MX2014005792A

MX2014005792A - Change over station and method.

Info

Publication number: MX2014005792A
Application number: MX2014005792A
Authority: MX
Inventors: David Emerson Maust; Kyle R Murray; John J Reinmann Jr
Original assignee: David Emerson Maust; Kyle R Murray; John J Reinmann Jr; Strata Products Worldwide Llc
Priority date: 2013-05-24
Filing date: 2014-05-13
Publication date: 2014-11-24
Also published as: CN104314611A; AU2014202600A1; CA2852095A1; GB201409185D0; PL408312A1; AU2014202600B2; ZA201403668B; RU2014120483A; US20140349562A1; CL2014001319A1; GB2516544A; CA2852095C

Abstract

A change over station (COS) for persons in a hazardous environment includes a steel housing having only a single entrance door, a chamber, and an air lock portion. The COS includes a first elongate seat disposed in the chamber and a plurality of compressed air cylinders disposed in the seat. The COS includes plumbing connected to the air cylinders formed of gas lines and valves and an exhaust muffler including first, second and third air paths that provide air into the chamber. The third air path is door activated when the door is opened by a door activated switch. The COS includes a storage portion disposed in the housing having supplies, including water and SCSRs or SCBAs. A method for providing a protected environment to miners from a mine environment in a mine.

Description

STATION AND TRANSITION METHOD Field of the Invention The present invention is related to a transition station in which miners enter to escape the mine environment and access supplies. (As used herein, references to the "present invention" or "invention" refer to exemplary embodiments and not necessarily to all embodiments encompassed by the appended claims.) More specifically, the present invention relates to a transitional station in which miners enter to escape the mine environment and access supplies, while in a chamber of a steel casing that is maintained with positive pressure with pressurized air to keep the mine environment out of the chamber.

Background of the Invention This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention. The following discussion is intended to provide information to facilitate a better understanding of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the statements in the following discussion should be read from this point of view, and not as an admission of prior art. ef .: 248336 The miners load on themselves the SCSRs / SCBAs that have a minimum amount of oxygen. In case of an emergency, miners will use these SCSRs / SCBAs to breathe fresh oxygen. In case the miners are far from the front of the mine, they have stations that store SCSR 's / SCBA' s. These stations do not allow miners to escape from the mine environment to change their used SCSRs / SCBAs. There is a need to provide protection to miners against the mine environment while changing their SCSRs / SCBAs, and possibly to regroup to find a way to save themselves, either by identifying a path to escape from the mine or to access and deploy a refuge shelter in the mine, if there is no viable way to escape from the mine.

Brief Description of the Invention The main purpose of the COS is the storage of SCSR 's and / or SCBA ^. Also, provide miners with a clean environment to change their SCSR's / SCBA's. These are not intended to be a refuge chamber and are not a refuge chamber as defined by Code 30 of the Federal Regulations Part 7 (30CFR Part 7).

The present invention relates to a transition station (COS) for people in a hazardous environment. The COS comprises a steel housing that has a single door, a chamber, and a portion of air lock. The door opens to the air lock portion. The air lock portion is connected to the chamber. The COS comprises a first elongated seat arranged in the chamber. The COS comprises a plurality of cylinders of compressed gas, such as air, cylinders, disposed in the seat. The COS comprises pipe elements connected to the air cylinders formed of gas lines, such as the air lines 28, and the valves and an exhaust silencer, which includes a first gas path, such as air through the lines that provide a continuous flow of air into the chamber through the muffler at a rate greater than 6.8 m3 / h (4 cfm) when the pipe elements are in an on state, a second gas path, such as air, through the lines provides a continuous flow of air into the chamber through the muffler at a speed of less than 2.5 m3 / h (1.5 cfm) when the pipe line is in a standby state, and a third path of gas, such as air, through the lines that is the door activated when the door is opened by an activated door switch that provides additional air flow, provided that the door is open at a speed greater than 6.8 m3 / h (4 cfm) inside the chamber. The COS comprises a valve control panel through which the pipe elements extend and which is arranged on the outside of the housing which controls if the pipe elements are in the on state or in the standby mode state. The COS comprises a storage portion 44 disposed in the housing containing the supplies, which include water and SCS s or SCBAs.

