Method for securing underground cavities against break-in and collapse

By pressing artificial mineral fibers into bales and wrapping them in film for secure application in underground cavities, the method addresses disposal challenges, ensuring long-term stability and safety while minimizing environmental and health risks.

EP4636166A1Pending Publication Date: 2025-10-22MINERALPLUS +1
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Patent Information

Application Number
EP2025168341
Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-04-17
Filing Date
2025-04-03
Publication Date
2025-10-22

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The disposal and handling of artificial mineral fibers is complicated, economically expensive, and poses health risks due to disintegration, leading to increased ambient air pollution and generation of filter waste, with landfilling becoming less viable as land becomes scarce.

Method used

Pressing artificial mineral fibers into bales, wrapping them in hygienic, tear-resistant film, and applying them in alternating layers with covering layers in underground cavities to secure stability and prevent collapse, while ensuring safe storage and handling.

Benefits of technology

Provides long-term protection against collapse and intrusion, allows safe storage of artificial mineral fibers, and enhances the stability of supporting pillars and retaining walls, reducing health risks and environmental impact.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

In order to ensure that a method for securing underground cavities against break-ins and collapses using artificial mineral fibers is technically inexpensive, economically viable and can be implemented safely, it is proposed to compress the artificial mineral fibers into bales (2), to tightly wrap the artificial mineral fibers compressed into bales (2) with film (3), to apply a layer (7) of bales (2) wrapped with film (3) to a base (4) of an underground cavity (1), to apply a covering layer (8) to the layer (7) of bales (2) wrapped with film (3), and to alternately apply further layers (9, 12, 14) of bales (2) wrapped with film (3) and further covering layers (10, 13) until a ceiling or ridge region (15) of the underground cavity (1) is reached.
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Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for securing underground cavities against intrusion and collapse using artificial mineral fibers (KMF).

[0002] There is currently no viable recycling option for artificial mineral fibers. Handling and disposing of such artificial mineral fibers is complicated and economically expensive. Furthermore, landfilling them in landfills is becoming increasingly more complex, while the available land for this purpose is becoming increasingly scarce. Accordingly, it has been proposed to use such artificial mineral fibers in bound form, e.g., as concrete cube aggregate. However, this requires unnecessary disintegration of the artificial mineral fibers, which increases ambient air pollution and thus poses a health risk from disintegrated artificial mineral fibers. Furthermore, additional quantities of filter waste are generated. Personnel working in such facilities are exposed to a comparatively high level of risk.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of providing a method for securing underground cavities against intrusion and collapse using artificial mineral fibers, in which the disadvantages indicated above occur to a much lesser extent - if at all - and by means of which, in addition, long-term securing of underground cavities is possible at a reasonable economic cost.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by a method for securing underground cavities against intrusion and collapse using artificial mineral fibers, in which the artificial mineral fibers are pressed into bales, in which the artificial mineral fibers pressed into bales are tightly wrapped with film, in which a layer of film-wrapped bales is applied to a base of an underground cavity, in which a covering layer is applied to the layer of film-wrapped bales, and in which further layers of film-wrapped bales and further covering layers are applied alternately until a ceiling or ridge area of ​​the underground cavity is reached.The invention provides long-term protection against collapse and intrusion, while also allowing long-term, safe and risk-free storage of artificial mineral fibers without any risky excavation processes. The coated bales made from the artificial mineral fibers significantly increase the stability of supporting pillars and retaining walls in underground cavities.

[0005] In order to avoid risks as far as possible during handling and transport of the bales consisting of compressed artificial mineral fibers, the artificial mineral fibers compressed into bales are advantageously wrapped with film until the bale is completely covered with film in an overlapping manner, whereby a complete and overlapping wrapping of several, preferably three to five layers has proven to be particularly advantageous.

[0006] Hygienic, tear-resistant, fire-resistant, or flame-retardant films, preferably approved for use in mining operations, are advantageously used. These films can, for example, be registered under a state authority number.

[0007] To simplify handling and transport, the film-wrapped bales are manufactured with a height of approximately 750 mm, a width of approximately 1,100 mm, and an adjustable length, preferably approximately 1,200 mm. With these dimensions, the use of standard pallets for transporting such bales is possible. Depending on the type and design of the pressing device used for the pressing process, deviations from the exemplary dimensions are possible.

[0008] To ensure that unnecessary stress and thus potential damage to the film-wrapped bales are avoided before the wrapped bales are placed into the underground cavity, an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention proposes applying a leveling layer to the base of the underground cavity before applying the first layer of film-wrapped bales. This leveling layer also ensures a base surface that is as horizontal as possible.

[0009] Advantageously, backfill material, waste material from processing and / or a sand-gravel mixture are used for the leveling layer and the covering layers.

[0010] Conveniently, the layers of film-wrapped bales are made from one or two layers of film-wrapped bales.

[0011] The leveling layer and the covering layers can expediently have a thickness of approximately 1.0 to 1.5 m, although the leveling layer may also be thinner. Depending on the material used for the leveling layer, its thickness may vary.

[0012] In order to increase the stability of the levelling layer and the covering layers, it is advantageous if the levelling layer and the covering layers are compacted before applying the first or next layer of film-wrapped bales, whereby a tracked vehicle or a similar device can preferably be used for the compaction process.

[0013] One alternative is to insert the bale molds into the underground cavity from the front. Alternatively, the bale molds can be inserted laterally along the underground cavity.

[0014] To increase stability, it is advantageous to stack the bales in a 3 / 4 pattern. Since the load on the film-wrapped bales increases with increasing layer sequence, the spacing or laying patterns can be made larger or smaller.

[0015] The security of the underground cavity can be increased if a residual cavity in the ridge area of ​​the underground cavity between the ridge and the top layer of foil-wrapped bale forms is filled with blown backfill.

[0016] Unwanted air flow or loss can be avoided by placing a row of bales wrapped in foil at the entrance and / or end or exit of the underground cavity in the ridge area.

[0017] The invention will be explained in more detail below using embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show: Figure 1a schematic cross-sectional view of an underground cavity in which an embodiment of the method according to the invention for securing underground cavities against intrusion and collapse is implemented using artificial mineral fibers; Figure 2 a schematic longitudinal representation of an underground cavity in which a further embodiment of the method according to the invention is realized; Figure 3 one Figure 1 corresponding cross-section, which shows the Figure 1 shows in principle the method according to the invention shown after further method steps; Figure 4 about Figure 2 corresponding longitudinal view in which a third embodiment of the method according to the invention is shown after further method steps; Figure 5 one the Figures 1 and 3corresponding cross-sectional view of the underground cavity, which is filled up to the roof area by means of the first embodiment of the method according to the invention; and Figure 6 a basic longitudinal representation of the underground cavity, which according to the already in Figure 4 illustrated third embodiment of the method according to the invention is filled up to its ridge area.

[0018] Based on the Figures 1 , 3 and 5 A first embodiment of a method according to the invention for securing underground cavities against collapse and collapse using artificial mineral fibers is now described. Figures 1 , 3 and 5 An underground cavity 1 is shown in a basic cross-sectional view, where in Figure 1 Cavity 1 in the initial stage of the procedure, in the case of Figure 3 during a middle phase of this procedure and in Figure 5in the final stage of the process. In this regard, it should be noted that the representation of cavity 1 in all Figures 1 to 6 is merely a matter of principle. Such an underground cavity 1 can have different dimensions in terms of its width, height, and length. For example, such an underground cavity can be 10 meters wide, 27 meters high, and up to 200 meters long.

[0019] The artificial mineral fibers intended for the process are first pressed into bales 2. For this purpose, the artificial mineral fibers are subjected to a pressing pressure that can be specified depending on the requirements profile using a suitable pressing tool and formed into the bale shape 2 shown in the figures. In order to be able to handle, transport, and store these artificial mineral fibers pressed into bales 2, the artificial mineral fibers pressed into bales 2 are secured using plastic / metal straps, ropes, or wires and tightly wrapped with a hygienic, tear-resistant, fire-resistant or flame-retardant film 3 that is preferably approved for use in mining. The wrapping process is carried out in such a way that the bale shape 2 is completely covered with the film 3 in overlapping multiple layers, preferably 3 to 5 layers, when the wrapping process is complete.The bales made of artificial mineral fibres thus created are then transported by suitable transport devices to the deposition area, which is the area in the . Figures 1 , 3 and 5 The bales 2 wrapped with film 3 are then transported into the underground cavity 1 shown. Suitable transport vehicles such as trucks, disposable pallets, underground transport vehicles, low-loader trailers, low-sided roll-off containers, or similar can be used for this purpose. The actual use of the bales 2 wrapped with film 3 in the underground cavity 1 is then carried out, for example, by means of telescopic loaders equipped with a special gripping tool suitable for the respective bale shapes 2.

