MINE VENTILATION STRUCTURE AND A DECK PANEL FOR SUCH A STRUCTURE

• US 20150315911A1
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Published: 11/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jack Kennedy Metal Products & Buildings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jack Kennedy Metal Products & Buildings, Inc.
• Inventors: Kennedy, William R., Kennedy, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,447,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 1/04 Air ducts suspension devices E21F17/02
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 1/14 Air partitions; Air locks E21F1/003 takes precedence; dams E21F17/103; air locks for foundations E02D
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 1/16 Shaft covers

Abstract

A mine ventilation structure is disclosed. The structure comprises a deck including a plurality of elongate sheet metal panels. Each panel is generally of inverted channel shape in transverse cross-section, having a top web and first and second sides extending down from the top web. The panels are connected by tongue-and-groove connections between adjacent sides of adjacent panels. A mine ventilation deck panel of desired construction is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A mine ventilation structure comprising

a deck including a plurality of elongate sheet metal panels,

each panel being generally of inverted channel shape in transverse cross-section, the panel having a top web and first and second sides extending down from the top web,

the panels extending alongside one another and the top webs of the panels forming a deck surface,

tongue-and-groove connections between adjacent sides of adjacent panels,

each tongue-and-groove connection comprising a tongue formed in a first side of one panel received in a groove formed in a second side of an adjacent panel.

2. The mine ventilation structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of the tongue-and-groove connections is a tapered tongue-and-groove connection.

3. The mine ventilation structure of claim 2, wherein the tongue of the tapered tongue-and-groove connection tapers toward an outer end of the tongue at a tongue taper angle in the range of about 60-120 degrees.

4. The mine ventilation structure of claim 2, wherein the groove of the tapered tongue-and-groove connection tapers toward an inner end of the groove at a groove taper angle substantially the same as the tongue taper angle.

5. The mine ventilation structure of claim 3, wherein the tongue and groove of each panel of said plurality of panels are located below a neutral axis of the panel.

6. The mine ventilation structure of claim 5, wherein each panel of said plurality of panels further comprises in-turned flanges at lower ends of the first and second sides of the panel, and wherein the tongue and groove of the panel are located closely adjacent respective in-turned flanges.

7. The mine ventilation structure of claim 1, wherein the tongue and groove of each panel of said plurality of panels are located below a neutral axis of the panel.

8. The mine ventilation structure of claim 7, wherein each panel of said plurality of panels further comprises in-turned flanges at lower ends of the first and second sides of the panel, and wherein the tongue and groove of the panel are located closely adjacent respective in-turned flanges.

9. The mine ventilation structure of claim 1, wherein each panel is made of sheet metal, wherein the tongue comprises upper and lower walls projecting outward from the first side of the panel from an inner end of the tongue to a tongue end wall at an outer end of the tongue, and wherein the groove comprises upper and lower walls extending inward from the second side of the panel from an open outer end of the groove to a groove end wall at an inner end of the groove.

10. The mine ventilation structure of claim 2, further comprising a sealant positioned in a gap between walls of the tongue and groove of the tapered tongue-and-groove connection.

11. The mine ventilation structure of claim 10, wherein the sealant comprises an elongate member of resilient material.

12. The mine ventilation structure of claim 11, wherein the elongate member comprises a hollow body of rubber.

13. The mine ventilation structure of claim 12, wherein the hollow body is tubular.

14. The mine ventilation structure of claim 12, wherein the hollow body is adhesively secured to an end wall of the groove of the tongue-and-groove connection.

15. A mine ventilation deck panel, said deck panel being generally of inverted channel shape in transverse cross-section and comprising

a top web,

first and second sides extending down from the top web,

a tongue on the first side for reception in a groove of a first adjacent deck panel alongside the first side, and

a groove in the second side for receiving a tongue of a second adjacent deck panel alongside the second side.

16. The mine ventilation deck panel of claim 15, wherein the tongue and groove are tapered.

17. The mine ventilation deck panel of claim 16 wherein the tongue has a tongue taper angle in the range of 60-120 degrees.

18. The mine ventilation deck panel of claim 17, wherein the groove has a groove taper angle substantially the same as the tongue taper angle.

19. The mine ventilation deck panel of claim 17, wherein the tongue and groove are located below a neutral axis of the panel.

20. The mine ventilation deck panel of claim 19, wherein the panel further comprises in-turned flanges at lower ends of the first and second sides of the panel, and wherein tongue and groove of the panel are located closely adjacent respective in-turned flanges.

21. The mine ventilation deck panel of claim 15, wherein the tongue and groove are located below a neutral axis of the panel.

22. The mine ventilation deck panel of claim 21, wherein the panel further comprises in-turned flanges at lower ends of the first and second sides of the panel, and wherein the tongue and groove of the panel are located closely adjacent respective in-turned flanges.

23. The mine ventilation deck panel of claim 15, wherein the deck panel is made of sheet metal, wherein the tongue comprises upper and lower walls projecting outward from the first side of the panel to a tongue end wall, and the groove comprises upper and lower walls extending inward from said second side of the panel to a groove end wall.

24. A mine ventilation structure comprising

a deck including a plurality of elongate sheet metal panels,

each panel being generally of inverted channel shape in transverse cross-section, the panel having a top web, first and second sides extending down from the top web, and in-turned flanges at lower ends of the first and second sides of the panel,

the panels extending alongside one another and the top webs of the panels forming a deck surface,

tongue-and-groove connections between adjacent sides of adjacent panels,

each tongue-and-groove connection comprising a tongue formed in a first side of one panel received in a groove formed in a second side of an adjacent panel,

the tongue-and-groove connections being configured such that a portion of a vertical component of a vertical load placed on the deck is changed to a horizontal component for reducing stress resulting from the vertical load on the in-turned flanges of at least one of the panels.