The present invention relates to a method for providing a protected environment for miners against a mine environment in a mine. The method comprises the steps of opening a main valve arranged in a control panel located on the outside of a steel housing of a transition station (COS) to a state which causes the compressed air of the compressed air cylinders Inside the casing flows through a first flow path of the pipe elements in the steel casing inside the casing chamber and creates a positive pressure in the chamber in relation to the mine environment. There is an opening step of a housing door which activates an activated door switch that causes compressed air from the compressed air cylinders to flow through a third flow path of the pipe elements within the chamber of the housing and is added to the flow through the first compressed air flow path inside the chamber to increase the positive pressure in the chamber and to direct the flow of air out of the chamber and through the open door. There is the step that the miners enter the chamber through the At the door, the miners take the SCSRs or SCBAs from a storage portion 44 in the housing and the miners use the SCSRs or SCBAs. There is the step of closing the door of the housing, which deactivates the activated door switch by stopping the flow of compressed air through the third flow path. There is a step of turning the main valve to a standby state, which causes the compressed air from the compressed air cylinders to flow through a second flow path of the pipe elements within the chamber and a velocity of flow that is less than the flow velocity of compressed air through the first flow path.

Brief Description of the Figures In the appended Figures, the preferred embodiment of the invention and the preferred methods for practicing the invention are illustrated in which: Figure 1 is a diagram of the pipe elements of a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a second diagram of the pipe elements of the present invention.

Figures 3A, 3B and 3C show the air supply control panel of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 4-8 are several views of the transition station of the present invention.

Figure 9 shows a part of the door, door frame, and the door switch activated.

Detailed description of the invention Now with reference to the Figures in which similar reference numbers refer to similar or identical parts in the different views, and more specifically to Figure 5 thereof, a transition station (COS) 10 is shown for people in a dangerous environment The COS 10 comprises a steel housing 12 having only a single door 14, a chamber 16, an air locking portion 20. The door 14 opens to the air locking portion 20. The air locking portion 20 is connected to the chamber 16. The COS 10 comprises a first elongated seat 24 disposed in the chamber 16. The COS 10 comprises a plurality of cylinders of compressed air 22 disposed in the seat, as shown in Figure 7. COS 10 comprises pipe elements 26, as shown in Figure 1, connected to the air cylinders 22 formed by the air lines 28 and the valves 30 and an exhaust silencer 32. The pipe elements 26 include a first air path 34 through the lines that provide a continuous flow of air inside the chamber 16 through the muffler 32 at a speed greater than 6.8 m3 / h (4 cfm) when the pipe elements 26 are in an on state, a second path of ai re 36 through the lines that provide a continuous flow of air within the chamber 16 through the muffler 32 at a speed less than 2.5 m3 / h (1.5 cfm) when the pipe 26 is in a standby state, and a third air path 38 through the lines which is door activated when the door 14 is opened by an activated door switch 40 which provides an additional air flow, provided that the door 14 is opened at a speed greater than 6.8 m3 / h ( 4 cfm) inside the chamber 16 through the muffler 32. The COS 10 comprises a valve control panel 42, according to that shown in Figure 3A, through which the pipe 26 extends and which is arranged on the outside of the housing 12 which controls whether the pipe 26 is in the on state or the standby state. The COS 10 comprises a storage portion of 44 disposed in the housing 12 having the supplies, which include water and SCSRs or SCBAs 18.

The pipe elements 26 may include a main valve 46 which controls whether the air in the air cylinders 22 follows the first path or the second path. The main valve 46 can be a 3-way valve 48, Off, On and Standby: to . Off - turns off b. On - the camera is ready for input. c. Standby - the camera is activated with a purge by drip to keep the chamber clear of noxious gases after a first entry until a subsequent group arrives at COS 10.