[0020] According to the Figures 1 , 3 and 5In the exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention shown, the bale shapes 2 are introduced frontally into the underground cavity 1, which may be a chamber, for example. Before the bale shapes 2 are introduced into the underground cavity 1, a leveling layer 5 is applied to a base 4 of the underground cavity 1 in the exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention shown. This leveling layer 5 can be made from backfill material, waste material from processing and / or a sand-gravel mixture. It is of course possible to dispense with such a leveling layer 5, provided that the base 4 of the underground cavity has sufficient properties for the storage of the bale shapes 2 even without such a leveling layer 5.

[0021] In the next process step, the bale forms 2 wrapped with the film 3, which can have a height of approximately 750 mm, a width of approximately 1,100 mm and a length of approximately 1,200 mm, are formed by means of a Figure 2 shown telescopic loader 6 into the underground cavity 1, whereby in the case of the Figures 1 , 3 and 5 In the embodiment of the method according to the invention shown, the bale forms 2 are introduced frontally into the underground cavity 1. As soon as a layer 7 of bale forms 2 is arranged on the base 4 or the leveling layer 5, which in the case of the Figures 1 , 3 and 5In the exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention shown, which consists of a layer of the aforementioned bale forms 2, a covering layer 8 is applied to this layer 7 of bale forms 2 wrapped with film 3. This covering layer 8, like the leveling layer 5 applied to the floor 4 of the underground cavity 1, also consists of backfill material, spoil material from the processing and / or a sand-gravel mixture. When this covering layer 8 is applied to the layer 7, any cavities that may be present between the bale forms 2 and the walls or joints of the underground cavity 1 are filled with the material forming the covering layer 8. A further layer 9 of bale forms 2 wrapped with film 3 is then deposited on this covering layer 8 in the manner already described. This further layer 9 is also covered with a further covering layer 10 after its application.The bale forms 2 of the further layer 9 are deposited in a 3 / 4 pattern, offset from the bale forms 2 of layer 7 arranged below. During the construction of the second covering layer 10, cavities between the bale forms 2 of the further layer 9 and the walls or joints of the underground cavity 1 are also filled with the material forming the further covering layer 10.

[0022] In Figure 3 The method according to the invention is shown after the process step with which the further covering layer 10 is applied to the further layer 9 of bale forms 2. Of course, it is possible for the leveling layer 5 and the covering layers 8, 10 to be compacted after their application, wherein a tracked vehicle 11 can be used for both the application and the compaction process, as shown in Figure 4The cover layers 8, 10 can have a layer thickness of approximately 1.0 to 1.5 m. In principle, the leveling layer 5 can also be this thick, but usually the thickness of the leveling layer 5 is lower. Figures 3 and 5 A further layer 12 made of bale forms 2 wrapped with film 3, a further covering layer 13 and a further layer 14 made of bale forms 2 wrapped with film 3 are placed on top of the cover layer 10 shown in the manner already described. Figures 1 , 3 and 5In the embodiment of the method according to the invention shown, the further layer 14 of bale forms 2 wrapped with film 3 is already arranged in a ridge region of the underground cavity 1. A residual cavity 16 in the ridge region 15 of the underground cavity 1, which is present between the ridge 17 of the underground cavity 1 and the uppermost layer 14 of bale forms 2 wrapped with film 3, can be filled, for example, with blown backfill.

[0023] By means of the above-described method according to the invention for securing underground cavities against intrusions and collapses using the bale forms 2 made of artificial mineral fibers covered with film 3, on the one hand, an increase in the stability of the mine workings surrounding the underground cavity 1 can be achieved, wherein, in addition, a safe and risk-free handling and use of the problematic artificial mineral fibers can be ensured.

