Patent US4398451A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4398451A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of ventilating underground mines and improved brattice cloth construction useful therein
Assignee: Kansai Paint Co Ltd
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Filing: 1979-03-23
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Granted: 1983-08-16
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Expires: 1999-03-23
Abstract
Abstract An improved brattice cloth construction and method of utilizing the same in the ventilation of underground mines comprising a coherent, strong felt formed from a thick batting or mat of textile staple fibers needle-punched into dense, tightly intertwined and interlocking engagement, a flame retarding chemical impregnant in sufficient amount to impart to felt an acceptable flame resistance, and preferably an openwork substrate disposed within the staple fiber felt with staple fibers needle-punched therethrough and interconnected therewith.
Inventors
- 👤 Neil J. Werthmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:40
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21F; E21F1/00; E21F1/14; B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/02; B32B5/06; D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/02; D04H1/40; D04H1/44; D04H1/46; D04H1/498; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/10; Y10T442/102; Y10T442/159
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
In a method of ventilating an underground mine in which the flow of ventilating air is directed to active working areas of the mine and substantially excluded from non-working areas and corridors by means of flexible brattice cloth curtains disposed in appropriate locations across the openings to said non-working areas and corridors, the improvement wherein said brattice cloth curtain comprises a dense, strong, coherent felt-like freely flexible blanket formed from at least one batting of natural or synthetic textile staple fiber having a staple length of at least one inch, all such battings together having a thickness greater than said felt-like blanket and being needle-punched to cause a substantial portion of the fibers thereof to be disposed within said batting and become entangled, interengaged and compacted into said felt-like blanket, said brattice cloth having flammability characteristics at least sufficient to withstand the "match test" as defined in the specification and satisfy any more stringent governmental promulgated standard for brattice cloth, a density sufficient to convey said flow of ventilating air within said mine, and a tensile strength sufficient to support its own weight when hung in ceiling height lengths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
In a method of ventilating an underground mine in which the flow of ventilating air is directed to active working areas of the mine and substantially excluded from non-working areas and corridors by means of flexible brattice cloth curtains disposed in appropriate locations across the openings to said non-working areas and corridors, the improvement wherein said brattice cloth curtain comprises a dense, strong, coherent felt-like freely flexible blanket formed from at least one batting of natural or synthetic textile staple fiber having a staple length of at least one inch, all such battings together having a thickness greater than said felt-like blanket and being needle-punched to cause a substantial portion of the fibers thereof to be disposed within said batting and become entangled, interengaged and compacted into said felt-like blanket, said brattice cloth having flammability characteristics at least sufficient to withstand the "match test" as defined in the specification and satisfy any more stringent governmental promulgated standard for brattice cloth, a density sufficient to convey said flow of ventilating air within said mine, and a tensile strength sufficient to support its own weight when hung in ceiling height lengths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ventilating method of claim 1, wherein said staple fiber blanket is constituted of naturally flammable staple fibers and including a flame retarding material distributed uniformly throughout said staple fiber blanket in sufficient amount as to impart said flammability characteristics thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The ventilating method of claim 2, including a thin, flexible, openwork or reticulated substrate disposed within the interior of said felt-like blanket and in engagement with the needle-punched fibers thereof, said substrate having a weight of about 1-5 oz/sq.yd, and the amount of such staple fiber batting and said flame retarding material being sufficient to achieve the overall weight of said brattice cloth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ventilating method of claim 3, wherein said openwork substrate is substantially penetrated by the needle-punched fibers of such batting and is sufficiently interengaged with said fibers to be integrated into said felt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ventilating method of claim 3, wherein said substrate is woven from flat ribbons of a polyolefin resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ventilating method of claim 3, wherein said flame retarding material is present in an amount of about 1-2 oz/sq.yd.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ventilating method of claim 1, wherein said battice cloth has an overall weight of not less than about 6 oz/sq.yd and sufficient to hang in generally stable condition while conveying said mine air currents.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ventilating method of claim 1, wherein the staple fibers of batting are at least one member of a group consisting of polyester, nylon, cotton or rayon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ventilating method of claim 1, wherein said staple fiber has a length in the range of about 1-6 inches and a denier of about 1-15.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ventilating method of claim 1, wherein said batting is needle-punched with at least about 200 needle penetrations per square inch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
148 words
An improved brattice cloth ventilating curtain for conveying a flow of ventilating air within underground mines which comprises a dense, strong, coherent felt-like freely flexible blanket formed from at least one batting of natural or synthetic textile staple fiber having a staple length of at least about one inch, all such battings together having a thickness greater than said felt-like blanket and being needle-punched to cause a substantial portion of the fibers thereof to be disposed within said batting and become entangled, interengaged and compacted into said felt-like blanket, said brattice cloth having flammability characteristics at least sufficient to withstand the "match test" as defined in the specification and satisfy any more stringent governmental promulgated standard for brattice cloth, a density sufficient to convey said flow of ventilating air within said mine, and a tensile strength sufficient to support its own weight when hung in ceiling height lengths.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
148 words
An improved brattice cloth ventilating curtain for conveying a flow of ventilating air within underground mines which comprises a dense, strong, coherent felt-like freely flexible blanket formed from at least one batting of natural or synthetic textile staple fiber having a staple length of at least about one inch, all such battings together having a thickness greater than said felt-like blanket and being needle-punched to cause a substantial portion of the fibers thereof to be disposed within said batting and become entangled, interengaged and compacted into said felt-like blanket, said brattice cloth having flammability characteristics at least sufficient to withstand the "match test" as defined in the specification and satisfy any more stringent governmental promulgated standard for brattice cloth, a density sufficient to convey said flow of ventilating air within said mine, and a tensile strength sufficient to support its own weight when hung in ceiling height lengths.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The brattice cloth of claim 11, wherein said staple fiber blanket is constituted of naturally flammable staple fibers and including a flame retarding material distributed uniformly throughout said staple fiber blanket in sufficient amount as to impart said flammability characteristics thereto.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The brattice cloth of claim 11 having an overall weight of not less than about 6 oz/sq.yd and sufficient to hang in generally stable condition while conveying said usual air currents.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
The brattice cloth of claim 13, including a thin, flexible, openwork or reticulated substrate disposed within the interior of said felt-like blanket and in engagement with the needle-punched fibers thereof, said substrate having a weight of about 1-5 oz/sq.yd, and the amount of such staple fiber batting and said impregnant being sufficient to achieve the overall weight of said brattice cloth.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The brattice cloth of claim 14, wherein said openwork substrate is substantially penetrated by the needle-punched fibers of said felt and is in integral interengagement therewith.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-15 | 1987-02-14 | 1987-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-15 | 1991-02-14 | 1991-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-15 | 1995-02-14 | 1995-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |