EP2390462B1 - Method and accessories for installing an airflow duct in an underground conduit - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method of installing a ventilation duct, of the type used, in particular, during the drilling of tunnels. It also relates to accessory elements to this process.

When drilling a tunnel, mine shaft or other underground tunnel, fresh air must be brought in close to the drill hole.

To do this, generally uses a ventilation duct, also called aeration duct in the art, leading from the outside of the borehole, in the open air, to the drilling face. We can then blow and / or suck fresh air through this conduit.

Of course, the air duct must be lengthened as the drilling edge advances.

Traditionally, such a ventilation duct is constructed by mutual abutment tubular elementary sections, usually rigid. This method, however, requires frequently repeated handling operations, which mobilize a large number of operators for a long period of time.

That is why it is preferred today to create ventilation ducts by deploying a long and thin hose, most often made of textile material. Such a pipe is generally called "ventube" in the art.

We then use a device that could be called distributor. The dispenser comprises a cylindrical piece, or "core", on which a longitudinal portion of hose is threaded and trussed. The core is held in the hollow interior space of a frame, integral with it. A frustoconical piece, sometimes called "distribution cone", connects coaxially to the core, so as to flare away from it.

Such a distributor is disclosed in the document EP 0050760 A1 .

To form a section of aeration duct, the distributor is advanced as the drilling progresses: by tensioning effect, a portion of pipe, the length of which corresponds to the advance of the distributor, is removed from the core, set to its nominal diameter passing around the cone of distribution, and finally deployed.

This is a particularly effective method which, compared to the traditional method, allows a significant saving of time and manpower.

For most applications, however, the length of the section of pipe that the distributor can hold, generally of the order of a hundred meters, is not sufficient to complete the drilling.

When the dispenser is empty, it pops out of the borehole and is refilled with a new section of pipe.

Before its mounting on the core, the pipe is folded on itself in strip, that is to say that its cross section has a flattened pace. This allows the storage of large lengths of pipe in a compact form, for example coil, in the manner of the pipes commonly used by firefighters, or in packets, where the band is folded accordion and packed, for example.

To refill the dispenser, the pipe thus stored must be unfolded, threaded and keyed on the core, by hand. This operation proves tedious and difficult, in particular because it is necessary to penetrate the pipe in the annular space between the outside of the core and the wall of the hollow interior space. The reloading most often involves arranging the distributor so that its core extends vertically and arrange a specific work area, where a security tower is erected for operators: the core extends indeed over several meters in length (usually around 3 meters) and in diameter (usually around 2 meters). These operators then use long sticks to push the pipe inside the dispenser, between the core and the wall of the hollow interior, which makes the handling quite imprecise.

In practice, it is not uncommon for a full day's work to be required by four operators to reload the dispenser.

The refilling of a distributor is therefore a long and expensive operation, which also involves the deactivation of the distributor throughout the duration of the operation.

• a.détacher le cône de déploiement du châssis;
• b.installer une nouvelle section de tuyau sur le support en position de déploiement;
• c.rattacher le cône de déploiement au châssis;
• d.relier la nouvelle section de tuyau à une portion de conduit;

remarquable en ce que l'étape b. comprend les opérations suivantes :

• b1. sortir le support dépourvu de tuyau de l'espace intérieur creux;
• b2. installer, en position de déploiement dans l'espace intérieur creux, une cartouche comprenant un nouveau support analogue au support de l'opération b1 et une nouvelle section de tuyau, enfilée et troussée sur le nouveau support.

The invention seeks to improve the situation. It firstly relates to a method of installing an aeration duct in which is deployed, using a distributor, a pipe folded into a strip to form a portion of duct, said dispenser comprising a frame having a hollow interior space in which is fixed a support on which a section of pipe has been threaded and punched, the support being extended by a deployment cone, said method comprising, at the end of deployment of the pipe section, a recharging phase comprising the following steps:

• a.detach the chassis deployment cone;
• b.install a new section of pipe on the support in the deployed position;
• attach the deployment cone to the chassis;
• connect the new pipe section to a duct portion;

remarkable in that step b. includes the following operations:

• b1. remove the hose-free support from the hollow interior space;
• b2. installing, in deployment position in the hollow interior space, a cartridge comprising a new support similar to the support of the operation b1 and a new section of pipe threaded and punched on the new support.

