Container for forming a barrier in an enclosed environment

Abstract

A barrier for a passage is configured to close off a zone in an enclosed environment, for example for a drift in a mine to close off a zone in the mine. The container may be least partially flexible and expandable, by being formed of woven fabric. A supply pipe for an hydraulic fill extending from outside the zone into the zone, and a drainage pipe can be provided for permitting fluid to drain from the zone. These pipes may extend through or around the container. After placing the container in the passage, the container is expanded to form a barrier in the passage, to close of the zone, except for the pipes. The container is filled with hydraulic fill, e.g a slurry. After forming the barrier, further hydraulic fill is supplied to the zone to fill the zone, with the barriers containing the fill in the desired location.

1 . A container for forming a barrier in a passage to close off a zone in an enclosed environment, the container being at least partially flexible to enable the container to conform to the passage, and the container including at least one opening for a pipe, whereby, in use, a pipe is provided extending through the opening into the zone, for filling the zone with a fill material. 
     
     
         2 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed from a flexible material. 
     
     
         3 . A container as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the container is formed from woven material. 
     
     
         4 . A container as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the woven material includes at least one panel that is substantially impervious to water, and at least one panel that is porous, to permit water to drain out of the container. 
     
     
         5 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , including a pair of apertures on opposite sides of the container, providing the opening through the container. 
     
     
         6 . A container as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the pair of apertures is provided with a pair of connection sleeves, one connection sleeve being provided for each aperture, the connection sleeves providing the opening through the container for sealing to a pipe extending through the opening. 
     
     
         7 . A container as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the pair of sleeves is provided adjacent the top of the container. 
     
     
         8 . A container as claimed in  claim 7 , including at least one other pair of apertures and respective sleeves, located adjacent the bottom of the container, for a drainage pipe, for venting air and water from the zone. 
     
     
         9 . A container as claimed in  claim 8 , including at least one larger opening and respective connection sleeve, for connecting the container to a ventilation system, for initial inflation of the container, to expand the container. 
     
     
         10 . A container as claimed in  claim 9 , including a plurality of pairs of apertures and respective connection sleeves, providing a plurality of openings through the container, for a plurality of pipes, extending through the container into the zone. 
     
     
         11 . A container as claimed in  claim 10 , including at least one separate aperture with a respective connection sleeve, opening into the container, and for connection to a pipe for supplying fill material into the container. 
     
     
         12 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , including a closable access opening into the container. 
     
     
         13 . A method of forming a barrier in a passage, to close off a zone in an enclosed environment, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a container that is at least partially flexible and expandable, and placing the container in the passage;   (b) providing a supply pipe for supplying an hydraulic fill extending from outside the zone into the zone, and providing a drainage pipe for permitting fluid to drain from the zone;   (c) expanding the container to form a barrier in the passage, to close of the zone, except for the pipes;   (d) supplying hydraulic fill material through the supply pipe to fill at least partially the zone with the hydraulic fill material, while permitting displaced fluid to vent from the zone through the drainage pipe.   
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , including forming gaskets in the passage before placing the container in the passage, for improving seal with the container. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , including measuring the dimensions of the passage, and providing a container, whose circumference is larger than the circumference of the passage, whereby the container can be expanded to form the barrier, without imposing excessive tension loads on the container, and with the container in close abutment with the walls of the passage. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , including providing the container formed from a flexible material. 
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , including forming the container from woven material. 
     
     
         18 . A container as claimed in  claim 17 , including providing at least one panel that is substantially impervious to water, and at least one panel that is porous, to permit liquid to drain out of the container. 
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , including providing the container with a pair of apertures on opposite sides of the container, to form an opening through the container, and mounting the supply pipe in the apertures, extending through the opening of the container. 
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , including providing the pair of apertures with a pair of connection sleeves, one connection sleeve being provided for each aperture, the connection sleeves providing the opening through the container for sealing to a pipe extending through the opening. 
     
     
         21 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , including providing the pair of sleeves adjacent the top of the container. 
     
     
         22 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , including providing at least one other pair of apertures and respective sleeves, located adjacent the bottom of the container, for a drainage pipe, for venting air and water from the zone. 
     
     
         23 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , including providing at least one larger opening and respective connection sleeve, for connecting the container to a ventilation system, step (c) comprising inflating the container with air, to expand the container. 
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in  claim 23 , including providing a plurality of pairs of apertures and respective connection sleeves, thereby providing a plurality of openings through the container, and mounting a plurality of pipes, extending through the container into the zone, arranging each of said plurality of pipes to end at different locations within the zone, and supplying the hydraulic fill material through said plurality of pipes to fill the zone. 
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , including providing at least one separate aperture with a respective connection sleeve, opening into the container, and connecting a supply pipe for hydraulic fill material thereto, and supplying the hydraulic fill material to fill the container, to form the barrier in the passage. 
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , including supplying hydraulic fill material to the container that includes cement. 
     
     
         26 . A container for forming a barrier in a passage to close off a zone in an enclosed environment, the container being at least formed from flexible, woven fabric, to enable the container to conform to the passage, and the container including at least one opening for a pipe, whereby, in use, a pipe is provided extending through the opening into the zone, for filling the zone with a fill material, and the container providing a device for drainage of water from the container. 
     
     
         27 . A container as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the woven material includes at least one panel that is substantially impervious to water, and the device for drainage comprising at least one panel that is porous. 
     
     
         28 . A container as claimed in  claim 26 , including a pair of apertures on opposite sides of the container, providing the opening through the container, wherein the pair of apertures is provided with a pair of connection sleeves, one connection sleeve being provided for each aperture, the connection sleeves providing the opening through the container for sealing to a pipe extending through the opening, and wherein the pair of sleeves is preferably provided adjacent the top of the container. 
     
     
         29 . A container as claimed in  claim 28 , including at least one other pair of apertures and respective sleeves, located adjacent the bottom of the container, for a drainage pipe, for venting air and water from the zone, and including at least one larger opening and respective connection sleeve, for connecting the container to a ventilation system, for initial inflation of the container, to expand the container. 
     
     
         30 . A container as claimed in  claim 26 , including a closable access opening into the container.