[0024] One in Figure 2 The embodiment of the method according to the invention shown in principle differs from the one described above with reference to the Figures 1 , 3 and 5 described embodiment, on the one hand, in that the bale forms 2 wrapped with film 3 are deposited laterally along a side wall of the underground cavity 1 by means of the telescopic loader 6. Furthermore, the Figure 2The methods shown in principle differ in that a layer 7, 9, 12 or 14 of bale forms 2 wrapped with film 3 is designed in two layers. This means that bale forms 2 wrapped with film 3 are first placed in two layers on the base 4 of the underground cavity 1 or on the leveling layer 5 applied thereon, before a covering layer 8, 10, 13 is then applied to the upper layer. When applying the covering layer 8, cavities between the bale forms 2 wrapped with film 3 on the one hand and the wall of the underground cavity 1 on the other hand are filled with the material forming the covering layer 8. In the Figures 4 and 6 In the embodiment of the method according to the invention shown, the bale forms 2 wrapped with film 3 are deposited laterally along a side wall of the underground cavity - as in the case of the Figure 3shown embodiment of the method - however, the methods described in the Figures 4 and 6 As shown, the layers 7, 9, 12, and 14 are formed in only one layer. Cover layers 8, 10, and 13 are provided between these layers 7, 9, 12, and 14, which are also produced in the manner already described.

[0025] It is possible to arrange a further row of bale forms 2 wrapped with film 3 at the entrance and, if applicable, the exit of the underground cavity 1 on the top layer 14 of bale forms 2 wrapped with film 3, in order to prevent unwanted air penetration and losses. Of course, it is also possible to fill the remaining cavity 16 in the ridge area 15 with blown backfill instead.

Claims

1. Method for securing underground cavities (1) against incursions and collapses, in which artificial mineral fibers are pressed into bales (2), in which the artificial mineral fibers pressed into bales (2) are tightly wrapped with film (3), in which a layer (7) of bales (2) wrapped with film (3) is applied to a base (4) of an underground cavity (1), in which a covering layer (8) is applied to the layer (7) of bales (2) wrapped with film (3), and in which further layers (9, 12, 14) of bales (2) wrapped with film (3) and further covering layers (10, 13) are applied alternately until a ceiling or ridge region (15) of the underground cavity (1) is reached.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the artificial mineral fibers pressed into a bale shape (2) are wrapped with the film (3) until the bale shape (2) is completely covered and overlapped with film (3).

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the film (3) is wound over the entire surface and in an overlapping manner in 3 to 5 layers onto the bale form (2).

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which hygienic, tear-resistant, fire-resistant or flame-retardant film (3) is used, preferably approved for use in mining.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the bale shapes (2) wrapped with film (3) are produced, for example, with a height of approximately 750 mm, a width of approximately 1,100 mm and an adjustable length, preferably of approximately 1,200 mm.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which a leveling layer (5) is applied to the floor (4) of the underground cavity (1) before the application of the first layer (7) of bale forms (2) wrapped with film (3).

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which backfill material, waste material from the processing and / or a sand-gravel mixture are used for the leveling layer (5) and the covering layers (8, 10, 13).

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the layers (6, 9, 12, 14) of bale forms (2) wrapped with film (3) are produced from one or two layers of bale forms (2) wrapped with film (3).

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, in which the leveling layer (5) and the covering layers (8, 10, 13) are created with a layer thickness of approximately 1.0 to 1.5 m.

10. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which the levelling layer (5) and the covering layers (8, 10, 13) are compacted, preferably with a tracked vehicle (11) or a comparable device, before applying the first (7) or the next layer (9, 12, 14) from bale forms (2) wrapped with film (3).

11. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which the bale forms (2) are introduced frontally into the underground cavity (1).

12. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which the bale molds (2) are introduced laterally along the underground cavity (1) into the latter.

13. Method according to one of claims 1 to 12, in which the bale shapes (2) are stacked offset in a 3 / 4 pattern.

14. Method according to one of claims 1 to 13, in which a residual cavity (16) in the ridge region (15) of the underground cavity (1) between the ridge (17) and the uppermost layer (14) of bale forms (2) wrapped with film (3) is filled with blown filler.

15. Method according to one of claims 1 to 13, in which a row of bale forms (2) wrapped with film (3) is deposited at the entrance and / or at the end of the underground cavity (1) in the ridge region (15) thereof.

Citation Information

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