Mine shaft liner plate system and method

Abstract

A liner plate structure, system and method is provided for lining of mine shaft bores, tunnels and the like. The liner plate structure includes a primary plate portion and at least one flange disposed at a side edge of the primary plate portion. A polymer seal element extends along a recess within an exterior surface of the flange.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A liner plate structure for use in lining shafts or tunnels, the liner plate structure comprising:
 a primary plate portion having a height and length, the length larger than the height;   at least one flange disposed at a side edge of the primary plate portion, a seal element extending along an exterior surface of the flange, the seal element of the flange is disposed within a recess of the exterior surface of the flange, where the seal element protrudes slightly above the exterior surface of the flange, wherein a sub-recess is located to one side of the recess, the sub-recess has a depth that is less than a depth of the recess and a bottom surface that is offset below the exterior surface of the flange, and the sub-recess has one side edge in communication with the recess;   wherein the flange, the primary plate portion, the recess and sub-recess are curved in a lengthwise direction;   wherein the sub-recess is located to a radially inner side of the recess;   wherein at least two spaced apart sub-recess extensions are located in the exterior surface of the flange and extend from a radially inward facing edge of the exterior surface and along the exterior surface to the sub-recess.   
     
     
         28 . The liner plate structure of  claim 27  wherein the seal element has a width that is less than a width of the recess. 
     
     
         29 . The liner plate structure of  claim 27  wherein first, second, third and fourth flanges circumscribe the primary plate portion, each flange has a corresponding recess, sub-recess and seal element, the recesses and sub-recesses align to form a circumscribing recess and sub-recess and the seal elements are joined to form a circumscribing seal element. 
     
     
         30 . The liner plate structure of  claim 27  wherein:
 a structural member protrudes from an inner side face of the primary plate portion, the structural member extends in the lengthwise direction and is also curved, the structural member being T-shaped with a head of the T located at a radially inward side of the structural member. 
 
     
     
         31 . The liner plate structure of  claim 27  wherein the flange has a first portion extending outwardly beyond an outer side face of the primary plate portion and a second portion extending inwardly beyond an inner side face of the primary plate portion, the first portion is substantially smaller than the second portion. 
     
     
         32 . A liner plate structure for use in lining shafts or tunnels, the liner plate structure comprising:
 a primary plate portion;   at least one flange disposed at a side edge of the primary plate portion, a seal element extending along an exterior surface of the flange, the seal element of the flange is disposed within a recess of the exterior surface of the flange, where the seal element protrudes slightly above the exterior surface of the flange, wherein a sub-recess is located to one side of the recess, the sub-recess has a depth that is less than a depth of the recess and a bottom surface that is offset below the exterior surface of the flange, and the sub-recess has one side edge in communication with the recess;   the primary plate portion has a height and length, the length larger than the height, the primary plate portion is curved in the lengthwise direction;   first, second, third and fourth flanges circumscribe the primary plate portion, each flange has a first portion extending outwardly beyond an outer side face of the primary plate portion and a second portion extending inwardly beyond an inner side face of the primary plate portion;   wherein the flanges are welded to the primary plate portion, the first portion of each flange is substantially smaller than the second portion.   
     
     
         33 . The liner plate structure of  claim 32  wherein the primary plate portion includes at least two holes extending from an inner side face to an outer side face of the primary plate portion, each of the holes including threads. 
     
     
         34 . A liner structure within a shaft or tunnel and formed of multiple liner plate structures according to  claim 32 , the liner structure comprising:
 multiple sets of liner plate structures according to  claim 32 , each set of liner plate structures fixed together into a respective ring to provide multiple liner plate rings, the multiple liner plate rings arranged adjacent each other along the shaft or tunnel forming a sealed structural barrier.   
     
     
         35 . A method of assembling a liner system for lining a shaft or tunnel, the method comprising:
 joining together first and second liner plate structures, each liner plate structure having a primary plate portion and at least one flange disposed at a side edge of the primary plate portion, the flange having a recess extending along its exterior surface and holding a seal element that protrudes above the recess, the seal element formed by a polyurethane and/or polyurea material that is bonded to at least one surface of the recess;   prior to the joining step, applying a chemical weld activator coating to at least one of (i) the seal element of the first liner plate structure and/or (ii) the seal element of the second liner plate structure; and   during the joining step, pressing the seal element of the first liner plate structure into contact with the seal element of the second liner plate structure such that the seal elements become chemically welded to each other.   
     
     
         36 . A method of forming a plate structure for use in lining shafts and tunnels, comprising:
 utilizing a liner plate structure with a primary plate having first, second, third and fourth flanges respectively disposed at first, second, third and fourth side edges of the primary plate, each flange including a respective recess that is aligned with the recess of adjacent flanges to produce a continuous recess that circumscribes the liner plate structure;   applying a seal member to the continuous recess utilizing a plural component material processing technique and in a manner such that the seal member at least partially cures within the recess and is bonded to a portion of the recess and includes an upper portion protruding from the recess.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the applying step involves an impingement mix spray process. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the applying step involves a static mix injection process. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein prior to the applying step the recess is prepared by an abrading step. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the abrading step is an abrasive blast spray process. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the seal member applied via the plural component material processing technique is a polyurethane or polyurea compound. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36  wherein seal member applied via the plural component processing technique is formed by the combination of an isocyanate and one or more of an alcohol, a hydroxyl, a polyol or an amine.