U.S. patent number 3,844,248 [Application Number 05/362,750] was granted by the patent office on 1974-10-29 for devices and processes for warning against impending rockfalls in underground excavation.
Invention is credited to Jack Parker.
United States Patent |
3,844,248 |
Parker |
October 29, 1974 |
DEVICES AND PROCESSES FOR WARNING AGAINST IMPENDING ROCKFALLS IN
UNDERGROUND EXCAVATION
Abstract
Warning of an impending roof fall in a mine or the like is given
by a normally inactive chemiluminescent unit that includes two
isolated reactive components, which when mixed in response to the
mechanical deformation that precedes a roof fall, produce
chemiluminescent light that serves as a warning. An assemblage
containing the isolated reactive components is retained at the
lower opening of vertical bore hole in the mine roof, in which a
tie extends through an intermediate fracture region between a
secure rock region above to the warning assemblage. Preliminary
sagging of the intermediate fracture region causes deformation of
the assemblage and mixing of its chemiluminescent components. The
resulting chemiluminescent glow serves as a warning of an impending
rock fall to any miner or other person in the vicinity.
Inventors: |
Parker; Jack (White Pine,
MI) |
Family
ID: |
23427391 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/362,750 |
Filed: |
May 22, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
116/202; 116/212;
362/34 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21F
17/185 (20130101); G01B 11/16 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01B
11/16 (20060101); E21F 17/00 (20060101); E21F
17/18 (20060101); G01d 021/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;116/114R,DIG.34 ;85/62
;252/188.3 ;240/2.25 ;206/84 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Capozi; Louis J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Morse, Altman, Oates &
Bello
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An alarm for warning of possible roof fall in an excavation,
said alarm comprising: a chemiluminescent unit including at least a
first container means, at least a first chemical reagent within
said first container means, at least a second container means, at
least a second chemical reagent within said second container means,
said first container means and said second container means being in
contiguity, the interiors of said first container means and said
second container means being in communication for mixing said first
chemical reagent and said second chemical reagent when subjected to
an applied force, said first chemical reagent and said second
chemical reagent being inactive when separate and being active when
mixed to produce chemiluminescent light; anchor means for
connection to a mine roof; and tie means extending between and
mechanically connecting said anchor means and said chemiluminescent
unit; whereby deformation of said chemiluminescent unit as a result
of tension in said tie means as a result of said applied force
causes mixture of said first chemical reagent and said second
chemical reagent.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein one of said container means is
positioned within the other of said container means in such a way
as to isolate said first chemical reagent from said second chemical
reagent.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein said one of said container means
is rupturable.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said first chemical reagent is an
oxalic compound.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein said second chemical reagent is a
peroxide compound.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein said anchor means includes a pair
of oppositely directed wedges.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein said anchor means includes a pair
of oppositely directed wedges, one of said wedges having a
converging flat surface directed upwardly and the other of said
wedges having a converging flat surface directed downwardly, said
tie means being connected to said second of said wedges.
8. An alarm for warning of possible roof fall in an excavation,
said alarm comprising: a chemiluminescent unit including at least
first container means, at least a first chemical reagent within
said first container means, at least second container means, at
least a second chemical reagent within said second container means,
said first container means and said second container means being in
contiguity, the interiors of said first container means and said
second container means being in communication for mixing said first
chemical reagent and said second chemical reagent when subjected to
an applied force, said first chemical reagent and said second
chemical reagent being inactive when separate and being active when
mixed to produce chemiluminescent light; anchor means for
connection to a mine roof; and tie means extending between and
mechanically connecting said anchor means and said chemiluminescent
unit; whereby deformation of said chemiluminescent unit as a result
of tension in said tie means causes mixture of said first chemical
reagent and said second chemical reagent; one of said container
means being positioned within the other of said container means in
such a way as to isolate said first chemical reagent from said
second chemical reagent; said one of said container means being
rupturable; said anchor means including a pair of oppositely
directed wedges, one of said wedges having a converging flat
surface directed upwardly and the other of said wedges having a
converging flat surface directed downwardly, said tie means being
connected to said of said wedges; said one of said container means
and said other of said container means being paraxial.
9. The alarm of claim 8 wherein one of said chemical reagents is an
oxalic compound.
10. The alarm of claim 8 wherein one of said chemical reagents is a
peroxide compound.
