Mine Refuge

Abstract

A mine refuge for use in a mine includes a chamber sized and shaped for occupancy by at least one miner. An oxygen supply is adapted to be installed in the chamber for supplying oxygen to the chamber. A carbon dioxide reduction system is adapted to be installed in the chamber for reducing carbon dioxide in the chamber. The carbon dioxide reduction system is operable in the mine without an electrical power source.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a mine refuge of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the mine refuge;

FIG. 3A is a front elevation of the mine refuge with a door in a closed position;

FIG. 3B is the same view as FIG. 3A but with the door in an opened position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view of an emergency exit window in the mine refuge;

FIG. 4A is a side elevation of the mine refuge similar to FIG. 2 but showing another configuration of a window;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 except portions of the refuge have been broken away to show an interior chamber of the mine refuge;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the refuge with a second door;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5A but showing the second door in an open position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a telescoping tube of a energy absorbing system;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a refuge having cross-formed roof panels;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the mine refuge having a protective pipe cage surrounding the refuge;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 8 but metal plates are shown supported by the pipe cage;

FIG. 10A is a fragmentary perspective view of the chamber showing a toilet in a stowed position;

FIG. 10B is a fragmentary perspective similar to FIG. 10A but showing the toilet in a ready for use position;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 10A but showing another embodiment of a toilet;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an oxygen supply system;

FIG. 13 is an elevation view of a muffler for the oxygen supply system;

FIG. 14A is an enlarged elevation view of a portion of the mine refuge showing gauges for the oxygen supply system being visible through a window in the mine refuge;

FIG. 14B is an enlarged elevation view similar to FIG. 7A but showing the gauges for the oxygen supply system being visible from within the interior of the mine refuge;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the mine refuge with portions broken away to show a carbon dioxide reduction system;

FIG. 16A is an enlarged perspective view of a housing for a timer for the scrubber system;

FIG. 16B is an enlarged perspective view of the scrubber system timer located in the housing;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are schematics of a carbon dioxide reduction system that is powered by the oxygen supply system;

FIG. 19 is a schematic of another embodiment of a carbon dioxide reduction system that is powered by the oxygen supply system;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a mine refuge having an airlock;

FIG. 21 is an elevation view of a back wall of a refuge of another embodiment having an explosion proof container;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a collapsible embodiment of a mine refuge being in a collapsed condition;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 15 but showing one side wall of the collapsible mine refuge erected;

FIG. 24 is a perspective of the collapsible mine refuge with two side walls erected;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the collapsible mine refuge with the two side walls and an end wall erected;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the collapsible mine refuge with the two side walls, the end wall, and a roof of the mine refuge erected;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the collapsible mine refuge in an erected condition;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a collapsible mine refuge in a collapsed position;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the collapsible mine refuge having a hand crank attached for raising the mine refuge;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the refuge of FIG. 29 showing the hand crank being used to raise the collapsed mine refuge;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the collapsible mine refuge in an erected position;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a skid containing materials for erecting a mine refuge;

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of a chamber formed by sealing off a portion of a mine, parts of the mine are cut away to expose the chamber; and

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of a refuge having a cooling water tank.

Claims

1. A mine refuge for use in a mine comprising: a chamber sized and shaped for occupancy by at least one miner;an oxygen supply adapted to be installed in the chamber for supplying oxygen to the chamber; anda carbon dioxide reduction system adapted to be installed in the chamber for reducing carbon dioxide in the chamber, the carbon dioxide reduction system being operable in the mine without an electrical power source.

2. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 1 wherein the carbon dioxide reduction system is a passive system mounted in the chamber to require no power.

3. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 1 wherein the carbon dioxide reduction system comprises lithium hydroxide supported by a web.

4. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 3 wherein the chamber includes a ceiling and a rack disposed near the ceiling for suspending the web.

5. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 1 wherein carbon dioxide is forced through the carbon dioxide reduction system by oxygen from the oxygen supply.

6. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 1 wherein the carbon dioxide is forced through the system by a manually operated blower powered by one or more of the chamber occupants.

7. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a purge system for purging gas from the chamber.

8. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 7 wherein the purge system includes a supply of compressed breathable air, and a muffler connected to the cylinder for reducing the noise produced when the compressed air is released from the cylinder.

9. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 7 wherein the purge system includes a supply of compressed breathable air, the supply of compressed breathable air being sufficient to maintain a positive pressure in the chamber for inhibiting entry of contaminated mine air into the chamber.

10. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a pressure relief valve adapted to automatically open when pressure within the refuge meets or exceeds a predetermined limit.

11. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 1 wherein the chamber includes a main compartment and an airlock having a vent for venting gas from the airlock.

12. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an entryway and tamperproof seal on the entryway to inhibit tampering with the chamber when not in use.

13. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 1 wherein the chamber comprises at least one wall member adapted to be installed in the mine generally between a floor of the mine and a roof of the mine to thereby at least in part define a substantially sealed chamber.

14. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a base supporting the oxygen supply and carbon dioxide reduction system.

15. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 1 comprising a plurality of wall members, a base and a roof, the wall members, roof, and base cooperatively defining the chamber.

16. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 15 wherein the wall members are hingedly connected to the base.

17. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 16 wherein the roof is hingedly connected to at least one of the wall members.

18. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a protective cage extending over the walls and roof of the chamber for protecting the refuge from damage.

19. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 18 wherein the protective cage is spaced from the walls and roof.

20. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 19 wherein the protective cage includes plates for protecting the refuge from damage caused by falling debris.

21. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 15 wherein the roof is arch-shaped for protecting the refuge from damage caused by falling debris.

22. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 15 further comprising at least one crush zone, each crush zone including a telescoping member adapted for movement upon impact so that the impact is directed away from the oxygen supply.

23. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 13 further comprising an oxygen supply support system for securely supporting the supply to thereby inhibit movement and damage.

24. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 14 wherein the base is free of axles and wheels.

25. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 24 wherein the base is adapted to facilitate dragging the refuge from one location to another location.

26. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 15 wherein the wall members are interengageable elongate panels.

27. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one window, the window being removable in case of an emergency.

28. The mine refuge as set forth of claim 1 wherein the chamber includes a receptacle adapted to receive human waste, and a drain associated with the receptacle for draining the receptacle to a location outside of the chamber.

29. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a flow meter connected to the oxygen supply, the flow meter being adjustable by occupants for adjusting the flowrate at which the oxygen is dispensed from the oxygen supply.

30. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 29 wherein the flowrate of oxygen can be selectively adjusted based on the number of occupants in the chamber so that a sufficient amount of breathable air is supplied to each occupant while maintaining the level of oxygen in the refuge at a level suitable for occupation.

31. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 29 wherein the oxygen supply includes multiple oxygen tanks, a manifold connecting the tanks, a flow meter for displaying flow therefrom, a display of the remaining oxygen, and a regulator.

32. The mine refuge as set forth in claim 31 wherein the flow meter, display, and regulator are visible from outside the chamber.