The proposed method first allows to load / reload the dispenser with a cartridge containing a section of pipe.

Once the dispenser cartridge has been emptied of its pipe section, it can be replaced by a new cartridge, on the support of which a new section of pipe has been threaded and trussed. The time required to refill the dispenser is thus reduced to a minimum. In particular, the distributor remains close to the drilling face for the duration of the reloading operation.

The cartridge itself can be charged / recharged from the chassis. The easy access to the support makes it easier to thread and truss a new section of pipe.

The empty cartridge can be removed from the borehole for reloading.

The cartridge can be inserted as a dispenser core, or, as an alternative, fitted onto the existing - empty - core, as appropriate.

The cartridge can be delivered to the customer already loaded with a tape section. This customer no longer has to return the entire distributor and / or to provide its recharge by his care outside the borehole.

The invention also relates to a support cylinder for threading and trussing a folded textile hose strip of dimensions adapted to be housed in the hollow interior space of a distributor frame and provided with holding means in this space substantially coaxially with the latter.

The invention also relates to a refilling cartridge for a dispenser as used for the installation of a ventilation duct for the deployment of a textile hose folded into a strip in order to form a portion of duct, comprising such a cylinder on which is threaded, trussed and attached a section of pipe.

The invention finally proposes a reloading kit for a dispenser as used for the installation of a ventilation duct for the deployment of a textile hose folded into a strip to form a portion of duct, comprising a cylinder of the type exposed above and a frustoconical piece whose large diameter is adapted to the diameter of said cylinder for threading a pipe section.

• la figure 1 représente un distributeur de tuyau, vu en coupe longitudinale, le distributeur étant disposé horizontalement;
• la figure 2 représente une partie formant châssis du distributeur de la figure 1, vu en coupe longitudinale, le distributeur étant disposé verticalement;
• la figure 3 représente une cartouche à usage dans le distributeur de la figure 1, vue en coupe longitudinale, la cartouche étant disposée verticalement;
• la figure 4 est à analogue à la figure 3, la cartouche étant représentée, en différentes phases de chargement/rechargement en tuyau;
• la figure 5 montre un kit de chargement/rechargement en tuyau pour le distributeur de la figure 1;
• la figure 6 représente le distributeur de la figure 1 vu en perspective et de derrière;
• la figure 7 représente le distributeur de la figure 1 vu en plan et de derrière;
• la figure 8 représente le distributeur de la figure 1 vu en plan et de devant;
• la figure 9 représente le distributeur de la figure 1 vu en plan et de côté;
• la figure 10 représente le distributeur de la figure 1 en position verticale, vu en plan et de dessus;
• la figure 11 représente un détail XI de la figure 6;
• la figure 12 représente un détail XII de la figure 11.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the detailed description below and the attached drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 represents a pipe distributor, seen in longitudinal section, the distributor being arranged horizontally;
• the figure 2 represents a chassis part of the distributor of the figure 1 , seen in longitudinal section, the dispenser being arranged vertically;
• the figure 3 represents a cartridge for use in the dispenser of the figure 1 , longitudinal sectional view, the cartridge being arranged vertically;
• the figure 4 is analogous to the figure 3 , the cartridge being shown, in different phases of loading / reloading pipe;
• the figure 5 shows a kit for loading / reloading pipe for the distributor of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 6 represents the distributor of the figure 1 seen in perspective and from behind;
• the figure 7 represents the distributor of the figure 1 seen in plan and behind;
• the figure 8 represents the distributor of the figure 1 seen in plan and front;
• the figure 9 represents the distributor of the figure 1 seen in plan and side;
• the figure 10 represents the distributor of the figure 1 in a vertical position, seen in plan and from above;
• the figure 11 represents a detail XI of the figure 6 ;
• the figure 12 represents a detail XII of the figure 11 .

Essentially, the attached drawings include elements of a certain character. They can therefore be used for the definition of the invention, if necessary.