11. An alarm for warning of possible roof fall in an excavation,
said alarm comprising:
a. an outer elongated container composed of a light transmitting,
flexible polymeric material;
b. an inner elongated container within said first elongated
container and composed of a frangible vitreous material;
c. a first liquid in one of said outer elongated container and said
inner elongated container;
d. a second liquid in the other of said outer elongated container
and said inner elongated container;
e. one of said first liquid and said second liquid containing an
oxalic acid ester;
f. the other of said first liquid and said second liquid containing
a peroxide;
g. said inner container being paraxially and fixedly located within
said outer container, predetermined flexing of said outer
containing causing rupture of said inner container;
h. an anchor for affixation within an elongated bore in a mine
roof;
i. said anchor including a pair of oppositely directed wedges
having inner flat surfaces and outer curved surfaces, said flat
surfaces being operationally contiguous with each other and said
curved surfaces being operationally remote from each other;
j. and an elongated flexible tension cord having an upper extremity
and a lower extremity, said upper extremity being connected to one
of said wedges, said lower extremity being connected to said outer
elongated container;
k. whereby when said anchor is fixed within the upper extremity of
said elongated bore in said mine roof and said outer elongated
container is in abutment against said mine roof at the lower
extremity of said elongated bore in said mine roof, predetermined
movement of said mine roof causes flexing of said outer elongated
container, breaking of said inner elongated container, mixing of
said oxalic acid ester and said peroxide, and emission of
luminescent light from said outer elongated container.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to roof fall warning devices for use
in mines and other excavations, and, more particularly, to roof
fall warning devices which produce an alarm in response to the
earliest signs of rock movement that normally precede a roof
fall.
2. The Prior Art
Many people are injured or killed by roof falls underground in
mines, tunnels and the like, usually because they are too busy to
notice the earliest signs of rock movement that usually precede a
roof fall. The number of accidents would be greatly reduced if
workers had nothing to do but sit quietly, listen and watch.
Preceding a roof failure, they would see small dribbles of rock and
would hear creaks, groans, and bumps. They would have adequate time
to leave safely. Most mine accidents could be avoided if it were
feasible to mine only strong underground regions and to design
prohibitively large safety factors into desired support systems.
Ordinarily such procedures are uneconomic. Unfortunately for
miners, the best ore often is found in the worst ground since
fracturing usually is a prerequisite of ore deposition. Actually,
the large safety factors which are incorporated into ordinary
operations are an admission of ignorance in connection with
conditions that are considered unpredictable. There is a need for
"distant early warning roof fall" indicators capable of warning
miners of roof rock movements even when they are busy and cannot
hear well above operating noise. Given such an indicator capable of
detecting and warning of impending falls of roof, work could
proceed with minimal support until it was indicated that a certain
area was in danger of falling. At that point, this particular area
could be either supported or evacuated. Mining decisions then could
be made rationally on the basis of assessable facts.
Various types of "distant early warning roof fall" indicators have
been proposed. Such indicators include depth gauges or
extensometers attached to dial indicators, horns or lights. Such
indicators often require electrical power and electronic monitoring
equipment. The presence of electrical power is sometimes dangerous
because of the possible presence of explosive gasses and such
monitoring equipment sometimes is not efficacious because it
requires the attention of trained technicians.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to provide devices
and processes in which warning of an impending roof fall in a mine
or the like is given by a normally inactive chemiluminescent unit
that is mechanically activated as a result of the structural
deformation that precedes a roof fall. The unit includes two or
more initially isolated reactive components, which, when mixed
produce chemiluminescent light. Preferably, these components
include: (1) an oxalic acid ester; and (2) a peroxide. An
assemblage containing these isolated reactive components is
retained at the lower opening of a hole in the mine roof, vertical
or otherwise, in which a tie extends through an intermediate
fractured region between a relatively secure rock region above to
the warning assemblage. Preliminary sagging of the intermediate
fractured region causes deformation of the assemblage, and mixing
of its chemiluminescent components. The resulting chemiluminescent
glow serves as a warning of an impending rock fall to any miner or
other person in the vicinity.
Other objects of the present invention will in part be obvious and
will in part appear hereinafter.