The pipe elements 26 through the first path and the second path can create a positive pressure to keep contaminants out when the gate 14 is open. The activated door switch 40 on the door 14 can activate a secondary valve 50, such as an activated gate valve, of the pipe 26 which increases the air flow rate in the chamber 16 and blows the air out of the door 14. The chamber 16 can have a net height of 152.4 cm (60") and the housing 12 has a flat top 52 to maximize the interior top space.The seat height can be approximately 40.64cm (16") for Allow a 1.82m (6 ') person to sit upright in camera 16.

The housing 12 may be approximately 3.65m (12 ') long and narrow enough for it to fit into a transport container; 3 units in a 12.19m (40 ') container. The COS 10 can handle 3 transitions of 10 consecutive men for a total of 10 men. The COS 10 may include a second elongated seat 54, as shown in Figure 4, and where, available, each seat provides 60.96 cm (24") of space per man, and the seats provide storage of air cylinders for up to 8 cylinders 22. Storage portion 44 can serve as a storage for 30 SCSRs 18 as well as 85.2 1 (90 quarts) of water. The pipe elements 26 may include an orifice 56 and a compressed air flow control 58 would be facilitated by the orifice 56.

The space under the seats can allow up to 8 cylinders 22 or a maximum of 4 hours in the On mode, the standby mode substantially extends the reserve time by releasing a drip flow to maintain a slight positive pressure. The storage portion 44 of the water and SCSRs 18 are on the left and right just inside the door 14 for easy access. COS 10 may include hanging plastic curtain strips 60 to help isolate the atmosphere of COS 10 from the mine. The control panel may be recessed to avoid damage and may be conditioned with a tamper evident seal 62.

The present invention relates to a method for providing a protected environment for miners against a mine environment in a mine. The method comprises the steps of opening a main valve 46 arranged in a control panel 42 located to the outside of a steel housing 12 of a transition station (COS) 10 to an on state which causes the compressed air of the cylinders of compressed air 22 inside the housing 12 flow through a first flow path of pipe elements 26 in the steel housing 12 within the chamber 16 of the housing 12 and create a positive pressure in the chamber 16 relative to the environment of the mine. There is the step of opening a door 14 of the housing 12 which activates an activated door switch 40 which causes the compressed air of the compressed air cylinders 22 to flow through a third flow path of the pipe 26 in the chamber 16 of the housing 12 and is added to the flow through the first compressed air flow path inside the chamber 16 to increase the positive pressure in the chamber 16 and to direct the flow of air out of the chamber 16 and through the open door 14. There is a step for the miners to enter the chamber 16 through the door 14, the miners take the SCSRs or SCBAs 18 from a storage portion 44 in the housing 12 and the miners use the SCSRs or SCBAs 18. There is the step of closing the door 14 of the housing 12 which deactivates the activated door switch 40 by stopping the flow of compressed air through the third air path 38. There is the step of rotating the master valve. cipal 46 to a standby state, which causes the compressed air from the compressed air cylinders 22 to flow through a second air path 36 of the pipe elements 26 into the chamber 16 and a flow velocity that is less than the flow velocity of the compressed air through the first air path 34.

There may be a step for miners to communicate from inside camera 16 with a location outside camera 16. Miners may use communication devices that typically carry with them with the Commtrac system available from Strata Products Worldwide, and / or through the Terrestrial Communication System also available from Strata Products Worldwide and described in US Patent Application 13 / 743,947, incorporated herein by reference. There may be a step for the miners to leave the COS 10 and go to a shelter house and enter the shelter house.

In the practice of the invention, the transition station (COS) 10 offers the miners an escape from the mine environment, which will allow the miners to safely change their used SCS s / SCBAs 18 to new ones and have time to regroup and possibly plan an emergency response in a relatively safe environment, outside the mine environment. The transition station 10 is a path in the steel chamber 16 which will have the capacity to store at least 30 SCSRs 18 or 30 SCBSs 18. The transition station 10 will also have the capacity to store up to 85.2 1 (90 quarts) of water for the miners to rehydrate themselves.

