Passive explosion barrier

Apparatus mountable to first and second spaced apart beams adjacent a mine roof for suppressing explosions, comprising:

• a receptacle for storing an explosion suppressing material;
• first and second face plates pivotally attached respectively to opposite sides of said receptacle, each of said plates having a support flange formed thereon for mounting said plates respectively on said first and second beams;
• each of said face plates being pivotable from a first position to a second position in response to the force of wind generated by an explosion, each of said face plates forming a first angle with a horizontal plane in said first position, said flanges being separated from each other by a distance sufficient for mounting said flanges respectively on said first and second beams;
• each of said face plates forming a second angle with the horizontal plane in a second position, said second angle being larger than said first angle;
• and
• said receptacle being released from said beams in response to either of said first and second face plates being pivoted into said second position.

A passive explosion barrier mountable to first and second spaced apart beams adjacent a mine roof, comprising:

• a receptacle for storing an explosion suppressing substance, one side of said receptacle having a first support flange for mounting said side on said first beam;
• a face plate pivotally attached to the opposite side of said receptacle, said plate having a second support flange for mounting said opposite side on said second beam;
• said face plate forming a first oblique angle with a horizontal plane in a first position, said first and second flanges spaced apart from each other by a distance sufficient for mounting said flanges respectively on said first and second beams, static friction formed between said second flange and said second beam preventing accidental pivoting of said face plate;
• said oblique face plate being pivoted toward said opposite side of said receptacle under the force of horizontal wind flow against said face plate, said wind flow providing force components for lifting said second flange from said second beam reducing said static friction therebetween, and pivoting said face plate toward said opposite side of said receptacle, the pivoting of said face plate releasing said opposite side of said receptacle from said second beam, said wind force temporarily maintaining said first flange in contact with said first beam to impart rotation to said receptacle.