The invention accordingly comprises the processes and devices,
together with their steps, components, and interrelationships,
which are exemplified in the present disclosure, the scope of which
will be indicated in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present
invention, reference is to be made to the following detailed
description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a mine tunnel, with its roof
intact, illustrating the position of a warning device in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the mine tunnel of FIG. 1 just
prior to a roof fall, illustrating the position of the warning
device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3A, 3B and 3C are detail views of successive steps in the
process of using the device of FIG. 1, which is shown partly broken
away for clarity;
FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a component of a device of FIG. 3 in
one mode;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the component of FIG. 4 in position
within the bore hole of a mine roof in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the component of FIG. 4 in another
mode;
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the component of FIG. 6, in position
within another bore hole of a mine roof in accordance with the
present invention; and
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a mine, to which a
plurality of the devices of FIG. 1 are applied in accordance with
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 illustrates an underground tunnel 20 having a floor 22 and a
roof 24, above which is an overburden 26. In accordance with the
present invention, a bore hole 28 is drilled upwardly to a point at
which solid rock typically can be assured. Typically the bore hole
is of a length ranging in excess of 1 foot. Next, by means of an
elongated rod, an anchor 30 is interjected upwardly to the upper
end of bore hole 28, with a tie 32 extending downwardly through the
bore hole and outwardly through the opening of the bore hole at
roof 24. Typically: tie 32 is a wire, for example, composed of
steel, which extends from anchor 30 outwardly from bore hole 28; or
includes a rod, for example composed of steel, that extends from
anchor 30 a part of the length of the bore hole and a wire, for
example, composed of steel, that extends from the lower end of the
rod outwardly from the bore hole. In a preferred form, the wire is
threaded through a hole in anchor 30 and its both depending lengths
extend outwardly from bore hole 28. Next, chemiluminescent unit 34,
which is in the form of an elongated tube as shown in FIG. 3A, is
positioned against roof 24 at bore hole 28 and, in the preferred
form, both depending lengths of wire 32 are wrapped first around
the tube as shown in FIG. 3B and then are twisted about themselves
as shown in FIG. 3C. Initially, chemiluminescent unit 34 is
inactive as in FIG. 1. However, when there is a roof sag as in FIG.
2 so that some parting of the overburden occurs as at 37, the
slight downward motion of roof 24 causes flexure of the outer
container and rupture of the inner container. Consequent activation
of chemiluminescent unit 34 occurs so that a bright light is
emitted. This bright light can be seen by any worker in its
vicinity within the mine or other excavation.
As shown in FIG. 3A, chemiluminescent unit 34 comprises an outer
flexible plastic (i.e., polymeric) tubular container 36 that is
either transparent or translucent. Within tubular container 36 is a
frangible glass (i.e., vitreous) tubular container 40. In the form
shown, inner tubular container 40 is either bonded to an inner wall
of outer tubular container 36 or is fixed within outer tubular
container 36 by apertured disks which snugly fit into the opposite
ends of outer tubular container 36 and which are apertured to
receive the ends of inner tubular container 40. A first chemically
reactive component 38 is contained within container 36 and a second
chemically reactive component 42 is contained within container 40.
At one end of container 36 is a cap 44 which hermetically seals the
interior of container 36. Inner container 40 hermetically isolates
component 42 from component 38. The axes of tubular container 34
and tubular container 40 are parallel so that when container 34 is
deformed, container 40 is ruptured and component 42 and component
38 mix. The resulting reaction between components 38, 42 causes
luminescent emission of light through the walls of tubular
container 34. It is to be understood that more than two chemical
components can be used in accordance with the present invention to
achieve chemiluminescence. In such cases two or more frangible
internal coaxial or paraxial containers replace frangible container
40.
The chemical system of chemiluminescent unit 34 includes at least
two chemiluminescent components comprising: either (a) a component
containing a chemiluminescent compound and a component containing a
hydroperoxide compound, either or both components containing a
diluent, or (b) a dry solid component containing both a solid
chemiluminescent compound and a solid hydroperoxide compound and a
component comprising a solvent for the solid chemiluminescent
compound and the solid hydroperoxide compound. Any other necessary
ingredients for the production of chemiluminescent light, or for
lifetime control, or for intensity improvement, or for storage
stabilization must of course either be included in one of the two
system components or included as additional components. In
particular with the preferred oxalic-type chemiluminescent
compounds of this invention, a fluorescent compound must be
included in the system.