The transition station 10 has the capacity to handle 3 changes of 10 men sequenced for a total of 30 people. To create a clean environment, compressed air will be released into the chamber 16 of the COS, which will create a positive pressure inside the chamber 16 and will admit air that can be breathed into the chamber 16. According to the calculations a 1-4.5 K bottle of compressed air will allow 10 men to survive one hour in chamber 16. This will be increased to two cylinders 22 as a safety factor. The transition station 10 has the capacity to store cylinders of compressed air of 8-4.5K 22, to make the total run time of the chamber 16 when the latter is activated is approximately 4 hours. This is considered to be enough time for the miners to be able to resupply given the emergency circumstances, and to make a decision to try to escape from the mine or go and access and deploy and enter a shelter that provides life support long term, typically of at least 96 hours. An example of a shelter booth is that sold by Strata Products Worldwide, LLC identified as Fresh Air Bay; see the North American patent application 13/460252, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Figures 4-8 show different views of transition stations 10 with the roof removed for better representation. Figure 5 shows a front perspective view of the transition station along with the only door 14 closed. The door 14 opens towards the outside of the steel chamber 16. Figures 4 and 6 show a front perspective view of the transition station 10 with the door 14 open. Figure 7 shows a top view of the transition station 10. The steel housing 12 is of a fixed size and consists of four walls, the base from which the four walls extend and a roof. The bench seats are on either side of the transition station 10. A portion of the top of the bench shows a cut cut on each side to reveal the pressurized tanks stored inside the benches. Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the transition station 10 with the roof 63 in place.

On the front of the transition station 10, adjacent to the door 14 is the air lock portion 20 and also the shelf 66 and the storage areas 44 for containing the various supplies mentioned above. Figure 6 shows a left perspective view of the transition station 10 with the door 14 open and showing the shelving 66 and the storage areas 44 on the front of the transition station 10. In the upper right front corner directed from the exterior towards the front door 14 is find the pressure relief valve 92. The air lock 20 is separated from the main part of the chamber 16 where the banks are located by plastic strips 60 hanging from the ceiling which act to contain the flow of the mine environment inside the transition station 10 when the door 14 is open.

The structure of the transition station 10 is constructed of steel pipe and a sheet of metal having a rectangular shape with the walls, floor and roof being rectangular shaped plates that are welded together. The total dimensions of the structure are 365.76 cm (144 in.) X 203.2 cm (80 in.) X 152.4 cm (60 in.) (LxH x H). The structure of the transition station 10 is built on the same base as the ERC sold by Strata Safety Products, the difference being the height of the COS is at a maximum of 1.52m (5 feet). The height to fit within the coal mines. There are banks inside the chamber 16 for the miners to sit down. The benches are of a height that will allow a tall person of 1.82m (6 feet) to sit comfortably inside the chamber 16.

As regards the pipe elements 26 and the air flow, the reference is made to Figure 1. In one embodiment, each of the 2-8 air cylinders of 4.5k of compressed air 22 are connected. in parallel through each Monet valve of the cylinders 64 with a gas line pressurized. The gas line conveying the compressed air from the air cylinders 22 is connected to a system valve 68. The system valve 68 controls the air flow through the gas line from the air cylinders 22 in total, either on or off. The system valve 68 is off during construction, but once the construction is complete and the air cylinders 22 are connected to the gas line and the transition station 10 is ready for operation and to be supplied to a mine , the system valve 68 is turned on and the pressurized gas is allowed to flow through the system valve 68. This is a system always on. A bottle pressure gauge is connected to the line between the cylinders 22 and the system valve 68 for the purpose of verifying each work change.

The gas line extends from system valve 68, a Parker Verifio HCV valve with HP 'meter, to a reduction valve 70, a Parker Veriflo HR 6004 Two Stage Pressure Regulator with Signal Interval from 68.94 to 1723.68kPa (10-250 PSIG), which takes the pressure 31.02kPa (4.5k PSI) on the line down to an operating pressure of approximately 689.5kPa (100 PSI) for the downstream valves 30. The gas line extends from the reduction valve 70 where it divides and extends towards an activated door switch 40, such as 2-way Parker Veriflo Door 3-Way Directional Valve P / N 47000074, and activated gate valve, such as a Parker Veriflo NV17 AOP Valve, and main valve 46, such as a three-way valve 48 or a valve position 48, Parker Veriflo Indicator Valve NV17, which can be either off, on or in standby mode.

