EP1115962A1 - Apparatus for closing off an underground passage - Google Patents
Apparatus for closing off an underground passageInfo
- Publication number
- EP1115962A1 EP1115962A1 EP99947669A EP99947669A EP1115962A1 EP 1115962 A1 EP1115962 A1 EP 1115962A1 EP 99947669 A EP99947669 A EP 99947669A EP 99947669 A EP99947669 A EP 99947669A EP 1115962 A1 EP1115962 A1 EP 1115962A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- passage
- space
- deployed
- bag
- tunnel
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 230000009970 fire resistant effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 abstract description 26
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 8
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 5
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000000779 smoke Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000003517 fume Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000004880 explosion Methods 0.000 description 4
- 231100000331 toxic Toxicity 0.000 description 3
- 230000002588 toxic effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 208000032484 Accidental exposure to product Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 229920000271 Kevlar® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 231100000818 accidental exposure Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000002238 attenuated effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004761 kevlar Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002265 prevention Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003351 stiffener Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK 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
- E21F17/107—Dams, e.g. for ventilation inflatable
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK 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
- E21F17/12—Dam doors
Definitions
- the invention relates to apparatus for closing off a passage.
- the passage may typically be an underground tunnel or shaft, typically produced by man operated tunnel boring machinery. Such boring operations have significant Health and Safety implications.
- tunnels and access shafts are usually confined spaces having potential risks associated with for example access and egress, poor ventilation, leading to toxic and flammable gas production, large machinery occupying a significant proportion of the tunnel and access shafts associated with drilling activities at the tunnel face, removal of spoil and installation of the tunnel sections, and accidental exposure to explosions, fire, smoke and fumes.
- apparatus for closing off space comprising a device adapted to be deployable against a boundary wall of the space for isolating a part of the space, from another part thereof.
- the container or containers supplying the gas for inflation may be mounted within or external to the housing.
- the inflation mechanism can be controlled automatically or manually.
- Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-section of a space in the form of a passage including apparatus according to the invention in an undeployed condition;
- Fig. 2 is an elevational view from one side of the apparatus of Fig. 1 , in a deployed condition;
- Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus of Fig.2.
- apparatus 1 for closing off a space or an area in the embodiment a passage comprising a device 3 adapted for mounting in the passage 2 and to be deployed against a boundary wall 4 of the passage for isolating a part of the passage from another part thereof whilst providing in the embodiment shown, through access for users of the passage 2.
- the passage 2 is a tunnel of generally circular section.
- the device 3 is in the form of a gas-impermeable bag or flexible container of fire-resistant material that is housed in a protective housing 5 as by folding.
- the housing 5 is mounted on the wall 4 of the tunnel 2 at the roof or an upper or overhead (as viewed) (Fig. 1 ) part and also houses, in addition to the bag 4, a source of pressurised fluid such as a gas which can be air, nitrogen or other suitable gas, and an inflation mechanism 6 for connecting the bag with the source.
- the bag 3 comprises a toroidal structure with the central circular area 7 in the embodiment holding a flap or cover arrangement 8 whereby the device 3 is adapted to allow passage of personnel (users of the passage) from one side of the deployed device 3 to the other, along the passage 2.
- the housing 4 itself has a cover or closure which is operated on inflation of the device by a mechanism 9 which can be manual or automatic.
- An automatic mechanism 9 can be operated by temperature or smoke.
- the protective housing 5 opens and the toroidal gas bag 3 is deployed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
- the inflated device 3 thus has a toroidal configuration with an external inflated wall sealing firmly at 10 against the tunnel wall 4 and services (e.g. pipework) .
- the flap mechanism 8 is in the form of a sealable access mechanism flap for passage of personnel through the device 3 and along the tunnel and is also deployed on inflation of the device. When deployed, the device seals off the space so that fire, fumes etc. are contained whilst allowing personnel to evacuate the space.
- the space is shown as a passage or tunnel, though it could be any generally enclosed space in which one area may be required to be isolated from another, such as an underground or subway platform, a tunnel for an underground, metro or subway train, passenger or personnel access tunnels or passages at underground metro or subway stations, passages or tunnels in public buildings, the fuselage of an aircraft, companionways or passages in ships, a hold of a ship, a submarine, a lift shaft, a mine shaft, or the like area.
- the device may in another embodiment be mobile in that it is mounted on the cutting or tunnelling machine.
- the device may be mounted on the rear of the machine, at the end thereof opposite the cutting or boring head. If there is a hazard such as a fire on or near the machine, the device is deployed to seal off the part of the tunnel in which the machine currently finds itself, thereby isolating that part from the rest of the tunnel, whilst enabling personnel operating the machine to escape from that part through the deployed device.
- the gas used to inflate and thus deploy the device may be carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or other inert or non-flammable gas.
- the housing 5 as shown in the drawings may essentially comprise a closure or lid which is operable as by swinging open or dropping off to allow deployment of the bag.
