Crib Bag
A crib bag is disclosed that includes a one-way fill valve, such as a duck bill valve, and a vent positioned at the top of the crib bag to allow venting of air from the crib bag when the bag is filled with cement compound and as the cement compound solidifies. When the mining crib bag is filled with cement compound, the one-way fill valve and the top vent prevent spillovers and associated hazards.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/560,511 filed on Nov. 16, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a crib bag for forming roof support columns for underground mining operations.
2. Related Art
Crib bags are known in the art for forming roof supports in underground mines. Crib bags are positioned at desired locations in an underground mine, and are filled while in the extended configuration with a fluid load-bearing material, such as a two-part cementation compound, which solidifies until the crib bag creates a column extending from the floor to the ceiling of the mine. A major safety concern with current crib bags is that the cement used to fill the bags is usually caustic and can be dangerous if it spills or leaks during the filling process.
Accordingly, what would be desirable, but has not yet been provided, is a crib bag which addresses the foregoing limitations of existing crib bags.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA crib bag is disclosed that includes a one-way fill valve, such as a duck bill valve, and a vent positioned at the top of the crib bag to allow venting of air from the crib bag when the bag is filled with a cement compound and when the cement compound solidifies. When the crib bag is filled with cement compound, the one-way fill valve and the vent prevent spillovers and hazards that may be associated therewith.
In one embodiment, a crib bag includes a cylindrical side wall attached to a bottom wall and a top wall. A vent is provided at the top wall, and a one-way valve is provided at an upper portion of the cylindrical side wall.
In another embodiment, a method for forming a roof support column is provided. The method includes the steps of suspending a crib bag at a location, filling a chamber of a crib bag with a load-bearing material through a one-way valve, allowing air to vent from the crib bag through a vent as the crib bag is being filled, and closing the vent when the crib bag is completely filled.
Additionally, in another embodiment, a crib bag includes a cylindrical side wall attached to a bottom wall and a top wall, and a chamber. An aperture is formed in a top wall to allow venting from the chamber. A cover is provided, the cover having a greater diameter than the aperture, the cover closing the aperture after the cylindrical side wall is filled with a load-bearing material.
The foregoing features of the invention will be apparent from the following Detailed Description of the Invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention relates to a crib bag for forming roof support columns in underground mines.
The top wall 16 of the crib bag 10 can be hung from a ceiling of a mine using the lifting lugs 22a, 22b so that the crib bag 10 hangs downwardly and is allowed to extend such that the bottom wall 18 is proximate to or contacts a floor of the mine when the bag 10 is extended. The crib bag 10 is then filled with a load-bearing material, such as cement or a cement compound, until the load-bearing material fills the chamber of the crib bag 10, creating a column extending between the floor and ceiling of the mine.
The valve 26 for introducing the cement/cement compound into the crib bag 10 is shown in greater detail in
The check valve assembly could be hand screwed together during production. A cement supply hose could be attached using an over center cam lock device when installed underground.
Having thus described the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the foregoing Detailed Description of the invention is not intended to limit the spirit or scope thereof What is desired to be protected is set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A crib bag comprising:
- a cylindrical side wall attached to a bottom wall and a top wall;
- a vent at the top wall; and
- a one-way valve at an upper portion of the cylindrical side wall.
2. The crib bag of claim 1 wherein the vent comprises an aperture in the top wall and a cover partially attached to an internal side of the top wall.
3. The crib bag of claim 1 wherein the one-way valve comprises a duck bill valve.
4. The crib bag of claim 1 wherein the one-way valve comprises a body having a flexible v-shaped insert.
5. The crib bag of claim 4 wherein the flexible v-shaped insert allows material to flow through the one-way valve and into the crib bag.
6. The crib bag of claim 5 wherein the flexible v-shaped insert prevents material from flowing out of the crib bag.
7. The crib bag of claim 2 wherein the cover has a greater diameter than the aperture.
8. The crib bag of claim 7, wherein the cover is partially attached to the top wall by a plurality of welds extending from a peripheral edge of the cover to an edge of the aperture.
9. The crib bag of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of welds is evenly spaced and radially aligned.
10. The crib bag of claim 7, wherein the vent is self-closing and allows air to escape when the crib bag is being filled.
11. The crib bag of claim 10, wherein the cover cooperates with the top wall to close the vent.
12. The crib bag of claim 11, wherein the cover is moved against the top wall when the crib bag is completely filled, thereby closing the vent.
13. A method for forming a roof support column, the method comprising the steps of:
- suspending a crib bag at a location;
- filling a chamber of a crib bag with a load-bearing material through a one-way valve;
- allowing air to vent from the crib bag through a vent as the crib bag is being filled; and
- closing the vent when the crib bag is completely filled.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of allowing air to vent from the crib bag comprises allowing venting of air through a self-closing aperture.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of closing the vent comprises moving a cover against the aperture.
16. A crib bag comprising:
- a cylindrical side wall attached to a bottom wall and a top wall, the cylindrical side wall having a chamber;
- an aperture formed in the top wall to allow venting from the chamber; and
- a cover having a greater diameter than the aperture, the cover closing the aperture after the cylindrical side wall is filled with a load-bearing material.
17. The crib bag of claim 16, further comprising a one-way valve at an upper portion of the cylindrical side wall.
18. The crib bag of claim 17 wherein the cover is partially attached to an inside surface of the top wall.
19. The crib bag of claim 18 wherein the aperture is self-closing.
20. The crib bag of claim 19 wherein the one-way valve comprises a body having a flexible v-shaped insert.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 16, 2012
Publication Date: May 16, 2013
Applicant: DU TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (Moonachie, NJ)
Inventor: DU Technologies, Inc. (Moonachie, NJ)
Application Number: 13/679,293