The position valve 48 is maintained in an off position until the miners need to use the transition station 10. In the off position, the position valve 48 prevents any flow of pressurized air therethrough. When the miners need to use the transition station 10, they cause the position valve 48 to be turned to the ignition position. The position valve 48 is controlled from outside of the transition station 10, before the miners enter the transition station 10. In the ignition position, the flow of pressurized air flows through the position valve 48. and an orifice 11 m3 / h (6.48 CFM) 56 and out into the chamber of the transition station 10 through the gas line extending to an exhaust muffler 32, such as a Parker Veriflo Silencer P / N 47000075, located in the back of the camera. By turning the position of the position valve 48 on until the miners enter the chamber, a positive pressure is created to limit or prevent the Mine environment gas enters the transition station 10. When the miners evacuate the chamber, they turn the position valve 48 to the standby position which allows a continuous flow of air to flow through the position valve 48 and through an orifice of 1 m3 / h (0.6 CFM) 56 through the gas line to the exhaust muffler 32. In the standby position, air continues to enter the chamber, but at a much faster rate slower, waiting for any of the miners who might need at a later time to enter the chamber with positive pressure still maintained, but at a speed sufficiently low to extend the duration of the viability of the transition station 10.

From the reduction valve 70, the gas line also extends to an activated gate valve through an activated gate switch 40. The activated gate valve allows the pressurized air to be combined with the air from the position valve 48 and passes into the chamber through the silencer exhaust 32. When the activated door switch 40 is opened, the pressurized gas passes through the switch 40 and through the activated gate valve to an orifice of 11 m3 / h (6.48 CFM) 56 in the gas line extending from the activated gate valve to the muffler exhaust 32. The activated door switch 40 is such; whenever the door 14 is open any amount, the activated door switch 40 is open and allows gas pressure to pass through the gas line to the activated gate valve and into the chamber through the exhaust of muffler 32. If the position valve 48 is also open, then essentially the gas through the gas line of the activated gate valve doubles the air flow velocity within the chamber. The activated gate valve opens when the air passes to it from the switch 40, but prevents the flow of air in the opposite direction of the muffler 32 back to the switch 40. In this way, whenever the door 14 is open at any In addition, the increased air flow is applied to the chamber to maintain positive pressure and keep the mine environment out.

The activated door switch, as shown in Figure 2, has a button 80 which is located in the door frame 82 on the hinge side 86 of the door 14, as shown in Figure 9. The button 80 is spring loaded so that when the door 14 becomes even slightly ajar, and a space is created between the door 14 and the frame, the button 80 will move outwardly under the action of the spring 84, pulling a button shank 88 80 extending within a flow channel 90 through the switch 40, outside the flow channel 90, allowing the air flows through the flow channel 90 in the switch 40 and the activated gate valve 50. The air then flows through the activated gate valve 50 and through the line to the exhaust silencer 32. When the door 14 is closed, the door 14 pushes down the button 80, directing the rod 88 back into the flow channel 90, which closes the switch 40 and stops the flow of air to the gate drive valve. The 11 m3 / h (6.48 CFM) 56 orifice downstream of the activated gate valve allows airflow at 11 m3 / h (6.48 cfm) from the activated door switch to the muffler 32.

As a safety measure, a pressure relief valve 92 is located in the upper right rear corner of the steel chamber 16 to allow any excess air pressure to be vented from the chamber, if necessary, as shown in FIG. Figure 4. In a preferred embodiment, there is no C02 scrubber in the transition station to remove carbon dioxide. The positive pressure maintained in the transition station 10 and the constant flow of air in the chamber 16 effectively pushes or keeps out the toxic gases such as carbon dioxide, while the miners are within the transition station, which is less than an hour or two hours, enough time for the miners to return to stock up on themselves, have a brief rest and make a determination of where they will go later in the mine.

