SAFETY SYSTEM AND METHOD OF AN UNDERGROUND MINE

• US 20110030838A1
• Filed: 01/21/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rescue Air Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rescue Air Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Turiello, Anthony J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,381,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 13/00 Special devices for ventilating gasproof shelters ventilating in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/02 with compressed oxygen or air
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 1/00 Ventilation of mines or tunnels; Distribution of ventilating currents ventilating rooms or spaces in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 11/00 Rescue devices or other safety devices, e.g. safety chambers or escape ways breathing aids for curative purposes A61H31/00; respiratory apparatus A62B7/00; breathing apparatus for accidentally buried persons A62B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0142 placed underground
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/025 Breathing

Abstract

Disclosed are a safety system and method of an underground mine. In one embodiment, a method of safety of a mine structure includes expediting an air extraction process from an emergency support system by including a RIC (rapid interventions company/crew)/UAC (universal air connection) fitting to a fill panel to fill a breathable air apparatus. The method may include ensuring that a prescribed pressure of the emergency support system maintains within a threshold range of the prescribed pressure by including a valve of the emergency support system to prevent leakage of breathable air from the emergency support system. The method may also include maintaining the prescribed pressure of the emergency support system such that a system pressure is compatible with a breathable air apparatus through a distribution structure that is rated for use with compressed air.

Claims

1. A method of safety of a mine structure, comprising:

expediting an air extraction process from an emergency support system by including a RIC (rapid interventions company/crew)/UAC (universal air connection) fitting to a fill panel to fill a breathable air apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

ensuring that a prescribed pressure of the emergency support system maintains within a threshold range of the prescribed pressure by including a valve of the emergency support system to prevent leakage of breathable air from the emergency support system.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

maintaining a prescribed pressure of the emergency support system such that a system pressure is compatible with the breathable air apparatus through a distribution structure that is rated for use with compressed air that couples a supply unit and the fill panel to transfer breathable air of a source of compressed air to the fill panel.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

pressurizing breathable air to facilitate a flow of breathable air from the emergency support system to the breathable air apparatus.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

pressurizing breathable air to increase a flow of breathable air to decrease an amount of time required to fill the breathable air apparatus.

6. A method of safety of a mine structure, comprising:

facilitating a flow of air from an emergency support system by including a RIC (rapid interventions company/crew)/UAC (universal air connection) fitting to a fill location to fill a breathable air apparatus.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

pressurizing breathable air to increase the flow of breathable air to decrease an amount of time required to fill the breathable air apparatus.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

connecting the RIC/UAC fitting to a fill station to provide an additional source of breathable air.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the fill location is a site in the mine structure providing access to the RIC/UAC fitting coupled to the emergency support system.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

adjusting a fill pressure to ensure that the fill pressure of the source of compressed air does not exceed the prescribed pressure of the emergency support system through a pressure regulator of the supply unit.

11. A method of safety of a mine structure, comprising:

extracting breathable air from an emergency support system by including a RIC (rapid interventions company/crew)/UAC (universal air connection) fitting to a fill location to fill a breathable air apparatus.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

pressurizing the breathable air in the emergency support system to a pressure greater than a pressure rating of the breathable air apparatus.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

adjusting a pressure of the RIC/UAC fitting by including a valve of the emergency support system to match with a threshold range the pressure rating of the breathable air apparatus.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

suspending transfer of breathable air from the source of compressed air to the emergency support system through utilizing a valve of the supply unit when necessary.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

preventing leakage of air from the emergency support system potentially leading to pressure loss of the emergency support system through utilizing a valve of the fill panel.

16. A method of safety of a mine structure, comprising:

safeguarding a filling process of a breathable air apparatus by enclosing the breathable air apparatus in a secure chamber of a fill site of the emergency support system of the building structure to provide a safe placement to supply the breathable air to the breathable air apparatus.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

ensuring that a prescribed pressure of the emergency support system maintains within a threshold range of the prescribed pressure by including a valve of the emergency support system to prevent leakage of breathable air from the emergency support system.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

maintaining the prescribed pressure of the emergency support system such that a system pressure is compatible with a breathable air apparatus through a distribution structure that is rated for use with compressed air that couples a supply unit and the fill site to transfer breathable air of a source of compressed air to the fill site.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

securing the breathable air apparatus to prevent the breathable air apparatus from injuring a user of the breathable air apparatus during the filling process of a breathable air apparatus.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

securing the breathable air apparatus to ensure that the breathable air apparatus has access to air during the filling process.

21. A method of safety of a mine structure, comprising:

safeguarding a filling process of a breathable air apparatus by enclosing the breathable air apparatus in a secure device of a fill site of the emergency support system of the building structure to provide a safe placement to supply the breathable air to the breathable air apparatus.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

securing the breathable air apparatus to prevent the breathable air apparatus from injuring a user of the breathable air apparatus during the filling process of a breathable air apparatus.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

securing the breathable air apparatus to ensure that the breathable air apparatus has access to air during the filling process.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein:

the secure device prevents the escape of the breathable air apparatus in case the breathable air apparatus is damaged during the filling process of the breathable air apparatus.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

adjusting a fill pressure to ensure that the fill pressure of the source of compressed air does not exceed the prescribed pressure of the emergency support system through a pressure regulator of the supply unit.