The preferred chemiluminescent light is obtained in this invention
by the reaction of a hydroperoxide with a chemiluminescent
composition which, in combination, comprises a chemiluminescent
compound selected from the group consisting of (1) an oxalic-type
anhydride, (2) an oxalic-type amide, (3) an oxalic-type
O-acyl-hydroxylamine, and (4) an oxalic-type ester, in the presence
of a fluorescer compound, and a solvent. Other suitable
chemiluminescent compounds are 3-aminophthalhydrazide,
3,4,5-triphenylimidazole, 10, 10'-dialkyl-9,9'-biacridinium salts,
and 9-chlorocarbonyl-10-methylacridinium chloride. All of the
foregoing provide chemiluminescence when reacted with a
hydroperoxide compound in the presence of a base.
The preferred chemiluminescent compound of this invention is an
oxalic-type ester selected from the group consisting of (a) an
ester of an oxalic-type acid and an alcohol characterized by acid
ionization constant in water greater than 1.3 .times.
10.sup.-.sup.10, and (b) a vinyl ester of an oxalic-type ester.
Similarly, in a preferred embodiment thereof, the alcohol would be
an aromatic alcohol substituted by a substituent characterized by a
positive Hammett sigma value. The preferred species of oxalic-type
esters include bis(substituted-phenyl) oxalate, bis(2-nitrophenyl)
oxalate, bis (2,4-dinitrophenyl) oxalate, bis(2,6
dichloro-4-nitrophenyl) oxalate, bis(2 methyl-4,6-dinitrophenyl)
oxalate, bis(2-dimethyl-4,6-dinitrophenyl) oxalate,
bis(2,4-dichlorophenyl) oxalate, bis(2,5-dinitrophenyl) oxalate,
bis(2-formyl-4-nitrophenyl) oxalate, bis(pentachlorophenyl)
oxalate, bis(1,2-dihydro-2-oxo-1-pyridyl) glyoxal,
bis-N-phthalimidyl oxalate. The preferred subspecies is bis
(pentachlorophenyl) oxalate.
The peroxides employed in the components of this invention may be
any hydroperoxide compound. Typical hydroperoxides include
t-butylhydroperoxide, peroxybenzoic acid, and hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide is the preferred hydroperoxide and may be
employed as a solution of hydrogen peroxide compound such as
perhydrate of urea (urea peroxide), perhydrate of
pyrophosphate(sodium pyrophosphate peroxide), perhydrate of
histidine (histidine peroxide), sodium perborate, sodium peroxide,
and the like. Whenever hydrogen peroxide is contemplated to be
employed, any suitable compound may be substituted which will
produce hydrogen peroxide.
The peroxide concentration may range from about 15 molar down to
about 10.sup.-.sup.5 molar, preferably about 2 molar down to about
10.sup.-.sup.4 molar. The ester of this invention may be added as a
solid or in admixture with a suitable solid peroxide reactant or in
a suitable diluent, or alternatively dissolved directly in a
solution containing the peroxide reactant.
Typical diluents, which additionally may be used in conjunction
with the necessary diluent of this invention, are those which do
not readily react with a peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide, and
which do not react with an ester of oxalic acid.
Where a solvent is employed with the hydroperoxide-containing
component of this invention, the solvent can be any fluid which is
unreactive toward the hydroperoxide and which accomodates a
solubility of at least 0.01 M hydroperoxide. Typical solvents for
the hydroperoxide component include water; alcohols, such as
ethanol or octanol; ethers, such as diethyl ether, diamyl ether,
tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dibutyl-diethyleneglycol, perfluoropropyl
ether, and 1,2-dimethox-yethane; and esters, such as ethyl acetate,
ethyl benzoate, dimethyl phthalate, dioctylphthalate, propyl
formate. Solvent combinations can, of course, be used such as
concentrations of the above with aromatic anisole, tetralin, and
polychloro-biphenyls, providing the solvent combination accomodates
hydroperoxide solubility. However, when oxalic-type
chemiluminescent materials are used, strong electron donor solvents
such as dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfonide, and hexamethyl
phosphoramide should not, in general, be used as a major solvent
component.
Where a solvent is employed with a component containing the
chemiluminescent material, any fluid can be used, providing the
fluid solubilizes at least 0.01 M concentration of the
chemiluminescent material and is unreactive toward the
chemiluminescent material. Typical solvents include ethers, esters,
aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated aliphatic and aromatic
hydrocarbons, such as those cited in the preceding paragraph. For
oxalic-type chemiluminescent compounds, hydroxylic solvents such as
water or alcohols and basic solvents such as pyridine should not be
employed since such solvents used in general, react with and
destroy oxalic-type chemiluminescent compounds. Solvent
combinations may, of course, be used but such combinations when
used with oxalic-type chemiluminescent compounds should not include
strong electron donor solvents.
