Mine ventilation structure and a deck panel for such a structure
First Claim
1. A mine ventilation structure comprisinga 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 to effect a transfer of a load on the deck from the one panel to the adjacent panel,wherein at least one of the tongue-and-groove connections is a tapered tongue-and-groove connection, andwherein the tongue of the at least one 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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
19 Claims
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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 to effect a transfer of a load on the deck from the one panel to the adjacent panel, wherein at least one of the tongue-and-groove connections is a tapered tongue-and-groove connection, and wherein the tongue of the at least one 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.
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8. 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 to 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, a sealant positioned in a gap between walls of the tongue and groove of the tongue-and-groove connection, the sealant comprising an elongate member of resilient material, and wherein the elongate member comprises a hollow body of rubber.
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11. A plurality of mine ventilation deck panels, each deck panel of said plurality of deck panels 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, a groove in the second side for receiving a tongue of a second adjacent deck panel alongside the second side, wherein each deck panel of the plurality of deck panels is free of any structure preventing the reception of the tongue of the deck panel in the groove of another deck panel of the plurality of deck panels, and wherein the tongue tapers toward an outer end of the tongue at a tongue angle of about 60-120 degrees.
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19. 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, wherein each 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 said tongue-and-groove connection are located closely adjacent within 0.5-1.0 in. of respective in-turned flanges.
Specification