- the housing may have a closure in the form of a roller-shutter device which on actuation by the device 9 opens to allow deploying of the bag, there being a return means such as a tension spring which returns the closure after deployment of the bag so that the closure is not an obstruction to passage of people from one side of the device to the other.
- the deployed device may, it will be understood, prevent "flash " , and the material from which the bag is made is suitably gas-impermeable, so as to retain the gas, and fire resistant, to assist in prevention of spread of fire from one side of the device to the other and may be made of a material such as Kevlar (Registered Trade Mark) which is virtually unpuncturable.
- Kevlar Registered Trade Mark
- the material could be punctured, it can be of the kind which is self-sealing whereby to prevent escape of gas.
- the flap mechanism 8 is also capable of being modified. Thus there may be two pairs of flaps, one flap of each pair being at a respective side of the device when deployed, there being a "slit" between the pairs as shown at 8' in Fig. 2, so enabling the flap pairs to be pushed aside to allow through passage of people from one side of the device to the other.
- Each flap may be weighted by say chains or other weights at the base to ensure that the flaps hang down to ensure that the flaps close off the passage when personnel are not passing through.
- the apparatus could also include two toroidal devices 3, one behind the other as considered in a direction from one side of the apparatus to the other.
- the or each bag may be about a metre thick, as considered in the direction from one side of the device to another, and may also be about a metre high.
- the bag(s) may be deformable as shown in Fig. 3, and also this ability to deform may allow it on deployment to envelop railway lines, cabling, trunking etc.
- the device may include brushes or "fingers " which may fill in any gaps when the device is deployed.
- the device may also be capable of containing an explosion.
- the cross-section of the toroidal bag may be tapered, or of wedge-shape.
- the wedge shape When deployed the wedge shape is deployed such that the tapered surface is directed upwardly into the wall in the direction from which a blast is likely to come, the force of any blast thus forcing the apparatus firmly against the wall and retaining the device in position, and thus containing the blast.
- the apparatus could also include a reinforcement or stiffener to strengthen the bag, plus mounting or attachment points for say a scaffolding or a trestle to assist in maintaining a deployed device in the deployed position.
- a reinforcement or stiffener to strengthen the bag, plus mounting or attachment points for say a scaffolding or a trestle to assist in maintaining a deployed device in the deployed position.
- the apparatus could include fire extinguishing means such as means to release foam, to help extinguish fire, carried by the device, porting arrangements for lighting, and communication devices mounted thereon, such as a telephone or intercom.
- fire extinguishing means such as means to release foam
- to help extinguish fire carried by the device, porting arrangements for lighting, and communication devices mounted thereon, such as a telephone or intercom.
- the bag could be rough to provide a modified exterior which can provide a frictional grip on the wall when deployed.
- the apparatus could also be such that people cannot pass through, whilst providing as before limit or restriction of smoke passage from one side of the device to another, without providing a gas-tight seal.
- the embodiments of the apparatus thus seals an area in use against passage of smoke, fumes and/or fire, thus providing health and safety for, say, tunnel boring equipment, operators and other personnel. It also has the advantage of providing an automatic or manual method of passage, shaft or tunnel closure to control the passage of smoke, fumes and other toxic, flammable or other gases, gas mixtures and gas-carried particulates whilst allowing user access and egress.
- a device as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings which device may be considered as a gas inflatable stopper, may therefore suitably comprise: a flexible or expandable bag or container that is inflated to form a seal against a tunnel wall or walls; a protective housing covering the un-inflated bag or container; a mechanism to attach the device to the tunnel wall; a mechanism to deploy the protective housing; a mechanism to control the injection of pressurised gas into the gas bag; a reservoir of pressurised gas or means of external supply of pressurised gas; a device to monitor stored or externally supplied gas pressure; a mechanism to allow the passage of personnel through or round the inflated bag or container whilst controlling the passage of smoke, fumes, etc.
- each bag or container may suitably have dimensions and shape- that allow it to fit closely against the tunnel wall(s) when inflated.
- the or each bag or container may have a rectangular or circular or any shaped cross section according to the cross sectional shape of the tunnel into which the apparatus is fitted.
- the or each bag or container is preferably constructed from flexible, foldable or expandable material, and that material may be, but not limited to, fireproof or fire resistant material.
- the apparatus is suitably positioned and fixed at any position on the tunnel wall, typically in positions that do not affect access and egress, and other services, when inflated.
- the source of fluid for inflating the device may comprise air, nitrogen or other suitable gas.
- the gas for inflation may be provided by a single or plurality of gas containers or by a separate gas supply.
- the container or containers supplying the gas for inflation may be mounted within or external to the housing.
