Patent Application
20150011147
The present invention relates generally to mine ventilation control, and more specifically, is directed to an inflatable ventilation curtain, and method of use thereof, for providing a temporary ventilation diversion. Such a ventilation curtain is useful in emergency mining conditions, as well as everyday use.
As recently witnessed in underground mining, once a disruption of the ventilation system occurs, restoration of the ventilation is very critical for mine workers. Moreover, having the ability to sufficiently construct or repair the ventilation disruption quickly will enhance the effectiveness of the entire ventilation system. Such quick response is required in several situations, such as mine rescue and barricading.
The present invention expedites the ventilation construction in such emergency conditions, so that reliable air ventilation can be achieved more quickly and easily than in currently used devices, such as line curtains. In addition, the present invention is also useful for everyday use.
Currently, tents or line curtains are used in the event of fire or explosion to provide a temporary ventilation diversion. In the event of such an emergency, reliable air ventilation is critical for workers trapped in the mine. In particular, a line curtain is used to seal off a contained area for the workers. The line curtains are manually attached to the floors and walls of the mine, so that the workers can be secured in a safe environment. The line curtains isolate a physical area within the mine to maintain healthy air quality for the workers until they can be rescued or make a safe escape.
However, these line curtains are cumbersome to use, since the workers must manually attach the edges of the curtains to the walls, floors and ribs. Hammers, nails, boards, roof bolts, crib blocks, etc. are required to secure the line curtains. This is labor intensive and time consuming, and certainly not ideal in emergency conditions. In addition, it is very difficult to get a tight seal, and thus, air quality is compromised.
Illustrative, non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention overcome the above disadvantages, and other disadvantages not described above.
The present invention provides an inflatable ventilation curtain which is installed quickly and easily. Such an inflatable ventilation curtain provides a tight seal to achieve a proper air quality in a contained environment.
An apparatus consistent with the present invention includes an inflatable ventilation curtain having a curtain portion and an inflatable portion provided around a perimeter of the curtain portion. The inflatable portion includes an inner layer and an outer layer attached together, wherein the inner layer is provided immediately adjacent to the perimeter of the curtain portion and wherein the outer layer is provided around at least a part of an outer perimeter of the inner layer, thereby providing two distinct inflatable areas.
In addition, the inner layer and the outer layer are gas inflatable.
Alternatively, wherein the inner layer is gas inflatable and the outer layer is foam filled.
According to one aspect of the invention, the inflatable portion is integrally provided with the curtain portion.
Additionally, when inflated, the inflatable portion has a thicker width, as viewed in cross-section, than the curtain portion.
The invention may further provide at least one valve between the inner layer and the outer layer to facilitate the inflation of the outer layer via the inner layer. When three valves are provided between the inner layer and the outer layer, they may be disposed at the top and sides of the inner layer.
Still further, the inner layer includes at least two support columns connecting the top and bottom sides of the inner layer, and substantially parallel with the sides of the inner layer.
The invention may further include an inflate/deflate valve provided on the inner layer for inflating the inflating portion.
Still further, a door is provided on the curtain portion for facilitating entry and exit.
To create a barricading situation, a plurality of inflatable ventilation curtains may be provided to surround a designated area.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method of setting up an inflatable ventilation curtain which has a curtain portion and an inflatable portion provided at a periphery of the curtain portion, includes spreading out the inflatable ventilation curtain in a predetermined area; raising sides of the inflatable ventilation curtain with raising means; and inflating the inflatable portion.
The inner layer completely inflates before the outer layer begins to inflate.
The inner layer may also include support columns extending between top and bottom sides of the inner layer, and all portions of the inner layer including the support columns inflate at substantially the same time.
The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
The curtain portion 110 is surrounded on the two sides, bottom and top, when viewed in the direction of
While the inner layer 122 is disposed around the entire perimeter of the curtain portion 110, i.e., two sides, top and bottom, the outer layer 124 is only disposed on the two sides and top.
The inner layer 122 has a smaller diameter than the outer layer 124, however, the present invention is not limited to this structure. Preferably, the inner layer 122 has a diameter of about 8 inches, and the outer layer 124 has a diameter of 12-16 inches.
The curtain portion 110 is a thin layer of fabric, and this portion does not inflate. Thus, the inflatable portion 120, when inflated, has a thicker cross-section than the curtain portion 110 (
This inner layer 122, also known as a support frame, inflates before the outer layer 124, also known as a sealing bladder. Thus, this support frame (including the support columns if provided) becomes completely inflated thereby imparting structure to the inflatable ventilation life curtain 100 before the sealing bladder begins to inflate.
Two inflate/deflate valves 130, 132 are provided on the inner layer 122 to allow for it to inflate. A first inflate/deflate valve 130 is generally used for automatic inflation via a carbon dioxide (CO2) canister, or the like. A second inflate/deflate valve 132 is generally used for manually inflating the device if necessary.