In another embodiment, Figure 2 shows a diagram of pipe elements and Figures 3a, 3 and 3c show a top view, side view and front view, respectively, of the control panel 42. This scheme of the arrangement of pipe elements it is slightly different from that of the arrangement in Figure 1 and operates essentially in the same way except for the following. From the scheme of pipe elements, the air flow of the cylinders 22 will travel to the system valve 68, a Parker Veriflo HCV valve with HP meter. The flow stops there until the valve 68 is driven to on. What it means is that it is a system always off until the initial valve 68 is turned on. Once, the valve 68 is turned on, the flow can then take two directions. 1) Flow can go to main valve 46, a Parker Veriflo Indicator Valve V17 (valve 'On' / 'On-Wait') and 2) The flow can go to the secondary valve, a 3-way switch Normally Closed with 2 positions of Parker Veriflo Activated Door.

In panel 42 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3A-3C, a the miners will be given written instructions to activate the Parker Veriflo Indicator Main Valve V17 46 to the "On" position, so initially the flow will travel through that valve 46 and through an orifice of 11 m3 / h (6.48 CFM) ) 56 to the muffler 32. Once the miners open the door 14 to enter the chamber 16, the Parker Veriflo Activated Gate Switch 40 will be activated and the air flow will also be directed through the switch 40 to the Valve Secondary Parker Veriflo NV17 AOP 50 and through an orifice of 11 m3 / h (6.48 CFM) 56 to join the flow of air flowing through the Parker Veriflo Indicator Main Valve NV17 46 and escapes at a total flow rate of approximately 22.1 m3 / h (13 cfm). The switch 40 and the secondary valve AOP 50 operate in the same manner as the switch 40 and the activated gate valve described above.

After all the miners enter the COS, the door 14 closes and the switch 40 is closed, the air flow will then flow only towards the Parker Veriflo NV17 Indicator Main Valve through the "On" position and the flow will be 11 m3 / h (6.48 cfm) out of the muffler 32. Once the miners exit the COS, they return to the control panel and turn the Parker Veriflo Indicator Main Valve NV17 to "On-Hold" and then the flow towards the exhaust will be 1 m3 / h (0.6 cfm).

From the Control Panel, step by step what the miners should do: 1) Turn the Parker Veriflo HCV System Valve 'On' with an HP meter (extreme left valve on the panel shown in Figure 2) 2) Turn the Parker Veriflo NV17 Indicator Main Valve to the 'On' Position (extreme right valve in the middle on the panel shown in Figure 2) 3) Open the Entrance Door and enter the COS: to . Where the Door Switch will be activated Activated Parker Veriflo operated mechanically, miners do not necessarily have to know about this, because they do not need to turn or activate this switch 4) Close the Entrance Door once everyone has entered the COS to. Where the mechanically operated Parker Veriflo Activated Switch will be deactivated 5) After the miners exit, Close the Entrance Door and go to the Valve Panel and turn the Parker Veriflo Indicator Main Valve NV17 to x In standby ' These steps will be a continuous cycle until all of the air is expelled from the compressed air cylinders 22 or all the miners have been in the COS Even though the invention has been described in detail in the above embodiments for the purpose of illustration, HE it should be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except what can be described by the following claims.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property:

1. A transition station for people in a dangerous environment, characterized because it includes: a steel casing having a single door, a chamber, and an inlet portion, the door opening to the air lock portion, the air lock portion is connected to the chamber; a first elongated seat arranged in the chamber; a plurality of compressed gas cylinders disposed in the seat; pipe elements connected to the gas cylinders formed of gas lines and valves and an exhaust silencer, which includes a first gas path through the lines that provides a continuous flow or gas inside the chamber through the muffler in a speed greater than 6.8 m3 / h (4 cfm) when the pipeline is in an on state, a second gas path through the lines that provides a continuous flow of gas into the chamber through the muffler at a speed less than 2.5 m3 / h (1.5 cfm) when the pipeline is in a standby state, and a third gas path through the lines which is the door activated when the door is opened by an activated door switch which provides an additional gas flow, provided that the door is opened at a speed greater than 6.8 m3 / h (4 cfm) in the chamber through the muffler; a valve control panel through which the pipe extends and which is arranged on the outside of the housing controlling whether the pipe is in the on state or the standby state; Y a storage portion disposed in the housing having supplies, which includes water and SCSRs or SCBAs.

