Safety system and method of an underground mine

• US 7,677,247 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIXON, ANNETTE FREDRICKA
• Application Number:
  US11/505,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20080041376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/201.24, 128/203.27, 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/205.26, 128/897, 128/898, 454169-172, 52/21, 521/696, 523021-3027, 521731-1733, 52 211- 226, 137/377, 137/382
• US Class Current: 128/205.26
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/02 with compressed oxygen or air
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0142 placed underground
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/025 Breathing

Abstract

A breathable air safety system and method having at least one fill site is disclosed. In one aspect, a method of safety of a mine structure is disclosed. A prescribed pressure of an emergency support system is ensured to be 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 prescribed pressure of the emergency support system is designated based on an authority agency that specifies a pressure rating of the breathable air apparatus. An air extraction process is expedited from the 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.

Claims

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

ensuring that a prescribed pressure of an 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, wherein the prescribed pressure of the emergency support system is designated based on an authority agency that specifies a pressure rating of the breathable air apparatus for a particular geographical location;

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 mine structure to provide a safe placement to supply the breathable air to the breathable air apparatus; and

providing a spare storage of breathable air through an air storage tank of a storage sub-system to store breathable air that is replenishable with a source of compressed air.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising preventing leakage of air from the emergency support system leading to a potential pressure loss of the emergency support system through utilizing a valve of any of the supply unit and the fill site.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising discontinuing transfer of breathable air from the source of compressed air to the emergency support system through utilizing a valve of the emergency support system.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically releasing breathable air from the emergency support system when the system pressure of the emergency support system exceeds the prescribed pressure through triggering a safety relief valve of any of the supply unit and the fill site.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising ensuring compatibility of the emergency support system and the source of compressed air of an authority agency through any of a CGA connector and a RIC (rapid interventions company/crew)/UAC (universal air connection) connector of the supply unit.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjust a fill pressure to ensure that the fill pressure of the source of compress air does not exceed the prescribed pressure of the emergency support system through a pressure regulator of the supply unit.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising monitoring any of the system pressure of the emergency support system and the fill pressure of the source of compressed air through the pressure gauge of the supply unit enclosure.