- the inflation mechanism can be controlled automatically or manually.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Buildings Adapted To Withstand Abnormal External Influences (AREA)
- Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)
- Special Wing (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9820945 | 1998-09-25 | ||
GBGB9820945.5A GB9820945D0 (en) | 1998-09-25 | 1998-09-25 | Apparatus for closing off a passage |
GB9902406 | 1999-02-03 | ||
GBGB9902406.9A GB9902406D0 (en) | 1999-02-03 | 1999-02-03 | Apparatus for closing off a passage |
PCT/GB1999/003195 WO2000019063A1 (en) | 1998-09-25 | 1999-09-24 | Apparatus for closing off an underground passage |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1115962A1 true EP1115962A1 (en) | 2001-07-18 |
Family
ID=26314423
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP99947669A Withdrawn EP1115962A1 (en) | 1998-09-25 | 1999-09-24 | Apparatus for closing off an underground passage |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1115962A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2002525471A (en) |
AU (1) | AU6104899A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000019063A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN104454002A (en) * | 2014-10-23 | 2015-03-25 | 河南理工大学 | Rapid plugging system for gas explosion of coal mine |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8727670B2 (en) | 2005-06-21 | 2014-05-20 | Tagfilm Pty Limited | Tunnel barrier |
WO2007142917A2 (en) * | 2006-06-01 | 2007-12-13 | Battelle Memorial Institute | Mine barrier survival system |
CN103982203B (en) * | 2014-05-22 | 2016-05-18 | 太原理工大学 | A kind of method of blocking the old empty Shuitu water of mine |
GB201410252D0 (en) * | 2014-06-10 | 2014-07-23 | Secr Defence | A tunnel plug |
KR102025191B1 (en) * | 2017-09-25 | 2019-09-25 | 호서대학교 산학협력단 | Tunnel protection system |
PL243241B1 (en) * | 2018-03-02 | 2023-07-24 | Hyper Poland Spolka Z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnoscia | Lock with pneumatic diaphragm for the vacuum railway system |
CN111577364B (en) * | 2020-05-06 | 2024-10-29 | 中铁二院工程集团有限责任公司 | High-altitude tunnel step oxygen supply system and application method thereof |
CN112360499B (en) * | 2020-10-26 | 2022-09-16 | 中铁大桥勘测设计院集团有限公司 | Connection channel structure suitable for double-line tunnel and construction method thereof |
Family Cites Families (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB787680A (en) * | 1955-06-13 | 1957-12-11 | Elliot Equipment Ltd | Improvements in or relating to seals for coalmine roadways, tunnels or the like |
ZA737327B (en) * | 1972-09-22 | 1974-10-30 | Nylex Corp Ltd | Improvements in or relating to mine brattices |
FR2290228A1 (en) * | 1974-11-08 | 1976-06-04 | Sema | Inflatable temporary sealing balloon for mine gallery - has end access and deflation openings and flexible sleeve for inflation fan |
FR2301685A1 (en) * | 1975-02-20 | 1976-09-17 | Gaillard Rene | Mine gallery lock with inflatable ring - uses partitions matching contour of gallery, each having peripheral channel for ring |
US4118894A (en) * | 1977-05-27 | 1978-10-10 | Kennedy John M | Door frame and door assembly for a mine stopping |
GB2087459B (en) * | 1980-11-17 | 1984-08-01 | Elliott Gordon | Method and means for closing underground passageways |
FR2524327A1 (en) * | 1982-03-31 | 1983-10-07 | Dromigny Pierre | Fire protection for tunnel - uses internal bags to block tunnel section when inflated |
FR2597918B1 (en) * | 1986-04-23 | 1988-12-30 | Sofreavia | WATERPROOF INFLATABLE DOOR AND CONSTRUCTIONS INCLUDING SAME |
US5188186A (en) * | 1990-11-16 | 1993-02-23 | Nash Dale K | Barricade for isolating open areas from spreading fire or smoke |
GB2255502A (en) * | 1991-02-04 | 1992-11-11 | Keith Terence Dracup | An inflatable bulkhead arrangement |
-
1999
- 1999-09-24 EP EP99947669A patent/EP1115962A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1999-09-24 JP JP2000572487A patent/JP2002525471A/en active Pending
- 1999-09-24 WO PCT/GB1999/003195 patent/WO2000019063A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1999-09-24 AU AU61048/99A patent/AU6104899A/en not_active Abandoned
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO0019063A1 * |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN104454002A (en) * | 2014-10-23 | 2015-03-25 | 河南理工大学 | Rapid plugging system for gas explosion of coal mine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2002525471A (en) | 2002-08-13 |
WO2000019063A1 (en) | 2000-04-06 |
AU6104899A (en) | 2000-04-17 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20010424 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20020917 |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: JEFFERIES,STEWARD ,RICHARD Inventor name: MAY, MARTIN, JOHN Inventor name: WATERS, COLIN, JOHN Inventor name: SMITH, ALAN, JAMES |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20040218 |