Mine Refuge

• US 20070199244A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jack Kennedy Metal Products and Buildings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kennedy Metal Products & Buildings, Inc.
• Inventors: Kennedy, William R., Kennedy, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/70
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 9/12 entirely underneath the level of the ground, e.g. air-raid galleries

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.

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; and

a 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.