US 5,909,777 A · Method and apparatus for stopping the spread of a fire in an underground mine

Abstract

An assembled length of water pipe sections having a nozzle pipe section at an inby end is moved from a crosscut of a mine into a mine entry to stop the advance of a fire in the entry without requiring firefighters to be positioned in the fire entry. The nozzle pipe section is moved across the entry to a position adjacent to an opposite entry sidewall. The nozzle pipe section is connected at an outby end in the crosscut by assembled sections of extension water pipes to a water feedline. Water under pressure is supplied through the extension pipes to the nozzle pipe section and discharged from the nozzles to generate a series of intersecting sprays directed at selected angles in a range between about 0.degree. to 90.degree. in the entry, forming a water curtain the complete height and width of the entry. Deflected water sprays from the sidewalls and mine roof combine with the upward water sprays to form a curtain of water extending across the path of the advancing fire and into contact with roof bolts supporting the mine roof above the entry. The water spray prevents the roof bolts from being heated to an elevated temperature which can cause a loss of anchorage of the bolts in the mine roof. The water curtain also cools the hot gases generated by the fire to stop advance of the fire beyond the curtain so that the fire can be contained and extinguished.

Claims27

Dependent claims

Apparatus for stopping spread of a fire in an underground mine, the apparatus comprising:

a pipe assembly formed of connected pipe sections of preselected lengths for positioning in the underground mine, said pipe assembly having inby and outby opposite end portions,
means for supporting said pipe assembly for movement of said inby end portion on a floor of the mine to a preselected position therein,
said outby end portion of said pipe assembly being connected to a source of water under pressure to be supplied to said pipe assembly,
said pipe assembly inby end portion being a nozzle pipe section having a plurality of outlets extending through a top surface thereof, said outlets being positioned in spaced relation on said nozzle pipe section, and
a plurality of spray nozzles connected to said outlets for receiving the pressurized water flowing through said pipe assembly and discharging the water in a spray pattern therefrom, said spray nozzles generating a patterned spray of water projecting upwardly from said nozzle pipe section to form a curtain of water in a preselected orientation to prevent the fire in the underground mine from spreading beyond the curtain of water.

2 more elements

A method for stopping spread of a fire in an underground mine the method comprising the steps of:

advancing a preselected length of a nozzle pipe along a floor of the mine to a preselected position therein,
connecting spray nozzles to a plurality of outlets positioned in spaced relation on a section of the nozzle pipe and extending through a top of the nozzle pipe,
supplying water under pressure through the nozzle pipe,
directing a flow of the water under pressure from the nozzle pipe through the outlets to the spray nozzles,
discharging the water under pressure in a spray pattern from the spray nozzles,
casting the spray pattern of the water upwardly from the nozzle pipe to form a curtain of water along the length of the nozzle pipe in a preselected orientation, and
preventing the fire from spreading in the underground mine beyond the curtain of water.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for stopping the spread of a fire in an underground mine

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for stopping the spread of a fire in an underground mine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27