When a component comprising a solid chemiluminescent compound and a
solid hydroperoxide is used, the solvent or solvent composition
comprising the second component may vary broadly. The solvent,
however, should preferably dissolve at least 0.02 M concentrations
of both the hydroperoxide and the chemiluminescent compound, and,
for oxalic-type chemiluminescent compounds, strong electron donor
solvents should be avoided as major solvent components.
The fluorescent compounds contemplated herein are numerous; and
they may be defined broadly as those which do not readily react on
contact with the peroxide employed in this invention, such as
hydrogen peroxide, likewise, they do not readily react on contact
with the chemiluminescent compound.
A fluorescent compound is required for light emission when the
prepared oxalic-type chemiluminescent compound of the invention is
employed. For other types of chemiluminescent compounds a
fluorescer is not required but may be used to shift the wavelength
of emitted light toward the red region of the spectrum so as to
change the color of emitted light. Fluorescent compounds for use
with oxalic-type chemiluminescent compounds should be soluble in
the reactive solvent at least to the extent of 0.0001 moles per
liter.
Typical suitable fluorescent compounds for use in the present
invention are those which have a spectral emission falling between
330 millimicrons and 1,000 millimicrons and which are at least
partially soluble in any of the above diluents, if such diluent is
employed. Among these are the conjugated polycyclic aromatic
compounds having at least three fused rings, such as anthracene,
substituted anthracene, benzanthracene, phenanthrene, substituted
phenanthrene, naphthacene, substituted naphthacene, pentacene,
substituted pentacene, and the like. Typical substituents for all
of these are phenyl, lower alkyl, chlorine, bromine, cyano, alkoxy
(C.sub.1 -C.sub.16) and other like substituents which do not
interfere with the light-generating reaction contemplated
herein.
A fluorescent oxalic-type ester, such as the oxalic acid ester of
2-naphthol-3,6,8-trisulfonic acid, does not require a separate
fluorescent compound to obtain light. Other typical fluorescent
oxalic acid esters include esters of oxalic acid (1)
2-carboxyphenol, (2) 2-carboxy-6 hydroxyphenol, (3)
1,4-dihydroxy-9,10 diphenylanthracene, and (4) 2-naphthol. Thus a
reactant including a fluorescent oxalic-type ester would thereby
include at least one fluorescent compound.
It has been found that the molar (moles per liter of diluent)
concentrations of the major components of the novel composition
herein described may vary considerably. It is only necessary that
components be in sufficient concentration to obtain
chemiluminescence. The ester of oxalic acid molar concentration
normally is in the range of at least about 10.sup.-.sup.4 to five
molar, preferably in the range of at least about 10.sup.-.sup.3 to
about one molar; the fluorescent compound is present in the range
from about 10.sup.-.sup.5 to 5, preferably 10.sup.-.sup.4 to
10.sup.-.sup.1 molar; and the diluent must be present in a
sufficient amount to form at least a partial solution of the
reactants involved in the chemiluminescent reaction. If the ester
is liquid, it may serve as either the sole diluent or a partial
diluent.
The wavelength of the light emitted by chemiluminescence of the
compositions of this invention, i.e., the color of the light
emitted, may be varied by the addition of any one or more energy
transfer agents (fluorescers) such as the known fluorescent
compounds discussed at length above. The wavelength of the light
emitted by the composition of this invention will vary, depending
upon the particular fluorescent component employed in the reaction.
Additionally, it has been found that the superior intensity of
chemiluminescence is obtained when the final mixture producing the
luminescence is maintained at a temperature of between about
-40.degree.C. and 75.degree.C., preferably between about
-20.degree.C and 50.degree.C. However, temperature is not critical
and the luminescence of Applicant's process is not limited to these
ranges.
Chemiluminescent components of the foregoing types are disclosed in
detail in: U.S. Pat. No. 3,576,987, issued May 4, 1971 to American
Cyanamid Company for "Chemical Lighting Device To Store, Initiate
and Display Chemical Light;" and U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,362, issued
Aug. 3, 1971, to American Cyanamid Company for "Generation Of Light
By The Reaction Of Esters Of Oxalic-Type Acids."
