CA2690233A1 - Drift saver - Google Patents
Drift saver Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2690233A1 CA2690233A1 CA 2690233 CA2690233A CA2690233A1 CA 2690233 A1 CA2690233 A1 CA 2690233A1 CA 2690233 CA2690233 CA 2690233 CA 2690233 A CA2690233 A CA 2690233A CA 2690233 A1 CA2690233 A1 CA 2690233A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- drift
- saver
- fluid
- backfill
- cells
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21D—SHAFTS; TUNNELS; GALLERIES; LARGE UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS
- E21D15/00—Props; Chocks, e.g. made of flexible containers filled with backfilling material
- E21D15/02—Non-telescopic props
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21F—SAFETY DEVICES, TRANSPORT, FILLING-UP, RESCUE, VENTILATION, OR DRAINING IN OR OF MINES OR TUNNELS
- E21F17/00—Methods or devices for use in mines or tunnels, not covered elsewhere
- E21F17/103—Dams, e.g. for ventilation
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to underground mining applications and the use of an inflatable device. The present invention relates to an inflatable device which is used to replace existing methods of building a backfill fence or shotcrete fence or other types of backfill barricades. The present invention also creates a void in an undercut so mining operations do not have to redevelop through the backfill to establish the next pane] in the stoping sequence.
Description
Drift Saver Patent A location Background to the Invention Valuable minerals are contained in underground deposits which are referred to as Ore bodies.
Before mining operations can commence, a number of underground excavations must be created at varying level intervals. These levels are often referred to as overcuts and undercuts, which gain access to the mining of desired ore body panels.
These panels are mined in varying sequences of excavating and backfilling.
After each panel is mined it is then backfilled with waste material such as waste rock, cemented tailings, cemented rock fill, paste fill or other mixtures of hydraulic backfill. Prior to backfilling and strong barricade such as a shotcrete fence must be constructed at a safe distance back from the mined panel in the undercut. This barricade contains the backfill in the mined stope. However with these current methods, once the backfill has cured mining operations must remove the backfill fence/barricade and re-excavate back through the fill to expose the next panel. This current method is very time consuming and expensive.
There remains a need for a more economical and efficient way of constructing a Backfill fence and to eliminate the need for re-excavating the undercut.
The present invention is an inflatable device which is referred to as a DRIFT
SAVER. The Drift Saver is an inflatable device which is placed in the undercut at a predetermined location. Once placed at the correct location it is hooked to an air supply and is inflated to the desired pressure.
Once inflated the Drift Saver acts as a 1. Backfill fence or barricade to contain the backfill in the desired stope and 2. Fill the void area from the traditional backfill fence to the brow of the mined stope to eliminate the need of re-excavating the undercut.
Summary of the Invention The Drift Saver is comprised of a single or multiple inflatable cells, housed in a protective shroud.
The present invention provides a method of mining an ore body panel in the following steps.
1. Placing the Drift Saver in the undercut at desired location.
Before mining operations can commence, a number of underground excavations must be created at varying level intervals. These levels are often referred to as overcuts and undercuts, which gain access to the mining of desired ore body panels.
These panels are mined in varying sequences of excavating and backfilling.
After each panel is mined it is then backfilled with waste material such as waste rock, cemented tailings, cemented rock fill, paste fill or other mixtures of hydraulic backfill. Prior to backfilling and strong barricade such as a shotcrete fence must be constructed at a safe distance back from the mined panel in the undercut. This barricade contains the backfill in the mined stope. However with these current methods, once the backfill has cured mining operations must remove the backfill fence/barricade and re-excavate back through the fill to expose the next panel. This current method is very time consuming and expensive.
There remains a need for a more economical and efficient way of constructing a Backfill fence and to eliminate the need for re-excavating the undercut.
The present invention is an inflatable device which is referred to as a DRIFT
SAVER. The Drift Saver is an inflatable device which is placed in the undercut at a predetermined location. Once placed at the correct location it is hooked to an air supply and is inflated to the desired pressure.
Once inflated the Drift Saver acts as a 1. Backfill fence or barricade to contain the backfill in the desired stope and 2. Fill the void area from the traditional backfill fence to the brow of the mined stope to eliminate the need of re-excavating the undercut.
Summary of the Invention The Drift Saver is comprised of a single or multiple inflatable cells, housed in a protective shroud.
The present invention provides a method of mining an ore body panel in the following steps.
1. Placing the Drift Saver in the undercut at desired location.
2. Inflating the Drift Saver to form a strong, tightly sealed barricade which will occupy the void from the current backfill fence location to the existing brow.