In addition, three pressure relief valves (PRV) 140 are provided on the inner layer 122, along the sides and top. The PRVs 140 allow air to flow from the inner layer 122 to the outer layer 124 of the inflatable portion 120 in an even manner. Thus, once the inner layer 122 is completely inflated, the outer layer 124 begins to inflate via the PRVs 140.
The outer layer 124 of the inflatable portion is shown in
The PRVs 140 are illustrated also on the outer layer 124. As discussed above, the PRVs 140 connect the airway between the inner and outer layers 122, 124, thus, allowing for the air to enter the outer layer 124 from the inner layer 122 via the PRVs.
Since the air can only move through the PRVs 140 one way, the air pressure is maintained in the inner layer 122 even if the outer layer 124 is compromised and there is a leak.
The inner and outer layers 122, 124 can be attached to each other in various ways. Preferably, however, the two layers are fabric welded, stitched or sewed together.
The curtain portion may be made of any suitable coated nylon which is fire retardant, or other material possessing similar characteristics. Preferably, but not necessarily, the material of the inflatable ventilation life curtain should be leakproof and impermeable. Preferably, the inflatable ventilation life curtain will be made from Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) approved ventilation curtain material, when the invention is to be used in a mining environment. Examples of materials suitable for the curtain portion are fire retardant coated nylon, neoprene and urethane. Likewise, the inflatable portion may also be made out of these types of materials.
The inflatable portion 120 may be integrally provided with the curtain portion 110. Alternatively, it may be stitched, welded or sewn to the curtain portion 110; moreover, the inflatable portion 120 and curtain portion 110 may be attached by other means which accomplish a secure attachment.
Moreover, in both exemplary embodiments, each of the inner and outer layers 122, 124 of the inflatable portion 120 may have more than one chamber (not shown). With this structure, if one of the chambers is compromised the inflatable ventilation life curtain will provide greater stability than if only one chamber is provided and compromised.
Now, a description will be provided for assembling the inflatable ventilation life curtain 100 for use. The following description refers to the use of the inflatable ventilation life curtain in a mine environment; however, this is merely an example and the curtain could be used in other places where ventilation diversion is required.
First, the inflatable ventilation life curtain 100 is stretched out in a desired location by a worker. Thereafter, means for raising the sides of curtain are assembled and used to raise the curtain. Such means for raising the curtain include pogo sticks, for example. The pogo sticks may be 2 inches in diameter, but the invention is not limited to such dimensions. The pogo sticks are preferably adjustable, but the invention is not limited to such characteristics.
After the inflatable ventilation life curtain 100 is raised (see
Thus, the inflatable ventilation life curtain quickly and efficiently constructs a temporary ventilation diversion, while minimizing the use of construction material and labor.
Since the curtain is not inflated before use, it has a relatively flat configuration, and, thus, can be stored efficiently and is easily transportable. For instance, the inflatable ventilation curtain may be stored in a metal case, so that it can be easily transported to a desired location.
In addition to an emergency use, the ventilation curtain can be used in daily functions. It can be used as an air directional, for instance.
As mentioned above, a CO2 canister is not required to inflate the inflatable ventilation life curtain. A hand pump or other inflating means may also be used to inflate the inflatable ventilation life curtain.
As mentioned above, the outer layer 126 may be foam filled rather than air filled. Moreover, the inner layer 122 may include portions 122a (e.g. support columns) strategically located at inner portions of the curtain portion 110, i.e., thereby the curtain portion is provided in multiple parts 110a, 110b, 110c. The support columns 122a provide increased strength and stability to the inflatable ventilation life curtain.
Still further, corner gussets can be provided for securing the corners of the inflatable portion, especially between the inner and outer layers.
Handles may also be provided along portions of the inflatable ventilation life curtain, such as along the inflatable portion, to facilitate handling of the device before inflation.
Still further, pogo pole straps may be provided at various locations of the inflatable ventilation life curtain, and preferably near the top sides, to facilitate use of the pogo sticks or other raising means before the device is inflated.
As mentioned above, the present invention provides a novel and improved apparatus and method for obtaining a temporary ventilation diversion. With the use of inflatable portions that are attached to a curtain, it is possible to achieve a good seal against uneven surfaces (e.g. roof, floors, ribs, etc.) so as to provide adequate air quality in the contained area. These inflatable portions may be inflated automatically, by use of a CO2 canister, so that little labor is required by the user to construct the inflatable ventilation curtain. Such curtains are useful in barricading situations or for daily use where directional airflow is required.
As shown in
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the scope of the invention is given by the appended claims, rather than the preceding description, and all variations and equivalents which fall within the range of the claims are intended to be embraced therein. Therefore, it should be understood that the above embodiments are not limitative, but illustrative in all aspects.
This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/686,760, filed Mar. 15, 2007 which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/782,543 filed Mar. 16, 2006; the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60782543 | Mar 2006 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11686760 | Mar 2007 | US |
| Child | 14319275 | US |