Anchor 30 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 as comprising a pair of
oppositely directed wedges 46, 48. Wedge 46 has a curved outer
periphery 49, which is adapted to abut against the inner periphery
of a bore hole 50, and a flat inner face 52, which converges
upwardly toward periphery 49. Wedge 48 has a curved outer periphery
54, which is adapted to abut against the inner periphery of bore
hole 50, and a flat inner face 56, which converges downwardly
toward periphery 54. The angle of face 52 with respect to a
paraxial line along periphery 49 is the same as the angle of face
56 with respect to a paraxial line along periphery 54. In
consequence, faces 52, 56 are snugly in contact when the outer
peripheries 49, 54 of the wedges are abutted against the inner
periphery of bore hole 50. Tie 32 is connected to an opening 58 in
wedge 48 so that downward pressure of the tie merely causes
tightening of the wedges against the inner periphery of bore hole
50. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative mode of operation of
anchor 30 with wedge 48 elevated above wedge 46 and with the anchor
being positioned within a bore hole 60 that is smaller than bore
hole 50 in diameter.
OPERATION
In operation, devices of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 are
installed, as shown in FIG. 8 at intervals 62, 64, 66, 68,
typically every 15 feet, along a mine tunnel 70 so that the number
of lights which are activated indicates the extent of any
approaching failure. As shown in FIG. 2, before a mass of broken
rocks actually falls there is some separation of the layers of
rocks up to some secure height. Anchor 30 is high enough in
relatively solid rock so as to provide a reference point with
respect to chemiluminescent device 34, which is positioned at the
roof face. When the roof begins to sag, tie 32 tightens and bends
chemiluminescent unit 34 in order to break tubular container 40 and
to mix its contents with the contents tubular container 34. The
resulting light is a widely visible indication that the roof is
moving. Miners in an active heading thereby are warned and are able
to take appropriate action, If miners come on shift after a shift
change and see active lights, they known which areas to avoid.
Installation in sensitive areas such as main intersections,
conveyer transfer points and compressor sites can provide timely
warning of impending failure and thus allow action to be taken to
prevent or allow for costly downtime.
EXAMPLE
In accordance with the present invention, eight chemiluminescent
units, or lightsticks, were tested in an Instron testing machine.
Each lightstick included external tubular plastic, flexible,
translucent container about 6 inches long and 1/2 an inch in
diameter and an internal glass tube about 1/4 inch in diameter
fixed inside the plastic tube as discussed above. The tests were
designed to simulate underground conditions, with thin steel wire
passing around any lightstick at the collar of a bore hole.
The purpose of the tests was to check performance features as
follows:
a. How much tension is needed in the wire to activate the
light.
b. How much deflection (or roof separation) is needed to activate
the light.
c. How the above factors are affected by the diameter of the hole
drilled in the roof.
d. How consistent and predictable tension and deflection are.
e. How long the light is visible under typical mine conditions.
The following table lists the results:
No. Hole diam." Tension lbs. Deflection" Life, hrs. Comments
__________________________________________________________________________
1 Broken by hand, no test -- -- -- 2 1-5/8 53.5 0.35 3 1-1/2 54.5
0.35 12 plus 4 1-1/2 57.0 0.38 5 1-1/8 50.0 0.31 12 plus 6 1-1/8
63.0 0.33 7 1-3/8 56.0 0.31 12 plus 8 1-3/8 34.0 0.26 12 plus Wire
about 1/4" off center.
__________________________________________________________________________
Conclusions
a. 50-60 lbs. of tension is sufficient to activate the light.
b. One third of an inch of deflection will active the light.
c. Within the range tested (11/8 to 15/8 inch) the diameter of the
hole has no significant effect on performance.
d. Both tension and deflection are consistent and predictable,
provided that the wire is centered in the hole.
e. Life of light at about 70.degree.-75.degree.F is at least 12
hours.
CONCLUSION
Advantages of the process and apparatus of the present invention
are as follows:
1. Installation is simple and fast. Holes can be drilled at regular
intervals by roof bolter operators.
2. Cost is low, much lower than comparable mechanical or electrical
devices.
3. There is nothing to go wrong- no batteries, no bulbs, and no
electrical connections.
4. The monitoring is continuous and cummulative-unlike periodic
measurements, temporary extensometers, or temporary warning
lights.
5. Movement is signalled to anyone passing through the area so that
many pairs of eyes can be watching -- not just a few trained
technicians.
6. Luminescent light is cool so that there is no ignition
hazard.
Since certain changes may be made in the above disclosure without
departing from the scope of the invention herein, it is intended
that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in
the accompanying drawings be interpreted in an illustrative and not
in a limiting sense.
* * * * *