3. Maintain the void during the backfill cycle.
4. Once the backfill has cured, the Drift Saver is deflated and removed for inspection and future use.
In one form the advantage of the Drift Saver is that it is inflatable and can be transported to the undercut of the stope in a deflated condition and inflated once in position.
This also allows the Drift Saver to be removable and reusable.
Alternatively, the Drift Saver is filled with an incompressible fluid (such as water) and once the backfill has cured it is deflated, removed and reused in future applications.
In one form, the Drift Saver is capable of withstanding forces up to 40psi of internal or external forces.
The Drift Saver comprises of a fluid-tight protective shroud having at least one cell which is isolated from the surrounding atmosphere and is capable of retaining a fluid under pressure.
To resist damage from occurring during inflating/deflating and removal, the protective shroud and internal inflation cells may be constructed of a tear-resistant material.
In one form, the protective shroud is constructed from woven materials such as polypropylene/polyethylene or PVC like materials.
In one form, the Drift Saver is dimensioned 0% to 20% larger than the excavated dimensions to fill all available voids in the excavation to form a tight seal around the surrounding host rock/material or shotcrete.
Single or multiple inflation line(s) are used to regulate and monitor the pressure within the Drift Saver during step 2, by the use of a pressure regulator. The pressure regulator provides feedback to the operator of the internal pressure and also provides an indication of backfill pressure.
The Drift Saver is comprised of single or multiple inflation cells housed inside of a protective shroud. The larger the excavation the more inflatable cells will be required.
In large excavations, greater than 9 square meters, the protective shroud will contain reinforcing straps/webbing running horizontally and vertically around the shroud to add extra strength to the Drift Saver.
Preferably, the inner cell(s) are constructed of a material having a low fluid permeability. In one form, the inner cells may be constructed of one or more materials selected from the group comprising: polyethylene, polyurethane, polypropylene, latex, reinforced PVC, PVC, coated or co-extruded plastic materials which have suitable strength and suitable low gas permeability.
To provide redundancy in the event of a puncture, the Drift Saver may comprise of multiple fluid-tight inner cells arranged inside the protective shroud. In one form, the Drift Saver is provided with a surplus of inflatable cells over and above the number required to fill the volume occupied by a fully inflated Drift Saver. Each of the cells may be independently collapsible.
In one form, the Drift Saver is comprised of multiple cells in the protective shroud and each cell is configured to independently receive fluid from a fluid delivery system.
Alternatively, each of the inner cells may be in fluid communication such that fluid supplied to the cavity of one of the inner cells is receivable within the cavity of each inner cell whereby all cells can be simultaneously inflatable and collapsible.
According to the to the aspect of the present invention, there provides an inflatable device the Drift Saver as herein described with reference to an as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings In order to provide a more detailed understanding of the nature of the invention several configurations of the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of the mine showing the location of an ore body, an upper level (over cut) and lower level (under cut) and the deployment of the Drift Saver within the undercut of a stope.
Figure 2 is a partial cross-section view of a single celled Drift Saver of the present invention in which the cell is partially inflated and comprises of a single housing which is monitored by a pressure regulator.
Figure 3 is an isometric view of the present invention illustrating the provision of retention straps for strength and rigidity improvements.
Figure 4 is a partial cross-section view of a second configuration of the Drift Saver in which it comprises of multiple inner cells arranged inside a single protective shroud connected to a pressure regulator, controller and inflation line.
Figure 5 illustrates the Drift Saver of Figure 4 in a deflated condition for ease of transport.
Figure 6 illustrates current practise of backfilling a stope without the use of the Drift Saver. This drawing shows a typical fill fence location of 5m back from the existing brow, but this location varies from site to site. Because the fill fence is not located right at the brow, the fill fence and fill must be re-excavated to expose the entire panel, prior to mining the next panel in sequence.
This is the starting location for the Drift Saver, once inflated it will occupy the entire void (from fill fence to the brow). Thus saving the customer from expensive rework, material handling and from disrupting the operations down stream.
In one form the advantage of the Drift Saver is that it is inflatable and can be transported to the undercut of the stope in a deflated condition and inflated once in position.
This also allows the Drift Saver to be removable and reusable.
Alternatively, the Drift Saver is filled with an incompressible fluid (such as water) and once the backfill has cured it is deflated, removed and reused in future applications.
In one form, the Drift Saver is capable of withstanding forces up to 40psi of internal or external forces.
