EP2066411A1

EP2066411A1 - Escape system

Info

Publication number: EP2066411A1
Application number: EP07804166A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Geraint Roy Morgan
Original assignee: Energybuild Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Energybuild Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-11
Filing date: 2007-09-10
Publication date: 2009-06-10
Also published as: AU2007295968A1; GB0617821D0; WO2008032020A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for navigating the way around a mine and in particular to assist in finding the exit of a mine in an emergency. A visual and tactile system is proposed comprising a marker having a body having a generally convex surface and means for mounting the marker along the length of an elongate member. The marker is arranged and configured to guide a user to a predefined location and the means for mounting the marker to the guide member is such that, when in use, the generally convex surface faces outward relative to the guide member so as to indicate to the user the correct direction to the predefined location.

Description

Escape System

The present invention relates to a system for navigating the way around a mine, and in particular to a system for finding the exit of a mine particularly in an emergency.

Mines are inherently dangerous places in which to work and historically there have been numerous accidents and fatalities within this industry, and dangers include fire, collapse and explosions. Although the number of fatalities have significantly decreased, accidents and incidents still occur at a frequency requiring effective emergency planning. Mines are now designed with safety in mind, however in an inherently dangerous environment accidents are still likely to occur, hi such an event, it is necessary that there is provided sufficient means to escape the mine to safety or to direct personnel to a safe area. Signage and direction arrows within the tunnels of a mine are well known and systems have been put into place whereby a rope is provided with indicia thereon arranged to direct personnel away from danger or to the surface of the mine. Such an arrangement provides both visual direction and also personnel may grasp the direction means, and determine the direction required to be taken in the event that vision is impeded by, for example, smoke.

Prior art arrangements have included indicia shaped as an arrow located on a rope, where personnel can use this rope/arrow safety line by feeling with their hands along the lines. When a person's hand slides across the arrows, which may be arranged as cones, they know they are travelling in the correct direction if pointing hi the direction of the pointed end of the cone. When their hand came across resistence, i.e. the base of the cone, they would be travelling in the wrong direction. The reverse logic in this situation is that the cones are also construed as arrows, therefore point towards the hazard and not away from it. This may be something that drilled firefighters or rescue workers may be trained to accept, but traumatised personnel working in a mine escaping a fire or explosion may be confused by the indicia. The present invention acts to overcome confusion arising from such an arrangement, whilst providing a clear tactile visual system for directing personnel to safety from a mine type environment. According to the present invention, there is a marker for use in an egress system, said marker comprising a body having a generally convex surface and means for mounting said marker along the length of an elongate guide member, arranged and configured to guide a user to a predefined location, said means for mounting said marker to said guide member being such that, when in use, said generally convex surface faces outward relative to said guide member so as to indicate to said user the correct direction to said predefined location.

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned problem by providing markers which clearly indicate the direction by which personnel should exit the mine in an emergency, whilst additionally indicating the direction to the exit by tactile means, and may be easily understood by visitors and new employees. By having one side of the marker being generally convex and the indicia indicating the direction of the exit being positioned on this convex surface ensures clarity for personnel to follow in an emergency when personnel may be panicked or disoriented . It is clear that such a surface will reflect a greater degree of light than a generally concave surface, and as such will provide an improved indicator of direction to be taken, whilst also providing a clear tactile escape indicator.

The marker preferably has a generally convex surface, and the opposing surface is preferably generally concave. Indicia is marked on these two surfaces, the convex surface having indica relating to the direction to exit the mine, and the concave side having indicia thereon indicating the direction into the mine. The markers are preferably coloured with International standard colouring such that green means "go" i.e. direction to exit the mine and red means "stop" i.e. incorrect direction if attempting to exit the mine.

The marker is preferably substantially semi-cylindrical. Such a shape provides a significant advantage in that the convex surface has a greater ability to reflect light outwards thus providing a clearer indication of the direction to exit the mine. Conversely, the concave side of the marker, which has indicia thereon in a red colour indicating that a person is entering the mine, will not be as visible. This shape additionally provides the significant advantage that the two faces are clearly defined, and although it is envisaged that a cylinder may be utilised for this purpose, such an arrangement may twist leading to confusion relating to the direction that should be taken in an emergency. The marker is preferably attached to the elongate member by mounting means, the mounting means preferably comprising an aperture therein arranged to receive the elongate guide member. However, it will be appreciated that any suitable mounting means may be utilised, such as clips etc. that enable the marker to be held by the elongate guide member. The elongate member is preferably flexible, and preferably comprises a rope. However, both elongate guide member and mounting means are preferably fire resistant, and even more preferably fire proof. The elongate guide member, when in use, is suspended at a convenient height, and anchored to the roadway or tunnel which will help travel in poor visibility, on gradients and/or if the floor is undulating or wet.

_* The markers arranged to be mounted on an elongate guide member preferably comprise an egress system, the system further comprising a plurality of signs arranged to direct personnel either out of the mine or to areas of safety. The signs may be attached to the elongate guide member.

