Mine Emergency Refuge Systems
AssigneeParagon Space Development Corporation
InventorsTaber K. MacCallum, Barry Wynns Finger, David Zuniga, Brian F. Richardson, Jason H. Brockbank, Stephanie Sharo Chiesi, Tyler M. Ball
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An emergency refuge system relating to improved occupant access and air revitalization.
Claims33
1) A system, relating to reducing contamination potential in a first area adjacent to a second area, which is potentially contaminable, while permitting passage of at least one object from the second area to the first area, comprising:
- a) at least one first separator to separate the first area from the second area;
- b) wherein said at least one first separator comprises;
- i) at least one deformable separator region structured and arranged to deform under at least one force load applied to said at least one first separator by the at least one object,
- ii) at least one passageway structured and arranged to permit passing the at least one object through said at least one first separator on sufficient deformation of said at least one deformable separator region, and
- iii) at least one deformation corrector structured and arranged to correct such deformation sufficiently to restore the separating of said at least one first separator;
- c) wherein said at least one first separator comprises at least one fluid-inflatable bladder to assist such deformation and such deformation-correction;
- and
- d) wherein said at least one first separator provides reduced contamination potential in the first area adjacent to the second area, which is potentially contaminable, while permitting passage of the at least one object from the second area to the first area when the second area may actually contain contamination.
26) A mine emergency refuge system, for providing at least one protective enclosure as a refuge for one or more mine personnel during a period of mine contamination in a mine emergency, comprising:
- a) at least one separator structured and arranged to separate at least one contaminable mine area from at least one adjacent mine refuge area;
- b) wherein said at least one separator comprises
- i) at least one deformable separator region structured and arranged to deform under at least one force load applied to said at least one separator by the one or more mine personnel,
- ii) at least one passageway structured and arranged to permit passing the one or more mine personnel through said at least one separator on sufficient deformation of said at least one deformable separator region, and
- iii) at least one deformation corrector structured and arranged to correct such deformation sufficiently to restore the separating of said at least one separator;
- and
- c) wherein said at least one separator provides reduced contamination potential in the at least one mine refuge area adjacent to the at least one contaminable mine area while permitting passage of the one or more mine personnel from the at least one contaminated mine area to the at least one mine refuge area.
30) A system, relating to reducing contamination potential in a first area adjacent to a contaminated second area while permitting passage of at least one object from the contaminated second area to the first area, comprising:
- a) separator means for separating the first area from the contaminated second area;
- b) wherein said separator means comprises;
- i) deformable-passage means for deforming said separator means sufficiently to permit passing the at least one object through the separator means, and
- ii) deformation-correction means for correcting such deforming sufficiently to restore the separating of said separator means;
- c) wherein said separator means comprises sufficient-fluid containment means for providing sufficient-fluid containing to assist said deformable-passage means and said deformation-correction means;
- and
- d) wherein such system provides such reducing contamination potential in the first area adjacent to the contaminated second area while permitting passage of the at least one object from the contaminated second area to the first area.
32) A system relating to reducing cross contamination during passage of at least one person or object through a passageway extending between an enclosable life-supporting refuge and least one contaminated environment, said system comprising:
- a) at least one air-inflatable separator to separate the enclosable life-supporting refuge and the least one contaminated environment;
- b) wherein said at least one air-inflatable separator comprises at least one air-inflatable tube having at least one flexible outer wall;
- c) wherein said at least one air-inflatable tube, when inflated, is structured and arranged to be sufficiently deformable during application of at least one manually-applied load to form at least one passageway to permit passing the at least one person or object through said at least one air inflatable separator;
- d) wherein said at least one air inflatable tube, when inflated, comprises at least one deformation corrector to correct such deformation sufficiently to restore the separating of said at least one air inflatable separator;
- e) wherein at least one portion of said at least one flexible outer wall comprises at least one air-permeable material to permit permeation of air from an interior of said at least one air inflatable tube through such at least one portion of said at least one flexible outer wall;
- and
- f) wherein said at least one air-inflatable separator, when inflated, provides reduced contamination potential in the enclosable life-supporting refuge while permitting passage of the at least one person or object from the least one contaminated environment to the enclosable life-supporting refuge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.