The Drift Saver comprises of a fluid-tight protective shroud having at least one cell which is isolated from the surrounding atmosphere and is capable of retaining a fluid under pressure.
To resist damage from occurring during inflating/deflating and removal, the protective shroud and internal inflation cells may be constructed of a tear-resistant material.
In one form, the protective shroud is constructed from woven materials such as polypropylene/polyethylene or PVC like materials.
In one form, the Drift Saver is dimensioned 0% to 20% larger than the excavated dimensions to fill all available voids in the excavation to form a tight seal around the surrounding host rock/material or shotcrete.
Single or multiple inflation line(s) are used to regulate and monitor the pressure within the Drift Saver during step 2, by the use of a pressure regulator. The pressure regulator provides feedback to the operator of the internal pressure and also provides an indication of backfill pressure.
The Drift Saver is comprised of single or multiple inflation cells housed inside of a protective shroud. The larger the excavation the more inflatable cells will be required.
In large excavations, greater than 9 square meters, the protective shroud will contain reinforcing straps/webbing running horizontally and vertically around the shroud to add extra strength to the Drift Saver.
Preferably, the inner cell(s) are constructed of a material having a low fluid permeability. In one form, the inner cells may be constructed of one or more materials selected from the group comprising: polyethylene, polyurethane, polypropylene, latex, reinforced PVC, PVC, coated or co-extruded plastic materials which have suitable strength and suitable low gas permeability.
To provide redundancy in the event of a puncture, the Drift Saver may comprise of multiple fluid-tight inner cells arranged inside the protective shroud. In one form, the Drift Saver is provided with a surplus of inflatable cells over and above the number required to fill the volume occupied by a fully inflated Drift Saver. Each of the cells may be independently collapsible.
In one form, the Drift Saver is comprised of multiple cells in the protective shroud and each cell is configured to independently receive fluid from a fluid delivery system.
Alternatively, each of the inner cells may be in fluid communication such that fluid supplied to the cavity of one of the inner cells is receivable within the cavity of each inner cell whereby all cells can be simultaneously inflatable and collapsible.
According to the to the aspect of the present invention, there provides an inflatable device the Drift Saver as herein described with reference to an as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings In order to provide a more detailed understanding of the nature of the invention several configurations of the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of the mine showing the location of an ore body, an upper level (over cut) and lower level (under cut) and the deployment of the Drift Saver within the undercut of a stope.
Figure 2 is a partial cross-section view of a single celled Drift Saver of the present invention in which the cell is partially inflated and comprises of a single housing which is monitored by a pressure regulator.
Figure 3 is an isometric view of the present invention illustrating the provision of retention straps for strength and rigidity improvements.
Figure 4 is a partial cross-section view of a second configuration of the Drift Saver in which it comprises of multiple inner cells arranged inside a single protective shroud connected to a pressure regulator, controller and inflation line.
Figure 5 illustrates the Drift Saver of Figure 4 in a deflated condition for ease of transport.
Figure 6 illustrates current practise of backfilling a stope without the use of the Drift Saver. This drawing shows a typical fill fence location of 5m back from the existing brow, but this location varies from site to site. Because the fill fence is not located right at the brow, the fill fence and fill must be re-excavated to expose the entire panel, prior to mining the next panel in sequence.
This is the starting location for the Drift Saver, once inflated it will occupy the entire void (from fill fence to the brow). Thus saving the customer from expensive rework, material handling and from disrupting the operations down stream.
Claims (27)
1. A method of mining a panel in an ore body comprising the steps of:
a. Placing the Drift Saver in the undercut at desired location.
b. Inflating the Drift Saver to form a strong, tightly sealed barricade which will occupy the void from the current backfill fence location to the existing brow.
c. Maintain the void during the backfill cycle.
d. Once the backfill has cured, the Drift Saver is deflated and removed for inspection and future use.
a. Placing the Drift Saver in the undercut at desired location.
b. Inflating the Drift Saver to form a strong, tightly sealed barricade which will occupy the void from the current backfill fence location to the existing brow.
c. Maintain the void during the backfill cycle.
d. Once the backfill has cured, the Drift Saver is deflated and removed for inspection and future use.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the Drift Saver is inflatable.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the Drift Saver is collapsible.
4. The method of claim I wherein the Drift Saver is removable.
5. The method of claim I wherein the Drift Saver is reusable.
6. The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein the cushion is capable of withstanding forces up to 40psi of internal pressure during step b).
7. The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein the Drift Saver comprises a housing/protective shroud having at least one cell therein which is isolated from the surrounding atmosphere and is capable of retaining fluid/air under pressure.
