Abstract: A mine stopping installed in a mine passageway includes a plurality of elongate panels extending generally vertically in side-by-side relation from a floor to a roof of the passageway to at least partially close the passageway. A generally horizontal elongate brace extends generally between the walls of the passageway adjacent to the panels. A generally vertical column extends from the floor to the roof and is adapted for reinforcing the brace. Braces and anchor beams for stoppings are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mine stopping installed in a mine passageway includes a lower tier of elongate panels extending generally vertically in side-by-side relation from a floor of the passageway. Each panel of the lower tier has a lower end adjacent the floor and an upper end spaced from a roof of the passageway. An upper tier of elongate panels extends generally vertically in side-by-side relation from the lower tier of panels to the roof. An upper end of each upper tier panel is adjacent the roof and a lower end of each upper tier panel abuts the upper end of respective lower tier panels. An elongate brace is connected to at least one of the lower and upper tiers for reinforcing the stopping against deflection and for inhibiting lateral movement of the lower tier panels relative to the upper tier panels. A method of installing a multiple tier stopping is also disclosed.

Abstract: A power mine door installation utilizing compressed air from the compressed air system available in the mine as the power source for a hydraulic door-operating mechanism.

Abstract: A mine ventilation structure with a deck made up of panels of inverted channel shape modified to be of relatively light weight yet strong.

Abstract: A power mine door installation utilizing compressed air from the compressed air system available in the mine as the power source for a hydraulic door-operating mechanism.

Abstract: A mine door leaf of hollow construction with the hollow infilled with a fluent filling material which, when solidified, attaches to the enclosing components of the door leaf.

Abstract: A mine stopping installed in a mine passageway includes a rigid wall extending across the passageway to close the passageway. The wall includes a first wall section extending from one side of the passageway at a first angle and a second wall section extending from an opposite side of the passageway at an oblique angle relative to the opposite side such that the wall sections are arranged in a non-coplanar, non-parallel relationship with respect to one another. A method of installation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A portable wall section for incorporation in a mine stopping or for use as a mine permanent stopping or seal form, comprising vertically extensible panels secured in side-by-side relation, a stopping installed in a mine, a stopping system utilizing one or more of said sections, and methods of installing the stopping and form.

Abstract: A mine stopping installed in a mine passageway having air flowing through the passageway in a first direction includes a rigid wall extending across the passageway to close the passageway and an opening in the wall to permit the passage of air therethrough. The wall extends between the opening and one side of the passageway at an oblique angle with respect to the direction of air flow through the passageway whereby air flowing through the passageway strikes the wall at the oblique angle thereby to reduce the dynamic air pressure exerted on said wall.

Abstract: A mine door system including at least two doors positioned in a mine passageway in spaced relation forming an airlock. The doors include at least one leaf movable between open and closed positions to allow passage into and out of the airlock. A control system controls operation of leaf movement actuators such that in normal operation, at least one door is always closed to control flow of air in the mine. A power source is included to effect movement of the leafs by the actuators.

Abstract: A method of supporting opposite first and second walls of a mine passageway includes providing an elongate beam having opposite first and second ends and a longitudinal axis. The beam is configured to have substantial columnar strength for bearing a substantial longitudinal load applied to the beam generally longitudinally of the beam and substantial bending strength for bearing a substantial transverse load applied to the beam generally transversely of the beam. The method further includes selecting first and second locations on the first and second walls, respectively, providing suitable areas for supporting the first and second walls, and positioning the first end of the beam at the first location and the second end of the beam at the second location so that the beam extends between the first and second walls of the mine passageway.

Abstract: A method of sealing off a mine passageway. The method involves installing a plurality of vertical panels side by side across the passageway to form a stopping. The stopping has gaps between adjacent panels and gaps between the panels and adjacent mine surfaces defining the mine passageway. The method further comprises holding an injector in or closely adjacent the gaps, and injecting a fluent sealing material under pressure into the gaps to form a seal.

Abstract: A mine roof support designed to extend vertically in a mine passageway. The support includes a containment structure having at least two telescoping containment members freely telescopically movable relative to one another, and a filler material introducible into the containment structure to form a column of material extending vertically in the passageway. Each containment member defines an interior space for receiving the filler material. The material is hardenable inside the containment structure to form a yieldable column whereby in the event of a mine convergence, the yieldable material yields while providing continued support and the telescoping containment members move freely relative to one another to permit such yielding without damage to the containment structure. A method of installing such a roof support is also disclosed.

Abstract: A stopping system for use in mines. The stopping system includes a king post truss for reinforcing the stopping panels against excessive deflection due to a pressure differential across the stopping panels. The truss has a variable length to accommodate convergence and divergence of the mine walls on which the truss is mounted.

Abstract: A tunnel-forming overcast structure for incorporation in the installation of an overcast construction at the intersection of two intersecting passages in a mine, each passage constituting an airway for flow of air for mine ventilation having an upstream and a downstream mouth at the intersection. The structure includes a pair of generally parallel side walls each having a top and a deck extending from the top of one of the side walls to the top of the other side wall and connected to the side walls. Each side wall comprises a plurality of elongate generally vertically extensible panels extending generally vertically in side-by-side relation. Each panel includes an upper member and a lower member, one of the members having a sliding fit in the other. The lower members are in a relatively non-extensible position with respect to the upper members in the structure and are ultimately extensible for completing walling off of the upstream and downstream mouths of one of the airways.

Abstract: An overcast system for a mine is disclosed. The system includes and overcast positioned at an intersection of mine passageways and operable to direct airflow through the passageways in a desired flow pattern at the intersection. Stairways are positioned adjacent opposite sides of the overcast providing a means for people to traverse between the opposite sides of the overcast. The stairways are self adjusting to accommodate overcasts of different heights while providing generally horizontal steps. The stairways are constructed with knockdown assembly means to provide for easy assembly and disassembly in the mine.

Abstract: A permanent mine stopping comprising two spaced-apart metal walls with a filling in the space therebetween keyed or adhesively bonded to the walls and having sufficient strength in tension to constitute the walls and the filling as a permanently integrated composite structure in which the walls act as flanges in conjunction with the filling as a web. Also, a method of constructing the stopping using extensible panels to construct the walls, and an extensible panel for use in constructing a stopping with the keying.

Abstract: A mine stopping comprising a wall extending across a passageway in a mine to close the passageway. The wall has an opening therein. A door is hinged adjacent the opening for swinging between a closed position in which the door closes the opening to inhibit the passage of air therethrough, a first open position in which the door is moved in one direction away from the closed position, and a second open position in which the door is swung in an opposite direction away from the closed position. The door is movable to either of the first and second open positions when the door is subjected to substantial concussive air pressure thereby to permit concussive air to pass through the opening in both directions.

Abstract: A door system for closing a doorway in a mine stopping includes a door hinged adjacent the doorway for swinging relative to the stopping between a closed position and an open position. A keeper is mounted in fixed position relative to the doorway. A latch mechanism is cooperable with the keeper for latching the door in its closed position. The latch mechanism has a detent portion and is operable to move the detent portion between a latching position in which the detent portion engages the keeper for latching the door closed, and an unlatching position in which the detent portion is disengaged from the keeper for allowing the door to be opened.

Abstract: A mine door system adapted for installation and a passageway in a mine, comprising a door frame adapted to be installed in the passageway and defining a doorway spaced below a ceiling of the passageway and mine door hingedly mounted on the door frame for movement between open and closed positions. The system further comprises a top panel structure for substantially closing the space between the door frame and the ceiling of the passageway, the top panel structure being readily contractible heightwise of the passageway without loss of its structural integrity to accommodate a convergence of the ceiling and floor of the passageway without any substantial heightwise deformation of the door frame.