The figure 1 represents a dispenser 1, also known as a cassette in the art, for use in the deployment of a pipe, for example made of textile material, folded into a strip, in particular with a view to the introduction of an air duct, or a section of such a pipe, when drilling, or drilling, tunnels, mine shafts or other underground conduits. This distributor 1 is also shown on Figures 6 to 10 .

On the figure 1 , the distributor 1 is shown in its working position, that is to say disposed substantially horizontally.

The dispenser 1 comprises a frame 3 having a hollow interior space 5 of elongate shape. This inner space 5 here has a cross section of substantially constant shape over its entire extension, for example circular or square.

The chassis 3 has an overall elongated appearance. The frame 3 comprises a first longitudinal end face 7, on which the inner space 5 opens, and a second longitudinal end face 9, opposite the first end face 7, which is here partially open.

In the interior space 5 is mounted a cartridge 11 intended to receive a section of pipe to be deployed. The cartridge 11 has an elongated appearance, here of revolution. Fastening means 13 contribute to maintaining the cartridge 11 in the space 5 so that the latter extends substantially in the direction of extension of the interior space 5.

The fastening means 13 are reversible, that is to say that they allow the assembly, disassembly and reassembly of the cartridge 11 in the frame 3, without destruction of mechanical parts.

The cartridge 11 is thus removably mounted in the frame 3, so that it can be extracted from the interior space 5 through the first end face 7, in particular with a view to reloading it with a new section. of pipe.

The distributor 1 further comprises a pipe deployment guide in the form of a frustoconical piece, here called exit cone 14. The exit cone 14 can be arranged in the space 5, in the extension of the cartridge 11 and in such a way that it fades as it moves away from this cartridge 11, and that its longitudinal axis corresponds substantially to the direction of extension of this cartridge 11.

In this position, the exit cone 14 can be removably attached to the frame 3 and / or to the cartridge 11.

To make a portion of a ventilation duct, a pull is exerted on the pipe so that a segment of the rolled up pipe leaves the cartridge 11 and opens at its nominal diameter by sliding on the exit cone 14. In practice , simply advance the dispenser 1 so that a portion of pipe of corresponding length from the distributor 1 and thus forms a portion of aeration duct, since the end of the pipe section already out of the distributor 1 is attached to the ventilation duct.

The connection of the end of a new section of pipe to the free end of the ventilation duct can be done using means such as a coupling of two circular reinforcements arranged at these ends, separable closure, a loop band, clips and others.

The cartridge 11 can be extracted out of the frame 3 or simultaneously with the exit cone 14, in particular when means for fixing the cone 14 to the cartridge 11 have been provided, or, preferably, after the dismounting of this cone 14.

Similarly, the cone 14 may be attached to the cartridge 11 and / or the chassis 3 after insertion of the cartridge 11 into the interior space 5, or prior to this insertion.

The figure 2 shows the dispenser 1 devoid of cartridge 11.

The figure 3 shows the insulated cartridge 11.

The cartridge 11 comprises a support 15 for the section of pipe, on which the latter can be threaded and trussed.

The pipe support 15 has a substantially cylindrical shape, with here a circular and hollow cross section. The diameter of this cross section is such that a longitudinal section of pipe can be threaded and rolled up on it. The support 15 can thus penetrate inside the pipe, depending on the length of the pipe. The support 15 forms a guide on which the entire section of pipe can be threaded, in particular slipped, and accumulated in an accordion folded form. If necessary, means for fixing the exit cone 14 may be provided on the support 15.

The support 15 may be made of metal sheet of a few millimeters thick, for example 6 millimeters, or melamine, plywood, wood, plastic, cardboard and / or by assembling tubes together.

The cartridge 11 also comprises a flange 17 attached to one of the axial ends of the support 15. The flange 17 is in the form of an annular segment whose inner diameter corresponds to the outside diameter of the support 15. Where appropriate, the flange 17 may have an outside diameter close to that of the inner space 5 to ensure a short guide / centering of the cartridge 11 in the hollow space 5 and / or to allow guiding of the cartridge 11 in this interior space 5 when insertion / extraction of the cartridge 11.

In the vicinity of its longitudinal end remote from the flange 17, the support 15 has a peripheral rib 19 which stiffens the support. Here, this rib 19 has a rectangular cross section. It can take the form of a flat iron.

Optionally, the cartridge 11 comprises a piece of envelope 21 of cylindrical shape, which can be arranged around the support 15. The envelope piece 21 then bears against the flange 17 by one of its longitudinal ends.

The envelope piece 21 is thin-walled. It has an outside diameter close to the outer diameter of the flange 17. The envelope piece 21 contributes to guiding the cartridge 11 in the interior space 5, both in the hose deployment position and during the insertion of the cartridge. 11 in the chassis 3 and its extraction out of this chassis 3.

Between the inner wall of the casing part 21 and the peripheral wall of the support 15 is thus formed a cylindrical space of annular section which can accommodate the pipe in its trussed and threaded form. Thus, the pipe section is contained in the cartridge 11, which facilitates the reassembly of the cartridge 11 in the chassis 3 and therefore the refilling of the distributor 1.

Preferably, the casing part 21 is in the form of a part that can be deployed axially, for example a telescopic part, a part in several mutually abutting sections, or a flexible part that can be rolled up and inversely deployed. . In replacement, the envelope piece 21 can be monobloc.

The figure 4 illustrates a method for loading or reloading the cartridge 11, that is to say for threading and trussing a section of pipe on the support 15.

The casing piece 21, in its axially folded form, is arranged around the support 15, in the vicinity of its adjacent longitudinal end of the flange 17. The pipe section is threaded onto the support 15 and is rolled up. As the trussed pipe occupies a longitudinal portion of the support 15 of larger and larger, the piece of envelope 21 is deployed. figure 4 shows as well three successive steps of deployment of the envelope 21, or, in other words, the envelope 21 in three states of deployment 21A, 21B and 21C successive. Thus, the advantage of a direct access of the operator to the pipe during the threading / bending operation is retained, while maintaining this pipe, in its rolled-up form, inside the envelope piece. 21. Depending on the configuration of the envelope piece 21, the deployment of the latter may involve its unfolding, its "stripping", that is to say, an inverse operation of its troussage, or simply its translation relative to the support 15 along the axis of the latter.

Most often, the cartridge 11 is arranged vertically for reloading.

To facilitate the threading of the pipe section on the support 15, a threading guide 23 may be attached to the axial end face of the support 15 opposite to the flange 17, as illustrated on FIG. figure 5 . The threading guide can be made in the form of a frustoconical piece whose large diameter is close to the outside diameter of the rib 19 or the support 15.

The assembly formed of the cartridge 11 and the threading guide 23 forms what may be called a cassette reloading kit. This kit may further comprise one or more sections of pipe in a folded form in strip and heap.

In replacement of or in addition to the envelope piece 21, once a new section of pipe is threaded and punched on the support 15, the pipe may be made integral with the support 15, for example by passing one or more mechanical fastening links, of the collar type for example, in the interior space of the support 15, around the pipe and possibly the envelope piece 21.

As described, the cartridge 11 can be inserted in the frame 3 of a dispenser 1, that is to say in its interior space 5, and be supported therein so as to form a core, that is to say say a single cylindrical piece extending in the longitudinal direction of this hollow space.

Alternatively, the inner diameter of the support 15 is adapted so that the latter can be moved around a cylindrical core piece and fixedly attached to the frame 3, in the inner space 5 of the latter. This makes it possible to use the cartridge 11 as a refill for cassettes of conventional design, that is to say in particular for cassettes with irremovable core. In general, the exit cone 14 will, in this case, be attached to the immovable core. In other words, the support 15 then has a diameter bore adapted to form a long guide on the core of such a distributor, which contributes to the maintenance of the cartridge 11 in the distributor 1.

The figures 11 and 12 show a part of the fastening means 13.

These fastening means 13 comprise a set of fastening lugs 25 secured to the support 15 of the cartridge 11, intended to come opposite a fastening cylinder 27 integral with the chassis 3. The fastening lugs 25 are mutually arranged in two pairs of legs respectively arranged in V and connected to the attachment cylinder 27 by means of a threaded rod 29. The cylinder 27 is arranged between the branches of the V of the set of fastening lugs 25. The threaded rod 29 is also located between these branches. Other embodiments of these fastening means 13 may comprise systems for hook, toggle, claw, interlocking, interlocking, and the like.

In some cases, prior to the insertion of the cartridge 11 into the hollow space 5, it is possible to remove a core member held in the hollow interior space.

Claims (13)

1. Method for positioning a ventilation duct in which there is deployed, by means of a distributor (1), a pipe which is folded in a band-like manner in order to form a duct portion, the distributor (1) comprising a chassis (3) which is provided with a hollow internal space (5), in which there is fixed a support (15), on which a pipe section has been fitted and packed, the support (15) being extended by a deployment cone (14), the method comprising, at the end of the deployment of the pipe section, a reloading phase comprising the following steps:

   a. detaching the deployment cone (14) from the chassis (3) ;

   b. installing a new pipe section on the support in a deployment position;

   c. re-attaching the deployment cone (14) to the chassis (3) ;

   d. re-connecting the new pipe section to a duct portion;

   characterized in that the step b. comprises the following operations:

   b1. removing the support (15) which does not have a pipe from the hollow internal space (5);

   b2. installing, in the deployment position in the hollow internal space (5), a cartridge (11) which comprises a new support (15) which is similar to the support of the operation b1 and a new pipe section, fitted and packed on this new support (15).
2. Method according to Claim 1, wherein the operation b2 comprises a phase of producing a cartridge (11) comprising the following sub-steps:

   b2.1 providing a support (15) which does not have a pipe;

   b2.2 fitting and packing a pipe section on the support (15) of the operation b2.1;

   b2.3 attaching together the fitted and packed pipe section and the support.
3. Method according to Claim 2, wherein the operation b2.2 comprises the following sub-operations:

   b2.2.1 providing a cylindrical tube/envelope portion (21) which comprises flexible material with a diameter less than the diameter of the hollow internal space and which can be deployed axially;

   b2.2.2 arranging the tube/envelope portion (21) at one of the ends of the support (15);

   b2.2.3 fitting the pipe section on the other end of the support (15);

   b2.2.4 packing the pipe section on the support (15);

   b2.2.5 deploying the tube/envelope portion (21) axially in the direction of the end of the support (15) by which the pipe has been fitted while the pipe section is packed.
4. Method according to Claim 3, wherein the operation b2.2.2 involves arranging the tube/envelope portion (21) in a packed state at one of the ends of the support (15) and the operation b2.2.5 involves unfolding the tube/envelope portion (21) in the direction of the end of the support (15) by which the pipe has been fitted while the pipe section is packed.
5. Method according to either Claim 3 or 4, wherein the tube/envelope portion (21) is also attached in the step b2.3.
6. Method according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein an introduction cone (23) is arranged at one of the ends of the support (15) before the pipe section is fitted on this end.
7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the operation b2, the support (15) of the cartridge (11) is fitted on a component which forms a core which is fixedly retained in the hollow internal space (5).
8. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein, in the operation b2, before the cartridge (11) is introduced into the hollow space (5), a component which forms a core retained in the hollow internal space (5) is withdrawn.
9. Device for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a distributor comprising a chassis which is provided with a hollow internal space, characterized in that it comprises a support cylinder which is for fitting and packing the pipe folded in a band-like manner and which has dimensions which are suitable for being received in the hollow internal space (5) of the chassis (3) of the distributor (1) and which is provided with means for retention in this space in a substantially coaxial manner with respect thereto.
10. Device according to Claim 9, wherein the cylinder has a body in the form of a cylinder section (15) which has in the region of at least one of the ends thereof an annular reinforcement rib (19).
11. Device according to either Claim 9 or 10, wherein the retention means comprise a hole which has a diameter which is suitable for forming a long guide on a component of the core of the distributor (1).
12. Device according to any one of Claims 9 to 11, comprising a reloading cartridge which comprises the cylinder, on which a pipe section is fitted, packed and attached.
13. Device according to any one of Claims 9 to 12, comprising a reloading kit for the distributor comprising the cylinder and a frustoconical component (23), the large diameter of which is adapted to the diameter of the cylinder for fitting a pipe section.

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