Refuge chamber and method

Abstract

A refuge chamber for miners in a mine includes a skid. The chamber includes a tent that is disposed in the skid in an undeployed state which is expandable to a deployed state and extends from the skid to provide a protected atmosphere for the miners. A method for providing a refuge chamber for miners in a mine including the steps of opening a skid made of metal. There is the step of expanding a tent that is disposed in the skid in an undeployed state to a deployed state that extends from the skid to provide a protected atmosphere for the miners.

1 . A refuge chamber for miners in a mine comprising: 
 a skid; and    a tent that is disposed in the skid in an undeployed state which is expandable to a deployed state and extends from the skid to provide a protected atmosphere for the miners, the skid accessible from inside the tent.    
     
     
         2 . A chamber as described in  claim 1  wherein the skid has a scrubber.  
     
     
         3 . A chamber as described in  claim 2  wherein the skid has a cooling system.  
     
     
         4 . A chamber as described in  claim 3  wherein no external power is required to operate the scrubber or cooling system.  
     
     
         5 . A chamber as described in  claim 4  wherein the skid has an inspection door.  
     
     
         6 . A chamber as described in  claim 5  wherein the skid has a drawer system that is accessed from the tent and the inspection drawer.  
     
     
         7 . A chamber as described in  claim 6  wherein the tent includes an expandable support structure, and a seal which seals the tent to the skid in a deployed state.  
     
     
         8 . A chamber as described in  claim 7  wherein the tent has an airlock.  
     
     
         9 . A chamber as described in  claim 8  wherein the support structure is expandable from an undeployed state to a deployed state.  
     
     
         10 . A chamber as described in  claim 9  wherein the support structure is inflatable.  
     
     
         11 . A chamber as described in  claim 10  wherein the skid includes a bank of compressed air bottles that operate the scrubber and expand the support structure.  
     
     
         12 . A chamber as described in  claim 10  including a second tent that is manually erectable and self supporting.  
     
     
         13 . A chamber as described in  claim 11  wherein the airlock includes a purge valve.  
     
     
         14 . A chamber as described in  claim 13  including one way valves connected to the top of the tent.  
     
     
         15 . A chamber as described in  claim 14  wherein the skid is portable.  
     
     
         16 . A chamber as described in  claim 15  wherein the skid is explosion proof.  
     
     
         17 . A chamber as described in  claim 16  wherein the skid is approximately 10 feet long, 50 inches wide and 36 inches tall.  
     
     
         18 . A method for providing a refuge chamber for miners in a mine comprising the steps of: 
 opening a skid made of metal; and    expanding a tent that is disposed in the skid in an undeployed state to a deployed state that extends from the skid to provide a protected atmosphere for the miners.    
     
     
         19 . A method as described in  claim 18  including the step of moving the skid, which is portable to desired locations in the mine.