Method for producing a structure having cohesion by means of a material comprising non-coherent solid particles

Claim 1

A method for consolidating at least one pillar of ground against collapse, said method comprising the steps of constructing around and in spaced relation to said at least one pillar a continuous wall of superimposed cladding elements having integral reinforcing means extending from said cladding elements toward said at least one pillar in a plurality of substantially horizontal vertically spaced-apart planes, filling the space between said wall and said at least one pillar with material including substantially non-coherent solid particles to frictionally contact said reinforcing means and constitute a frictionally stabilized structure that immediately protects said at least one pillar, said material including additional means which when mixed with said particles cause said material to set and become a cohesive structure, the time required for the setting of said material and the quality of said particles and said additional means of said material are not critical for the desired consolidation of said at least one pillar.

Claim 2

A method for consolidating at least one pillar of ground against collapse, said method comprising the steps of constructing around and in spaced relation to said at least one pillar a continuous wall of superimposed cladding elements having integral reinforcing means extending from said cladding elements toward said at least one pillar in a plurality of substantially horizontal vertically spaced-apart planes, filling the space between said wall and said at least one pillar with material including substantially non-coherent solid particles to frictionally contact said reinforcing means and constitute a frictionally stabilized structure that immediately protects said at least one pillar, said material including additional means which when mixed with said particles cause said material to set and become a cohesive structure, the time required for the setting of said material and the quality of said particles and said additional means of said material are not critical for the desired consolidation of said at least one pillar.

Claim 16

A method according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, 10 and 11, wherein said material is placed in position by a hydraulic filling.

Claim 17

A method according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, 10 and 11, wherein the cladding of the facing wall means is obtained by horizontally juxtaposing and superimposing U-section elements having a concavity which faces inwardly of the structure and flanges which constitute reinforcements.

Claim 18

A method according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, 10 and 11, wherein the cladding of the wall is obtained by horizontally juxtaposing and superimposing U-section elements having a concavity which faces inwardly of the structure and flanges which constitute reinforcements and support further reinforcements.

Claim 19

A method according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, 10 and 11, wherein the reinforcements are formed by relatively flexible bands.

Claim 21

A method for working a mine by the bord-and-pillar method, comprising constructing, around a group of pillars, on a foot wall of a mine chamber, an enclosure having walls which define a closed contour, said walls being obtained by horizontal juxtaposition and superimposition of U-section elements whose concavity faces inwardly of the enclosure and whose flanges form reinforcements, and producing inside the enclosure a hydraulic fill comprising initially pulverulent non-coherent solid particles and additional means which, when mixed with said particles, produce a setting of said fill over a non-critical period of time, the fill frictionally engaging the reinforcements to initially consolidate the pillars and ultimately consolidating the pillars as a cohesive mass.

Claim 22

A method for working a mine by the bord-and-pillar method, comprising constructing, around a group of pillars, on a foot wall of a mine chamber, an enclosure having walls which define a closed contour, said walls being obtained by horizontal juxtaposition and superimposition of U-section elements whose concavity faces inwardly of the enclosure and whose flanges form reinforcements, and producing inside the enclosure a hydraulic fill comprising initially pulverulent non-coherent solid particles and additional means which, when mixed with said particles, produce a setting of said fill over a non-critical period of time, the fill frictionally engaging the reinforcements to initially consolidate the pillars and ultimately consolidating the pillars as a cohesive mass.

Claim 23

A method for working a mine by the bord-and-pillar method, comprising constructing, around a group of pillars, on a foot wall of a mine chamber, an enclosure having walls which define a closed contour, said walls being obtained by horizontal justaposition and superimposition of U-section elements whose concavity faces inwardly of the enclosure and whose flanges support reinforcements in the form of relatively flexible bands, and producing inside the enclosure a hydraulic fill comprising initially pulverulent non-coherent solid particles and additional means which, when mixed with said particles, produce a setting of said fill over a non-critical period of time, the fill frictionally engaging the reinforcements to initially consolidate the pillars and ultimately consolidating the pillars as a cohesive mass.

Claim 24

A method for working a mine by the bord-and-pillar method, comprising constructing, around a group of pillars, on a foot wall of a mine chamber, an enclosure having walls which define a closed contour, said walls being obtained by horizontal justaposition and superimposition of U-section elements whose concavity faces inwardly of the enclosure and whose flanges support reinforcements in the form of relatively flexible bands, and producing inside the enclosure a hydraulic fill comprising initially pulverulent non-coherent solid particles and additional means which, when mixed with said particles, produce a setting of said fill over a non-critical period of time, the fill frictionally engaging the reinforcements to initially consolidate the pillars and ultimately consolidating the pillars as a cohesive mass.

Claim 26

A method for producing a structure which sets over a non-critical period of time, said method comprising in combination constructing an enclosure comprising a continuous wall of superimposed cladding elements which are integral with reinforcing means which extend from said cladding elements inwardly of said enclosure substantially in a plurality of substantially horizontal vertically spaced-apart planes, filling the space within said enclosure with a material comprising substantially non-coherent solid particles that frictionally contact said reinforcing means and initially constitute a stabilized structure owing to the action of said friction, said material including additional means mixed with said particles that causes said material to set, said noncriticality being due to the immediate stabilizing effect of said friction between said material and said reinforcing means.

Claim 27

A method for producing a structure which sets over a non-critical period of time, said method comprising in combination constructing an enclosure comprising a continuous wall of superimposed cladding elements which are integral with reinforcing means which extend from said cladding elements inwardly of said enclosure substantially in a plurality of substantially horizontal vertically spaced-apart planes, filling the space within said enclosure with a material comprising substantially non-coherent solid particles that frictionally contact said reinforcing means and initially constitute a stabilized structure owing to the action of said friction, said material including additional means mixed with said particles that causes said material to set, said noncriticality being due to the immediate stabilizing effect of said friction between said material and said reinforcing means.