Means to seal-off portions of underground mines and the like

In combination with a mine passage or tunnel, means forming a barrier to prevent communication between tunnel portions on opposite sides thereof, said barrier comprising a flexible member having a continuous hollow tubular inflatable portion extending around the periphery thereof, said inflatable portion having an outer edge sized and shaped, which substantially conforms to the size and shape of the passage where the barrier is installed, said hollow tubular portion having an opposite continuous inner edge, a web of flexible material connected to said continuous inner edge of the hollow portion and extending across and closing the space defined thereby within the hollow tubular portion, means in said web operable to form an opening therethrough, means including a source of gas under pressure for use in inflating the hollow tubular portion, and means to controllably communicate the gas source to the hollow tubular portion during inflation thereof, said peripheral inflatable portion being constructed of a material capable of sealably engaging and conforming to the contour of the tunnel during inflation thereof.

Means to form a barrier in a passageway comprising a member formed of a relatively flexible material including a hollow peripheral portion forming a border thereof of a size and shape to generally conform to the size and shape of the passageway, said peripheral portion defining an enclosed space therewithin, said member also including a web portion extending across and closing the space defined within the hollow peripheral portion, means to support the member in a position extending across the passageway at a desired location, a source of gas pressure and means communicating said source to the hollow peripheral portion of the member to inflate said portion whereby said portion expands outwardly and bears against the surfaces of the passageway in which it is installed, the expansion of the hollow peripheral portion itself causing the member to bear against the surfaces of the passageway to hold the member in place, said passageway having a ceiling, and means for attaching a preselected side edge of the member to the ceiling of the passageway.

Means to form a barrier in a passageway comprising a member formed of a relatively flexible material including a hollow peripheral portion forming a border thereof of a size and shape to generally conform to the size and shape of the passageway, said peripheral portion defining an enclosed space therewithin, and said member also including a web portion extending across and closing the space defined within the hollow peripheral portion, means to support the member in a position extending across the passageway at a desired location, a source of gas pressure and means communicating said source to the hollow peripheral portion of the member to inflate said portion whereby said portion expands outwardly and bears against the surfaces of the passageway in which it is installed, the expansion of the hollow peripheral portion itself causing the member to bear against the surfaces of the passageway to hold the member in place, said member having pairs of opposed outer side edges on the hollow peripheral portion and means for attaching the outer side edges of the member to the corresponding surfaces of the passageway.

Means to form a barrier in a passageway comprising a member formed of a relatively flexible material including a hollow peripheral portion forming a border thereof of a size and shape to generally conform to the size and shape of the passageway, said peripheral portion defining an enclosed space therewithin, and said member also including a web portion extending across and closing the space defined within the hollow peripheral portion, means to support the member in a position extending across the passageway at a desired location, a source of gas pressure and means communicating said source to the hollow peripheral portion of the member to inflate said portion whereby said portion expands outwardly and bears against the surfaces of the passageway in which it is installed, the expansion of the hollow peripheral portion itself causing the member to bear against the surfaces of the passageway to hold the member in place, and means forming a frame for attaching extending around the walls of the passageway, and means mounting the flexible member in the frame.

In a mine passage or tunnel, means to construct a barrier to prevent communication between tunnel portions on opposite sides thereof, said barrier comprising a flexible member having a hollow tubular inflatable portion extending around the periphery thereof, said inflatable portion having an outer edge sized and shaped to substantially conform to the size and shape of the passage where the barrier is to be installed, said hollow tubular portion having an opposite continuous inner edge, a web of flexible material connected to said continuous inner edge of the hollow portion and extending across the space defined thereby within the hollow tubular portion, means in said web capable of forming an opening therethrough, means including a source of gas under pressure for use in inflating the hollow tubular portion, means to controllably communicate the gas source to the hollow tubular portion during inflation thereof, and means forming a frame for mounting in the passage extending around the outer edge of the hollow tubular portion of the flexible member between said member and the adjacent walls of the passage.