Method and apparatus for use in stope backfill mining
AssigneeM2P Engineering Pty Ltd
InventorAdam BESWICK
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for forming a passage in stope backfill material includes steps of: a) providing an expandable void forming apparatus at a lower level relative to an unexcavated stope; b) expanding the void forming apparatus, such that a substantially liquid-impermeable seal is formed between the void forming apparatus and the unexcavated stope; c) pouring backfill material into a void formed by the excavation of a stope adjacent to the unexcavated stope, and allowing the backfill material to at least partially cure such that the void forming apparatus forms a passage between the unexcavated stope and the backfill material; and d) contracting the void forming apparatus and removing the void forming apparatus from the passage.
Claims19
A method for forming a passage in stope backfill material, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an expandable void forming apparatus at a lower level relative to an unexcavated stope;
- b) expanding the void forming apparatus, such that a substantially liquid-impermeable seal is formed between the void forming apparatus and the unexcavated stope;
- c) pouring backfill material into a void formed by the excavation of a stope adjacent to the unexcavated stope, and allowing the backfill material to at least partially cure such that the void forming apparatus forms a passage between the unexcavated stope and the backfill material;
- and
- d) contracting the void forming apparatus and removing the void forming apparatus from the passage.
A method for forming a slot void in stope backfill material, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an expandable barrier member configured to extend upwardly from or adjacent a lower level relative to an unexcavated towards an upper level relative to the unexcavated stope,
- b) expanding the barrier member, such that a substantially liquid-impermeable seal is formed between the barrier and the unexcavated stope;
- c) pouring backfill material into a void formed by the excavation of a stope adjacent to the unexcavated stope, and allowing the backfill material to at least partially cure such that the barrier member forms a slot void between the unexcavated stope and the backfill material;
- and
- d) contracting the barrier member and removing the barrier member from the slot void.
A void forming apparatus for forming a void in stope backfill material, the apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable member;
- an outer layer at least partially surrounding the inflatable member;
- and
- wherein the inflatable member is inflatable between a contracted condition and an expanded condition in which the void forming apparatus forms a substantially continuous void forming surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.