2. The transition station according to claim 1, characterized in that the pipe elements include a main valve that controls whether the gas of the gas cylinders follows the first path or the second path.

3. The transition station according to claim 2, characterized in that the main valve is a 3-way valve, Off, On and Standby; to. Off - off b. On - the camera is ready for input c. Standby - the chamber is activated with a drip purge to keep the chamber free of noxious gases after a first entry until a next group arrives at the transition station.

4. The transition station in accordance with the claim 3, characterized in that the pipe elements through the first path and the second path creates a positive pressure to keep the contaminants out when the door is open.

5. The transition station according to claim 4, characterized in that the door switch activated on the door activates a secondary valve of the pipe that increases the gas flow velocity inside the gas chamber and blows the gas out of the door open

6. The transition station according to claim 5, characterized in that the chamber has a net height of 152.4 cm (60") and the housing has a flat upper portion to maximize the" upper interior "space.

7. The transition station according to claim 6, characterized in that the seat height is approximately 40.6 cm (16") to allow a person of 1.82m (6 ') to sit vertically in the chamber.

8. The transition station according to claim 7, characterized in that the housing is approximately 3.65m (12 ') long and narrow enough to fit in a transport container, 3 units in a 12.19m (40') container.

9. The transition station according to claim 8, characterized in that it handles 3 transitions of 10 consecutive men for a total of 10 men.

10. The transition station according to claim 9, characterized in that it includes a second elongated seat and wherein the seat provides 61 cm (24") of space per man, and the seats provide storage of gas cylinders with available capacity for up to 8 bottles

11. The transition station according to claim 10, characterized in that the storage portion serves as a storage for 30 SCSRs as well as 85.21 (90 quarts) of water.

12. The transition station according to claim 11, characterized in that the pipe elements include an orifice and a flow control of compressed gas would be facilitated through the orifice.

13. The transition station according to claim 12, characterized in that the space under the seats will accept up to 8 bottles or a maximum of 4 hours in the On mode, the standby mode substantially extends the reservation time by only releasing a drip flow to maintain a slight positive pressure.

14. The transition station according to claim 13, characterized in that the storage portion of the water and the SCSRs are on the left and right just inside the door for an easy access

15. The transition station according to claim 14, characterized in that it includes hanging plastic curtain strips to help isolate the atmosphere of the transition station of the mine.

16. The transition station according to claim 15, characterized in that the control panel is in a cavity to prevent damage and is conditioned with a tamper evident seal.

17. A method for providing a protected environment for miners against a mine environment in a mine, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: opening a main valve arranged in a control panel located on the outside of a steel housing of a transition station (COS) to an on state which causes the compressed gas of the compressed gas cylinders inside the housing to flow to through a first flow path of the pipe elements in the steel housing within the housing chamber and creating positive pressure in the chamber relative to the environment of the mine; opening a housing door which activates an activated door switch that causes the compressed gas from the compressed gas cylinders to flow through a third flow path of the pipe into the housing chamber and is added to the flow through the first compressed gas flow path within the chamber to increase the positive pressure in the chamber and to direct the gas flow out of the chamber and through the open door; miners entering the chamber through the door, miners take SCSRs or SCBAs from a portion of storage in the housing and miners using the SCSRs or SCBAs; closing the door of the housing which deactivates the activated door switch thereby stopping the flow of compressed gas through the third flow path; and turning the main valve to a standby state, which causes the compressed gas from the compressed gas cylinders to flow through a second flow path of the pipe elements within the chamber and a flow velocity that is lower than the flow velocity of compressed gas through the first flow path.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that it includes the step of the miners communicating from inside the camera with a location outside the chamber.

19. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that it includes the steps of the miners leaving the transition station and entering a shelter house.