch mining 4 ¦ is generally employed where the structural 7 integrity of the 5 ¦ layers in the overburden is low or otherwise requires closely 6 ¦ spaced pillars or supports to prevent subsidence or rock burst.
7 ¦ As will be described hereinafter no pillars of material of 8 ¦ value need be left in the punch mine process to be described 9 ¦ and illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8. An initial punch mine

10 ¦ opening 150 is shown in Figure 6. This usually results in some 12 I separation between beds 152, 154 in floor 156 and between 13 beds 158, 160 and 162 in roof 164.
14 ¦ On placement of an ice crib 166 within opening 150, 15 ¦ as shown in Figure 7, the separation between beds 15~ and 154 16 ¦ and beds 158, 160 and 162 are closed or at least further I separation is precluded because of the pressure and support I ¦ provided by the mass of ice crib 166. Thereafter or commensurate 20 ¦ with mining of opening 150, a second opening 168 can be mined.
21 ¦ The separation in the beds of the floor and roof attendant I opening 160, as described with respect to Figure 6, will 22 ¦ again exist. Such separation and the resulting voids can be 24 ¦ closed by erecting in the opening a further ice crib 170 as ¦ shown in Figure I.

I ¦ Pillar 172 of material of value intermediate ice 27 ¦ cribs 166 and 170 ma now be mined as the floor and roof 28 ¦ adjacent thereto have been stabilized by these ice cribs. After 29 ¦ an opening 174 is formed, further separation of the attendant 3~1 floor and roof may occur. Such separation, assuming that 31~ subsidence of the overburden it not yet desired, can be halted .~3~95 1 ¦ or corrected by erecting a further ice crib within opening 174.
2 ¦ After all material of value has been removed by mining a 3 plurality of openings in the same or similar manner described 4 ahcve, subsidence of the overburden may by achieved in regulated and controlled manner by selective melting of the various ice 6 cribs. The requirements attendant present mining techniques 7 of having to leave pillars of material of value intermediate 8 openings are obviated by the ice cribs. Again, it may be noted 9 that all hazards and potential losses attendant equipment, materials and personnel as a result of the dangers attendant

11 prior art planned subsidence or accidental subsidence have

12 been obviated

13

14 Referring to Figure 9, there is illustrated an apparatus 176 formed by a double walled tubing 178 having an 16 inner tube 180 and an outer tube 182. Closure means, such as 17 end cap 184 extends across the mouth at each end of outer 18 tube 182. on aperture 186 is provided in the end cap to 19 accommodate passage of inner tube 180 or an extension 188 thereof there through. A pipe 190 or like passageway extends through 21 aperture 192 in the end cap. The pipe provides a means for 2Z fluid communication with the interior of outer tube 182; that is 23 the annular space between the inner and outer tube. One or both 24 ends of pipe 190 may include a coupling 194 for interconnecting 25 the pipe with another segment of double wall tubing 178 to provide I fluid communication there between, alternatively, the coupling may 27 be replaced by a plug or other closure means to prevent flow 28 through pipe 190.

Outer tube 182 serves as an envelope for containing 31 a first fluid, such as fresh water, which is to be frozen to form 32 the ice crib. Inner tube 180 serves as a conveying means fox I

1 ¦ conveying a second fluid chilled below the temperature ox the 2 first fluid to draw heat from -the first fluid and reduce its 3 temperature.

; 4 Still referring to Figure 9, a support system for operating the double wall tubing to convert it to an ice crib 7 will be described. A water source 196 is interconnected with 8 pipe 190 through conduit 198 to provide a flow of water into 9 outer tube 182. An air source 200 may be selectively connectable to conduit 198 to provide an initial inflation of the outer 11 tube to position the double wall tubing within the space the 12 ice crib it to be formed. Closure means 194 may include means for 13 expelling the air initially injected within outer tube 182 14 upon inflow of water from water source 196. After outer tube 182 has been filled with water, a cooling medium, such as brine, 16 is pumped by pump 206 from a brine source 202 through a 17 refrigeration soys them 204 to chill the brine to a temperature 18 below the freezing temperature of tile first fluid, or fresh 19 water, through conduit 208. Tile out flow of brine through extensil on 188 is conveyed through conduit 210 back to the brine source.

22 As alluded to above, during deliberate melting of any 23 ice crib inner tube 180 thereof may be connected to the inner 24 tube of another ice crib to be formed to precook or prechill the fresh water within the ice crib to be formed. This I procedure serves two purposes. First, it can be used to Z7 accelerate melting of an existing ice crib; and, secondly, the 28 resulting lowered temperature of the brine flowing into the ; 29 ice crib to be formed will draw heat from the fresh water attendant the ice crib to be formed and thereby certain savings 31 in refrigeration costs may be effected.

Jo 3LZ3'791)~

l The apparatus illustrated in Figure 9 from which an 2 ice crib is to be formed, is, preferably, in the configuration 3 of an elongated tube. Such a configuration permits folding or 4 coiling of the tube to form almost any configuration necessary to fill the space within which an ice crib is to be formed.

7 Referring to Figure 10, there is shown an ice crib 212 8 having an envelope 2:L4 of a configuration commensurate with that 9 of the ice crib to be funned. Within the envelope, the apparatus lo for containing and freezing the water is coiled, folded or if otherwise positioned to occupy the requisite volume. It may be 12 noted that a sheet of insulation 216 and 218 is located 13 intermediate the overburden and the top of the envelope and the 14 floor and bottom of the envelope, respectively. The use of such insulation serves two functions: First, it reduces heat 16 transfer into the ice crib and thereby aids in prolonging 17 melting of the ice crib; Secondly, it provides a means whereby 18 the amount of pressure to be exerted by the ice crib upon lo freezing can be regulated through the known force necessary to partially or completely compress the sheets of insulation.
21 As mentioned above, a third benefit available is that of shielding 22 optional envelope 214 or the apparatus therein against puncture ho 23 pointed or sharp objects extending upwardly from the floor or 24 depending from the overburden.

I Figure lo also illustrates in partial cutaway view 27 a cross-section of the apparatus shown in Figure 9 folded upon Z8 itself in serpentine manner to occupy the space defined by 29 envelope 212. For ease of installation and to insure that all of the space within the envelope will infect be filled with 31 fresh water and brine in their respective tubes, the double wall

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~2379~i 1 tuning may be first inflated to the size it would be were 2 water and brine disposed therein. Evacuation of the air 3 within the apparatus could be accomplished by a vacuum pump 4 or simply by filling the outer tubing with water, as described 5 yin reference to Figure 9. It may be noted that inner tube 180 6 is lodged naturally at the bottom of outer tubing 182. Such 7 positioning assumes that the inner tube is free to float or sink 8 within the outer tube The inner tube is assumed to conduct a 9 salt urine rather than less dense but more expensive glycol brine, 10 Rand thus sinks in the fresh water in the annular space. The use 11 of the concentric tubes positions and distributes the inner tubes 12 evenly throughout the space to be filled with ice. The added 13 expense of employing supports Oil positioning members to carefully 14 position the inner tube with respect to the outer tube presently 15 appears justified As illustrated, a valve 220 may be inter-

16 connected with inlayer tube 180 or an extension thereof to regulate

17 the flow rate of brine through the inner tube.

18 I .

19 ¦ After each ice crib has been erected, the fresh water

20 Rand brine interconnections therewith may be severed in the event

21 continuing flow of chilled brine is unnecessary to maintain the

22 vice crib frozen for the period of time during which it must

23 provide the requisite support for the overburden. Alternatively, Z4 ¦ the connections may be retained intact to provide a means for 25 ¦ continuous flow of chilled brine to insure non-melting of the I ¦ ice crib during the period of time within which it must provide 27 ¦ the requisite support of the overburden to remove the hazard and 28 I danger to equipment and personnel performing a mining function.
29 Where the economies so justify, an existing ice crib which is to be melted, can be employed to precook the brine slowing into 31 the refrigeration system and from which it flows into an ice 32 crib to be formed. The resulting savings in refrigeration costs 33 override the costs attendant the necessary conduit and fittings.

1 ~3~0S

Furthermore, my transmitting non-chilled brine through an 2 existing ice crib, the melt rate thereof may be reasonably 3 accurately controlled by regulating both the flow rate and 4 temperature of the brine flowing into the ice crib. The chilled fresh water from a melted ice crib can also be pumped 6 into an ice crib to be formed; or, it can be simply pumped 7 out to collapse the ice crib.

