Fire resistant mine door sealing system

Abstract

A fire resistant mine door sealing system is disclosed for use in an underground mine passage, and includes a door panel pivotably mounted to a stoppage. A fire resistant seal member is positioned between the door panel and the stoppage to form an airtight seal therebetween, even when the door, stoppage and seal are subjected to high temperatures associated with a mine fire. The seal member comprises a high strength reinforced elastomeric seal having a plurality of elastomer layers and a plurality of reinforcing layers. At least one of the plurality of elastomer layers may have a flame retardant. The reinforcing layers are sandwiched between the elastomer layers to provide high strength and toughness. A method of manufacturing a fire resistant seal member is also disclosed.

1 . A fire resistant mine door system, comprising:
 a mine door member;   a mine stoppage member; and   a resilient seal member disposed between said door member and said stoppage member to form an airtight seal between said door member and said stoppage member;   wherein said resilient seal comprises a plurality of elastomer layers and a reinforcing layer disposed between an adjacent pair of said plurality of elastomer layers; at least one of said elastomer layers comprising a flame retardant; and   wherein said resilient seal member is capable of maintaining said airtight seal at temperatures up to about 500 degrees F.   
   
   
       2 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient seal comprises first, second and third elastomer layers, and first and second reinforcing layers, the first reinforcing layer sandwiched between the first and second elastomer layers and the second reinforcing layer sandwiched between the second and their elastomer layers. 
   
   
       3 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 2 , wherein the first, second and third elastomer layers comprise polychloroprene, the first and second reinforcing layers comprise a polyester-nylon woven material, and the flame retardant comprises at least one compounds selected from the group consisting of antimony trioxide and chlorinated paraffin. 
   
   
       4 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of elastomer layers comprises polychloroprene. 
   
   
       5 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing layer is a woven material comprising nylon and polyester, said woven material being coated with an elastomeric latex treatment comprising a flame retardant. 
   
   
       6 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 5 , wherein the reinforcing layer is coated with an elastomeric compound. 
   
   
       7 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 6 , wherein the reinforcing layer is impregnated with an elastomeric compound that is different from the compound used to form at least one of the plurality of elastomer layers. 
   
   
       8 . A fire resistant mine closure, comprising:
 a mine door;   a mine stoppage having an opening; and   a seal member positioned between the mine door and a perimeter surface of the mine stoppage surrounding said opening, the seal member forming an airtight seal between the door and perimeter surface of the mine stoppage when the door is in a closed position with respect to the stoppage;   wherein the seal comprises first and second elastomer layers and a reinforcing layer, the reinforcing layer being disposed between the first and second elastomer layers; the first and second elastomer layers further comprising a flame retardant such that the seal is capable of maintaining said airtight seal at temperatures up to 500 degrees F.   
   
   
       9 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 8 , wherein the seal comprises first, second and third elastomer layers, and first and second reinforcing layers, the first reinforcing layer sandwiched between the first and second elastomer layers and the second reinforcing layer sandwiched between the second and their elastomer layers. 
   
   
       10 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 9 , wherein the first, second and third elastomer layers comprise polychloroprene, the first and second reinforcing layers comprise a polyester-nylon woven material, and the flame retardant comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of antimony trioxide and chlorinated paraffin. 
   
   
       11 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of elastomer layers comprise polychloroprene and the flame retardant comprises a compound selected from the list consisting of antimony trioxide and chlorinated paraffin. 
   
   
       12 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 8 , wherein the reinforcing layer is coated with an elastomeric latex treatment comprising a flame retardant. 
   
   
       13 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 12 , wherein the reinforcing layer is impregnated with an elastomeric compound. 
   
   
       14 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 13 , wherein the reinforcing layer is impregnated with an elastomeric compound that is different from the compound used to form at least one of the plurality of elastomer layers. 
   
   
       15 . A fire resistant mine sealing system, comprising:
 a stoppage positionable within an underground passageway;   a door panel pivotably connected to said stoppage; and   a fire resistant seal member disposed between said stoppage and said door panel, said seal member comprising a multilayered structure, the multilayer structure comprising a plurality of alternating elastomer and reinforcing layers;   wherein said fire resistant seal member forms an airtight seal between said door panel and said stoppage when compressed therebetween, said fire resistant seal member further being capable of maintaining said airtight seal when said door and said stoppage are subjected to temperatures up to 500 degrees F.   
   
   
       16 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 15 , wherein the seal comprises first, second and third elastomer layers, and first and second reinforcing layers, the first reinforcing layer sandwiched between the first and second elastomer layers and the second reinforcing layer sandwiched between the second and their elastomer layers. 
   
   
       17 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 16 , wherein the first, second and third elastomer layers comprise polychloroprene, and the first and second reinforcing layers comprise a polyester-nylon woven material. 
   
   
       18 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of elastomer layers comprises polychloroprene and a fire retardant selected from the list consisting of antimony trioxide and chlorinated paraffin. 
   
   
       19 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 18 , wherein the reinforcing layer is coated with an elastomeric latex treatment comprising a fire retardant. 
   
   
       20 . The fire resistant mine door system of  claim 19 , wherein the reinforcing layer is impregnated with an elastomeric compound.