The present invention also extends to a method of manufacturing an egress system for a mine, the method comprising the steps of positioning an elongate guide member between a predefined safe location and a second location in a mine tunnel, mounting a marker onto said elongate guide member, said marker comprising a body having a generally convex surface, such that, in use, said convex surface faces outwards relative to said guide member so as to indicate to said user the correct direction to said predefined safe location.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic end view of a marker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of a marker and the direction of travel along the escape route according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -A-

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the substantially front convex face of the marker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the back concave face of the marker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the front convex face of the marker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the back concave face of the marker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic representation of the angle of view for the front convex face of the marker and the back concave face of the marker with an arrow indicating the direction of travel along the escape route according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a further schematic rear view of the back concave face of the marker with additional indicia thereon according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a schematic side view representation of an additional marker according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a schematic side view of the marker of Figure 9 in combination according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 is an information board having indicia marked thereon according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 12 is a schematic plan view of a tunnel system having an intersection showing various aspects of the present invention indicated thereon according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 13 and 14 are schematic representations of the preferred connection for the elongate member to the marker.

Referring to Figures 1 to 8, there is shown a marker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The marker 2 is substantially semi-cylindrical as can be seen from above with reference to Figure 2. The marker 2 has an aperture 4 therein and comprises a front convex face 6 and rear concave face 8. The front convex face 6 has a wide reflective area 8 thereon, which is arranged to reflect light and is green in colour conforming to standard recognised colouring wherein green means "go". Arrow A indicates the direction personnel should take to reach an exit to the mine or alternatively a safe area. Referring to Figures 4 and 6, the back concave face of the marker 2 is shown and indicates a reflective area 10 of a red reflective material. As previously specified, this colour coding conforms to standard International recognition of stop.

Referring to Figure 7, increased reflectivity of the convex front face is shown providing an indication of the increased range of visibility that the green area will provide for personnel attempting to exit or arrive at a safe area in the mine. Again, arrow A indicates the direction to such an exit or safe area. This is particularly important in an emergency situation where personnel may be panicking and will require the clearest possible signage. The dashed lines indicate the approximate field of view of the indicia on the convex side of the marker 2. Arrow 14 indicates the field of view for the front convex face, and arrow 16 represents the field of view for the rear concave face.

Figure 8 shows additional indicia marked on the back concave face of the marker 2. The indicia 18 may be representative of a position of fresh intake air to the mine, and different colours, symbols, letters and/or shapes could also be used to identify zones, particular road ways or tunnels in a mine. Referring to Figure 9, a tactile chevron shaped directional arrow 20 may be additionally mounted to the elongate member (not shown) through apertures 22. This directional arrow 20 may be used to identity an escape route at an intersection point, and have indicia 24 located thereon showing additional location information. The arrow 20 may also comprise areas of a green reflective material 26. Information is provided on both sides of this directional arrow 20. Figure 10 indicates two of the arrows 20 of Figure 9 and may be set at close intervals at an intersection point and be representative of a priority escape route with like components as described with reference to Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a schematic side view of an information board 30 suspended by apertures 22. The information board 13 may be single or double sided, and has a green reflective area 20, which indicates the directional distance to the nearest intake of fresh air to the mine.

Yellow reflective borders 32 direct personnel to places of safety such as a safe haven.

Different colours could be used to direct personnel to particular zones in the mine. Other relevant information 33 that may be included on such boards 30 are a grid reference for positioning, local roadway names or distances to the next intersection or to an exit.

Figure 12 is a schematic plan view of an intersection of tunnels in a mine, the elongate guide member 40 is shown having markers 2 located thereon and directional arrows 20. Elongate guide members 40 may be joined at intersection 42. Arrows A indicate the routes to the exit. Two tactile and visual arrows 20 located adjacent one another may be used to indicate a priority route and a tactile and visual arrow 20 may indicate an alternative route.

Figures 13 and 14 show a suitable way in which the marker 2 is attached to the elongate guide. The elongate guide member 30 may be run out along a length of the roadway or the tunnel and a loop is formed at regular intervals to attach to the marker 2. It will be appreciated that any suitable knot may be used, or alternatively any means of preventing movement along the elongate member of the marker 2 would be suitable.

It will be appreciated to a person skilled in the art that the present invention has been described by way of example only and variations and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A marker for use in an egress system, said marker comprising a body having a generally convex surface and means for mounting said marker along the length of an elongate guide member, arranged and configured to guide a user to a predefined location, said means for mounting said marker to said guide member being such that, when in use, said generally convex surface faces outward relative to said guide member so as to indicate to said user the correct direction to said predefined location.

2. A marker according to claim 1, comprising one generally convex surface, and an opposing generally concave surface.

3. A marker according to any preceding claim, wherein indicia is marked on said generally convex and said generally concave surfaces, the convex surfacing having indica relating to the direction to exit the mine, and the concave side having indicia thereon indicating the direction into the mine.

4. A marker according to claim 3, wherein said generally convex surface is marked with a reflective green colour.

5. A marker according to any of claims 2 or 3, wherein said concave surface has indicia thereon in a reflective red colour.

6. A marker according to any preceding claim, wherein said marker is substantially semi-cylindrical.

7. A marker according to any preceding claim, wherein said mounting means comprises an aperture in said marker arranged to receive said elongate guide member.

8. An egress system comprising a marker according to any of claims 1 to 7 and an elongate guide member wherein said marker is arranged to be mounted on said elongate guide member.

9. A method of manufacturing an egress system for a mine, the method comprising the steps of positioning an elongate guide member between a predefined safe location and a second location in a mine tunnel, mounting a marker onto said elongate guide member, said marker comprising a body having a generally convex surface, such that, in use, said convex surface faces outwards relative to said guide member so as to indicate to said user the correct direction to said predefined safe location.