The apparatus illustrated in Figure may be formed of relatively inexpensive tubing of man-made plastic materials 11 and inexpensive plastic fittings as the pressures attendant 12 operation of the apparatus are well within the limits of such 13 materials. Thereby, the apparatus may be considered to be 14 disposable and in fact it is probably less expensive to permit it to become buried in a cavern than to expend the funds 16 necessary to retrieve it, handle it, transport it and store it.
17 It may be noted that the pressures resulting from the support 18 provided by an ice crib are borne by the ice and not the 19 envelopes ox tubing therefore 21 Since apparatus 176 is collapsible, it is readily 22 Rand economically storable and transportable. Moreover, it is 23 simple to set up and operate which reduces the level of skilled

24 manpower necessary for such purposes.

26 While the principles of the invention have now been 27 made clear in an illustrative embodiment, there will be 28 immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifica-29 lions of structure, arrangement, proportions, elements, materials, and components, used in the practice of the invention 31 which are particularly adapted for specific environments and 32 operating requirements without departing from those principles.

Claims (31)

I CLAIM:

1. An ice crib for filling a space to support an underground roof, said ice crib comprising in combination:

(a) apparatus having a first tube and a second tube proximate said first tube;
(b) means for introducing a first fluid into said first tube;
(c) means for conveying through said second tube a second fluid having a lower freezing point than the first fluid and at a temperature below the freezing point of the first fluid; and (d) means for conforming said apparatus to fill the predetermined space upon introduction of the first fluid and injection of the second fluid;
whereby, the second fluid will draw heat from the first fluid to freeze the first fluid and develop an ice crib of solid mass sized commensurate with the predetermined space to be filled.

2. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a double walled tubing.

3. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 2 wherein said first tube is an inner tube and said second tube is an outer tube of said double wall tubing.

4. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 3 wherein said injecting means comprises a source of second fluid, a refrigeration unit and a pump.

5. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 4 wherein the first fluid is fresh water and the second fluid is brine.

6. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 1 including insulation means for thermally insulating at least the top and bottom of said apparatus.

7. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 3 including means for serially interconnecting a plurality of said apparatus.

8. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 7 including insulating means for thermally insulating at least the top and bottom of said apparatus.

9. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 1 including an envelope for enclosing said apparatus.

10. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 9 including insulation means for thermally insulating at least the top and bottom of said apparatus.

11. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 9 wherein said apparatus is a double walled tubing.

12. The ice crib as set for in Claim 11 wherein said first tube is an inner tube and said second tube is an outer tube of said double wall tubing.

13. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 12 wherein said injecting means comprises a source of second fluid, a refrigeration unit and a pump.

14. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 13 including insulation means for thermally insulating at least the top and bottom of said apparatus.

15. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 1 including means for draining said first fluid.

16. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said conveying means includes means for drawing off said second fluid.

17. The ice crib as set forth in Claim 16 including means for draining said first fluid.
18. A method for filling a vertical space to support an underground roof with an ice crib, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) positioning apparatus within the space to define the ice crib;
(b) introducing into the apparatus a first fluid having a first freezing point; and

Claim 18 continued:

(c) conveying through the apparatus a second fluid having a freezing point lower than that of the first fluid;
whereby, the first fluid will become frozen and define the ice crib in response to the heat drawn therefrom on conveyance through the apparatus of the second fluid at a temperature below the first freezing point.

19. The method as set forth in Claim 19 wherein said step of introducing includes the step of retaining the first fluid within a first tube.

20. The method as set forth in Claim 19 wherein said step of conveying includes the step of conveying the second fluid within a second tube, which second the is cir-cumscribed by the first tube.

21. The method as set forth in Claim 20 wherein said positioning step includes the step of arranging the first tube to fill the space.

22. The method as set forth in Claim 21 wherein said positioning step includes the step of inflating the first tube.

23. The method as set forth in Claim 21 wherein the step of positioning includes the step of evacuating the first tube on exercise of said step of introducing.

24. The method as set forth in Claim 21 including the step of thermally insulating at least the top and bottom of the apparatus.

25. The method as set forth in Claim 24 including the step of enclosing the apparatus within an envelope.

26. The method as set forth in Claim 18 including the step of thermally insulating at least the top and bottom of the apparatus.

27. The method as set forth in Claim 18 including the step of enclosing the apparatus within an envelope.

28. The method as set forth in Claim 21 including the step of enclosing the apparatus within an envelope.

29. The method as set forth in Claim 21 wherein the step of positioning includes the step of evacuating the first tube of air on exercise of said step of introducing.

30. The method as set forth in Claim 26 wherein the step of positioning includes the step of evacuating the first tube on exercise of said step of introducing.

31. The method as set forth in Claim 27 wherein the step of positioning includes the step of evacuating the first tube on exercise of said step of introducing.