Devices and processes for warning against impending rockfalls in underground excavation

Claim 2

An alarm for warning of possible roof fall in an excavation, said alarm comprising: a chemiluminescent unit including at least a first container means, at least a first chemical reagent within said first container means, at least a second container means, at least a second chemical reagent within said second container means, said first container means and said second container means being in contiguity, the interiors of said first container means and said second container means being in communication for mixing said first chemical reagent and said second chemical reagent when subjected to an applied force, said first chemical reagent and said second chemical reagent being inactive when separate and being active when mixed to produce chemiluminescent light; anchor means for connection to a mine roof; and tie means extending between and mechanically connecting said anchor means and said chemiluminescent unit; whereby deformation of said chemiluminescent unit as a result of tension in said tie means as a result of said applied force causes mixture of said first chemical reagent and said second chemical reagent.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1, wherein one of said container means is positioned within the other of said container means in such a way as to isolate said first chemical reagent from said second chemical reagent.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2, wherein said one of said container means is rupturable.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein said first chemical reagent is an oxalic compound.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 wherein said second chemical reagent is a peroxide compound.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1 wherein said anchor meAns includes a pair of oppositely directed wedges.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1 wherein said anchor means includes a pair of oppositely directed wedges, one of said wedges having a converging flat surface directed upwardly and the other of said wedges having a converging flat surface directed downwardly, said tie means being connected to said second of said wedges.

Claim 9

An alarm for warning of possible roof fall in an excavation, said alarm comprising: a chemiluminescent unit including at least first container means, at least a first chemical reagent within said first container means, at least second container means, at least a second chemical reagent within said second container means, said first container means and said second container means being in contiguity, the interiors of said first container means and said second container means being in communication for mixing said first chemical reagent and said second chemical reagent when subjected to an applied force, said first chemical reagent and said second chemical reagent being inactive when separate and being active when mixed to produce chemiluminescent light; anchor means for connection to a mine roof; and tie means extending between and mechanically connecting said anchor means and said chemiluminescent unit; whereby deformation of said chemiluminescent unit as a result of tension in said tie means causes mixture of said first chemical reagent and said second chemical reagent; one of said container means being positioned within the other of said container means in such a way as to isolate said first chemical reagent from said second chemical reagent; said one of said container means being rupturable; said anchor means including a pair of oppositely directed wedges, one of said wedges having a converging flat surface directed upwardly and the other of said wedges having a converging flat surface directed downwardly, said tie means being connected to said of said wedges; said one of said container means and said other of said container means being paraxial.

Claim 10

An alarm for warning of possible roof fall in an excavation, said alarm comprising: a chemiluminescent unit including at least first container means, at least a first chemical reagent within said first container means, at least second container means, at least a second chemical reagent within said second container means, said first container means and said second container means being in contiguity, the interiors of said first container means and said second container means being in communication for mixing said first chemical reagent and said second chemical reagent when subjected to an applied force, said first chemical reagent and said second chemical reagent being inactive when separate and being active when mixed to produce chemiluminescent light; anchor means for connection to a mine roof; and tie means extending between and mechanically connecting said anchor means and said chemiluminescent unit; whereby deformation of said chemiluminescent unit as a result of tension in said tie means causes mixture of said first chemical reagent and said second chemical reagent; one of said container means being positioned within the other of said container means in such a way as to isolate said first chemical reagent from said second chemical reagent; said one of said container means being rupturable; said anchor means including a pair of oppositely directed wedges, one of said wedges having a converging flat surface directed upwardly and the other of said wedges having a converging flat surface directed downwardly, said tie means being connected to said of said wedges; said one of said container means and said other of said container means being paraxial.

Claim 11

The alarm of claim 8 wherein one of said chemical reagents is an oxalic compound.

Claim 12

The alarm of claim 8 wherein one of said chemical reagents is a peroxide compound.

Claim 13

An alarm for warning of possible roof fall in an excavation, said alarm comprising: a. an outer elongated container composed of a light transmitting, flexible polymeric material; b. an inner elongated container within said first elongated container and composed of a frangible vitreous material; c. a first liquid in one of said outer elongated container and said inner elongated container; d. a second liquid in the other of said outer elongated container and said inner elongated container; e. one of said first liquid and said second liquid containing an oxalic acid ester; f. the other of said first liquid and said second liquid containing a peroxide; g. said inner container being paraxially and fixedly located within said outer container, predetermined flexing of said outer containing causing rupture of said inner container; h. an anchor for affixation within an elongated bore in a mine roof; i. said anchor including a pair of oppositely directed wedges having inner flat surfaces and outer curved surfaces, said flat surfaces being operationally contiguous with each other and said curved surfaces being operationally remote from each other; j. and an elongated flexible tension cord having an upper extremity and a lower extremity, said upper extremity being connected to one of said wedges, said lower extremity being connected to said outer elongated container; k. whereby when said anchor is fixed within the upper extremity of said elongated bore in said mine roof and said outer elongated container is in abutment against said mine roof at the lower extremity of said elongated bore in said mine roof, predetermined movement of said mine roof causes flexing of said outer elongated container, breaking of said inner elongated contaiNer, mixing of said oxalic acid ester and said peroxide, and emission of luminescent light from said outer elongated container.

Claim 14

An alarm for warning of possible roof fall in an excavation, said alarm comprising: a. an outer elongated container composed of a light transmitting, flexible polymeric material; b. an inner elongated container within said first elongated container and composed of a frangible vitreous material; c. a first liquid in one of said outer elongated container and said inner elongated container; d. a second liquid in the other of said outer elongated container and said inner elongated container; e. one of said first liquid and said second liquid containing an oxalic acid ester; f. the other of said first liquid and said second liquid containing a peroxide; g. said inner container being paraxially and fixedly located within said outer container, predetermined flexing of said outer containing causing rupture of said inner container; h. an anchor for affixation within an elongated bore in a mine roof; i. said anchor including a pair of oppositely directed wedges having inner flat surfaces and outer curved surfaces, said flat surfaces being operationally contiguous with each other and said curved surfaces being operationally remote from each other; j. and an elongated flexible tension cord having an upper extremity and a lower extremity, said upper extremity being connected to one of said wedges, said lower extremity being connected to said outer elongated container; k. whereby when said anchor is fixed within the upper extremity of said elongated bore in said mine roof and said outer elongated container is in abutment against said mine roof at the lower extremity of said elongated bore in said mine roof, predetermined movement of said mine roof causes flexing of said outer elongated container, breaking of said inner elongated contaiNer, mixing of said oxalic acid ester and said peroxide, and emission of luminescent light from said outer elongated container.