8. The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein the Drift Saver is constructed of a tear-resistant material.
9. The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein the Drift Saver is constructed from a reinforced PVC/polypropylene/polyethylene or other like materials.
10. The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein the volume of the Drift Saver is 0% to 20% greater than the actual excavation size.
11. The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein an inflation line is used to regulate or monitor the pressure within the Drift Saver during step b).
12. The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein a pressure regulator is used to provide feedback to the operator regarding the internal pressure of the Drift Saver during step b), and wherein the feedback signal is compared with the pressure set point whereby the operator regulates the flow of pressurized fluid/air through an inflation line to the Drift Saver to ensure that the pressure within the Drift Saver is maintain at the set point until the backfill is cured.
13. The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein the Drift Saver further comprises of a fluid-tight inner cell.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the inner cell(s) is formed from a fluid impervious material capable of retaining a fluid/air under pressure.
15. The method of claim 13 or 14 wherein the shroud is a protective lining/bag or other receptacle within which a fluid-tight inner cell(s) is placed.
16. The method of any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein the inner cell(s) and the protective shroud are dimensioned so that, upon inflation, the inner cell(s) fit snugly inside the protective shroud.
17. The method of any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein the inner cell(s) is constructed of a material having low fluid permeability.
18. The method of any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein the inner cell(s) is constructed of a material having a low fluid permeability. In one form, the inner cells may be constructed of one or more materials selected from the group comprising: polyethylene, polyurethane, polypropylene, latex, reinforced PVC, PVC, coated or co-extruded plastic materials which have suitable strength and suitable low gas permeability.
19. The method of any one of claims 13 to 18 wherein the Drift Saver is comprised of multiple fluid-tight inner cell(s) arranged inside the protective shroud.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the Drift Saver is provided with a surplus of inner cells over and above the number required to fill the volume occupied by a fully inflated protective shroud.
21. The method of claim 19 or 20 wherein each one of the inner cells is independently collapsible.
22. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21 wherein the protective shroud wraps snugly around each of the inner cells to reduce the likelihood of accident puncture of the cells or shroud.
23. The method of any one of claims 19 to 21 wherein each of the inner cells is in fluid/air communication such that fluid/air supplied to the cavity of one of the inner cells is receivable within the cavity of each of the inner cells whereby the inner cells are simultaneously inflatable and collapsible.
24. An inflatable device for use in the method of mining an ore body as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23.
25. A method of mining an ore body substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
26. An inflatable device substantially as herein described with the reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
27. The method of claim 1 wherein the Drift Saver is repairable.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2690233 CA2690233A1 (en) | 2010-02-12 | 2010-02-12 | Drift saver |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2690233 CA2690233A1 (en) | 2010-02-12 | 2010-02-12 | Drift saver |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2690233A1 true CA2690233A1 (en) | 2011-08-12 |
Family
ID=44366893
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2690233 Abandoned CA2690233A1 (en) | 2010-02-12 | 2010-02-12 | Drift saver |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2690233A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN110030031A (en) * | 2019-02-26 | 2019-07-19 | 天地科技股份有限公司 | The method that coal column is left in a kind of longwell recycling house column type goaf |
| CN110130978A (en) * | 2019-04-30 | 2019-08-16 | 徐州和盛矿业科技有限公司 | A kind of small kiln destruction area high seam break up coal side method for blocking of filling second mining |
| CN111594170A (en) * | 2020-04-14 | 2020-08-28 | 山东黄金矿业科技有限公司深井开采实验室分公司 | Method for stoping residual ore body on top and bottom plates of gently inclined ore body |
-
2010
- 2010-02-12 CA CA 2690233 patent/CA2690233A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN110030031A (en) * | 2019-02-26 | 2019-07-19 | 天地科技股份有限公司 | The method that coal column is left in a kind of longwell recycling house column type goaf |
| CN110130978A (en) * | 2019-04-30 | 2019-08-16 | 徐州和盛矿业科技有限公司 | A kind of small kiln destruction area high seam break up coal side method for blocking of filling second mining |
| CN110130978B (en) * | 2019-04-30 | 2020-06-19 | 徐州和盛矿业科技有限公司 | Method for plugging broken coal side of thick coal seam in broken area of filling and re-mining small kiln |
| CN111594170A (en) * | 2020-04-14 | 2020-08-28 | 山东黄金矿业科技有限公司深井开采实验室分公司 | Method for stoping residual ore body on top and bottom plates of gently inclined ore body |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |