GB2028894A - Fire-limiting Inflatable Seals - Google Patents
Fire-limiting Inflatable Seals Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2028894A GB2028894A GB7835001A GB7835001A GB2028894A GB 2028894 A GB2028894 A GB 2028894A GB 7835001 A GB7835001 A GB 7835001A GB 7835001 A GB7835001 A GB 7835001A GB 2028894 A GB2028894 A GB 2028894A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- bag
- passageway
- sealing
- seal
- inflated
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000013536 elastomeric material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 244000043261 Hevea brasiliensis Species 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000004873 anchoring Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000003063 flame retardant Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920003052 natural elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920001194 natural rubber Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920003051 synthetic elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000003245 coal Substances 0.000 abstract description 9
- 238000005065 mining Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 10
- 239000011440 grout Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000009416 shuttering Methods 0.000 description 3
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 210000003949 semicircular duct Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009970 fire resistant effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005086 pumping 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
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)
- Pipe Accessories (AREA)
- Refuge Islands, Traffic Blockers, Or Guard Fence (AREA)
Abstract
This invention relates to an inflatable seal 1 for use in sealing off roadways in a coal mine affected by a fire in a seam. Previously used seals comprised cylindrical inflatable bags which when inflated creased and folded, leaving air passages around the seal. Also they did not fit well into the corners of the roadways, and were therefore not effective. The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing in the seal 1 preformed creases 5 whereby any creasing or folding took place in a controlled manner so that the seal worked effectively. The seals are envisaged as being useful in mining operations and as fire barriers in office and hotel ventilation systems. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Inflatable Seal
This invention relates to an improved sealing
device for use in sealing passageways,
particularly, bur not exclusively, mine roadways.
In coal mines there is always a possibility that
the coal in the seam will be ignited, due either to
an accident or to a localised natural heating in the
seam coming into contact with oxygen from
roadways leading to the seam. It is generally
desirable to control the fire without having to seal
off the roadways. However it is not always
possible to do this, and in such cases it is
necessary to seal off the roadways leading the
burning seam to control the flow of oxygen to the
fire.
Previously a roadway was sealed off by placing
shuttering around and across the roadway, filling
the space formed by the shuttering with rubble
and then pumping a cementitious grout into the
space to complete the seal. However this process
cannot be carried out very quickly, although when
the grout has solidified a very effective and
basically permanent seal was formed.
It has therefore been proposed to use an
inflatable bag to form a seal quickly in an
emergency, which if necessary, could
subsequently be supplemented with a shuttering,
rubble and grout seal. The presently used
inflatable bags are generally of reinforced rubber
and are substantially cylindrical. The bags are
designed such that their inflated cross-sectional
area is greater than the cross-sectional area of
any roadway in which they are likely to be used. In
use the bag in its deflated form is arranged in the
roadway with the bag's longitudinal axis parallel
to the axis of the roadway. Generally a circular
duct is placed alongside the bag, which is then
rapidly inflated. The inflation can take place in less
than five minutes. The duct is installed so that fire
control engineers can sample and control to a
certain extent the atmosphere in the region of the
fire.
Although these inflatable bags are easily and quickly installed, they do not provide a very good
seal. This is because the inflated bag is bigger in
cross-section than the roadway. Therefore as the
bag is being inflated the material of the bag must fold and crease so that the bag may fit into the
roadway. This folding and creasing occurs in the
area adjacent the sides of the roadway, and
causes the bag to adopt a corrugated cross
section. Air is able to flow through these
corrugations to the fire. Moreover, if a duct is in
place, the problem of folding and creasing is
aggravated, and the seal formed by the bag is not very effective. Moreover, if the bag is cylindrical or
globular there is difficulty in sealing a semicircular
roadway at the junction of the sides and the floor thereof.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a sealing device which may be installed
quickly in a mine roadway, to seal off the roadway
effectively.
Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided an improved passageway sealing device comprising an inflatable bag which is formed with at least one crease such that, in use, as the bag is inflated any folding or creasing that needs to take place to accommodate the bag in the passageway takes place along the at least one fold internally of the bag, whereby the fold is closed by the pressure inside the bag and the bag seals the passageway effectively.
Preferably the bag is made of a strong elastomeric material, which may be a chemically or physically reinforced synthetic or natural rubber. Advantageously the rubber includes a fire retardant so that the bag may be used in, for instance, coal mines to control fires.
Conveniently the bag has on it a connector whereby the bag may be connected to a compressed gas supply, such as an air compressor or a bottle gas supply. Preferably, the connector is able to handle large volumes of gas so that the bag may be inflated rapidly.
Advantageously, the connector includes a selfsealing valve arranged so that the bag does not deflate when the supply of compressed gas is removed, (unless the deflation is caused manually). The connector may also include a pressure relief valve to be used to prevent overinflation of the bag.
The bag may be inflated by compressed air, or by any other convenient gas. Preferably where the bag is used in fire control, the gas is a noninflammable gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen.
Conveniently anchoring tabs are provided on the bag whereby the bag before inflation may be secured on the floor of the passageway. The tabs may be provided with eyelets or other fastening means for this purpose.
The bag may be of any convenient shape, for instance substantially cylindrical or substantially globular, when inflated without constraint. (When inflated in a passageway it will clearly adopt the shape of the passageway). However preferably the bag has a rectangular shaped base and top joined together by two side pieces in each of which is formed a crease. The end pieces completing the bag will be substantially hourglass shaped when deflated, and one of the end pieces will be provided with the connector.
Conveniently the width of the bag's base is approximately the same as the width of the passageway to be sealed.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of sealing a passageway, comprising locating in the passageway a sealing device comprising an inflatable bag and inflating the bag to seal off the passageway, wherein the device is a device according to the first aspect of the invention.
Preferably the device before it is inflated is secured in the passageway by use of tabs if provided on the bag.
Conveniently where the bag is used for fire control, before the bag is inflated a sealable duct is located in the passageway adjacent the bag, whereby when the bag has been inflated the fire may be controlled or observed through the duct.
Preferably the duct is semicircular in crosssection, and is located with its flat face either on the floor on on a wall of the passageway. The semicircular duct ensures that the bag may seal off the passageway effectively.
It is envisaged that the present invention will be of particular, but not exclusive use, in the coal mining industry to seal off roadways leading to a fire in a coal seam. However, the present invention will also find use in other areas to control fires, for instance in hotels and similar large buildings, where it is desired to prevent fires spreading through central heating and ventilation conduits. The device may also be used to seal off passageways to prevent the ingress or egress of water during a flood or due to a burst pipe.
The device has the advantage of forming quickly an effective seal, albeit of a temporary nature, enabling a more permanent and effective seal to be provided behind the temporary seal.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a plan view of a device according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the device along line A-A of Figure 1; and
Figures 3 to 6 show sectional end views of the device of Figure 1 installed in a variety of mine roadways.
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the device comprises an inflatable bag 1 made of a fire resistant synthetic reinforced rubber. The bag 1 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 in its deflated state, and, in chain lines, in a partially deflated state.
The bag 1 comprises a rectangular base 2 and top 3 which are joined along their edges to two side pieces 4. Each of the side pieces 4 has formed in it a crease 5 arranged so that the crease 5 is always located towards the centre of the bag 1, except when the bag 1 is fully inflated. This is ensured by creases 1 6 and 1 7 made at the joins of the side pieces with the top or bottom respectively. The bag 1 is completed by end pieces 6 and 7 shaped so as to fit onto the other parts 2 to 5 of the bag 1. In one of the end pieces 7 there is provided a connector 8 including a selfsealing valve and a pressure relief valve which will in normal use only admit gas to the bag 1 unless the bag 1 is overinflated.The bag 1 has fixed onto it along the seams joining the sides 4 to the base 2 and top 3, tabs 9 having in them eyelets (not shown) for use in fixing the bag 1 in a passageway before inflation.
In use, the device is located in a passageway, for instance a coal mine roadway 11 leading to a seam in which there is fire, and fixed on the roadway floor by use of the tabs 9, either on the base 2 or top 3, depending on the part of the device which is located on the floor. The roadway 11 may be as shown in any one of Figures 3 to 6 to which reference is now also made. Generally the base 2 is placed on the roadway floor 12.
However for certain shapes of roadway 1 , for instance as shown in Figure 4, the top 3 is placed on the roadway floor 12. The roadway 11 is supported by arches 1 5.
(In the case of use to control a coal seam fire in
Great Britain, the material of the bag 1 must be approved by the National Coal Board's Working
Group for the Use of Non-Metallic Materials
Undergound.)
A gas compressor (not shown), usually an air compressor is then connected to the connector 8, and the bag 1 is inflated. As the bag 1 is inflated it at first adopts the shape shown in chain lines in
Figure 2, but eventually will adopt the shape of the roadway 11. In Figures 3 and 6 the bag is shown located in a roadway 11 having a crosssectional area substantially equal to that of the bag when normally inflated. In this case the base 2, top 3 and sides 4 are all in contact with the roadway, thereby sealing it off.
In Figures 4 and 5 the bag 1 is shown located in a roadway 11 smaller in cross-sectional area than the bag 1 when normally inflated. In this case, although the base 2 and top 3 are both in good contact with the roadway 1, only part of each side 4 is in good contact, the unused material of the sides 4 being formed into a fold 13 which is formed only along the creases 5, 1 6 and 1 7. Although the sides of the fold 13 are shown as being separated for the sake of clarity, in practice the pressure of the gas inside the bag 1 will ensure that they are tightly pressed together so that the roadway 1 1 is still properly sealed.
In Figure 6 there is shown an arrangement including a semicircular duct 14 through which fire control engineers may control and observe conditions on the side of the device remote from themselves. It can be seen that the presence of the duct does not affect the sealing of the bag 1 against the roadway 11.
The pressure inside the bag pressing the base 2, top 3 and sides 4 firmly against the floor, roof and sides of the roadway maintain the seal in a fixed position.
Thus the present invention provides a device which can be used quickly and effectively to seal a passageway.
Claims (16)
1. An improved passageway sealing device comprising an inflatable bag which is formed with at least one crease such that, in use, as the bag is inflated any folding or creasing that needs to take place to accommodate the bag in the passageway takes place along the at least one fold internally of the bag, whereby the fold is closed by the pressure inside the bag and the bag seals the passageway effectively.
2. A device according to Claim 1, in which the bag is made of a strong elastomeric material.
3. A device according to Claim 2, in which the elastomeric material is a chemically or physically reinforced synthetic or natural rubber.
4. A device according to Claim 3, in which the rubber includes a fire retardant.
5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bag has on it a connector whereby the bag may be connected to a compressed gas supply.
6. A device according to Claim 5, in which the connector includes a self-sealing valve arranged so that the bag does not deflate when when the supply of compressed gas is removed.
7. A device according to either one of Claims 5 and 6, in which the connector includes a pressure-relief valve.
8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which anchoring tabs are provided on the bag.
9. A device according to Claim 8, in which the tabs are provided with eyelets.
10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bag has a rectangular shaped base and top joined together by two side pieces in each of which is formed a crease.
11. An improved passageway sealing device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A method of sealing a passageway, comprising locating in the passageway a sealing device comprising an inflatable bag and inflating the bag to seal off the passageway, wherein the device is a device according to any one of the preceding claims.
13. A method according to Claim 12 when dependent on either one of Claims 8 and 9, in which the device is secured in the passageway by use of the tabs before the bag is inflated.
14. A method according to either one of Claims 12 and 13 and including the step of locating a sealable duct in the passageway adjacent the bag, before the bag is inflated.
1 5. A method according to Claim 14, in which the duct is semi-circular in cross-section, and is located with its flat face either on the floor or on a wall of the passageway.
16. A method of sealing a passageway, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7835001A GB2028894B (en) | 1978-08-30 | 1978-08-30 | Fire-limiting inflatable seals |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7835001A GB2028894B (en) | 1978-08-30 | 1978-08-30 | Fire-limiting inflatable seals |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2028894A true GB2028894A (en) | 1980-03-12 |
| GB2028894B GB2028894B (en) | 1982-07-07 |
Family
ID=10499347
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7835001A Expired GB2028894B (en) | 1978-08-30 | 1978-08-30 | Fire-limiting inflatable seals |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2028894B (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2254553A (en) * | 1991-04-08 | 1992-10-14 | Salih Kazim | A method and apparatus for extinguishing fires. |
| GB2255502A (en) * | 1991-02-04 | 1992-11-11 | Keith Terence Dracup | An inflatable bulkhead arrangement |
| CN102678175A (en) * | 2012-05-29 | 2012-09-19 | 淮南久辉工贸有限责任公司 | Mining flexible inflatable air bag |
| CN105952451A (en) * | 2016-07-07 | 2016-09-21 | 北京科技大学 | Air cushion type space-reserving approach road type mining device and method |
| CN106014415A (en) * | 2016-07-07 | 2016-10-12 | 北京科技大学 | Air cushion type space-reserved drift and fill type mining device and method |
| CN113653529A (en) * | 2021-09-07 | 2021-11-16 | 山东理工大学 | Air bag type disaster body instantaneous isolation device for underground roadway |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN106761925B (en) * | 2017-02-20 | 2019-01-29 | 中国矿业大学(北京) | A kind of explosion-proof closed air bag of coal mine roadway |
| CN110404200B (en) * | 2019-06-24 | 2020-12-22 | 华北科技学院 | Quick isolation rescue equipment, underground space rescue support and fire rescue method |
-
1978
- 1978-08-30 GB GB7835001A patent/GB2028894B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2255502A (en) * | 1991-02-04 | 1992-11-11 | Keith Terence Dracup | An inflatable bulkhead arrangement |
| GB2254553A (en) * | 1991-04-08 | 1992-10-14 | Salih Kazim | A method and apparatus for extinguishing fires. |
| CN102678175A (en) * | 2012-05-29 | 2012-09-19 | 淮南久辉工贸有限责任公司 | Mining flexible inflatable air bag |
| CN105952451A (en) * | 2016-07-07 | 2016-09-21 | 北京科技大学 | Air cushion type space-reserving approach road type mining device and method |
| CN106014415A (en) * | 2016-07-07 | 2016-10-12 | 北京科技大学 | Air cushion type space-reserved drift and fill type mining device and method |
| CN105952451B (en) * | 2016-07-07 | 2018-03-30 | 北京科技大学 | The route type mining apparatus and method of a kind of air-cushion type headspace |
| CN113653529A (en) * | 2021-09-07 | 2021-11-16 | 山东理工大学 | Air bag type disaster body instantaneous isolation device for underground roadway |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2028894B (en) | 1982-07-07 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 746 | Register noted 'licences of right' (sect. 46/1977) | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |