Inventors:
Roger J. Morrell - Bloomington MN
Jerome A. Gunn - Minneapolis MN
Richard J. Wilson - Minneapolis MN
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the
Interior - Washington DC
International Classification:
E21D 500
Abstract:
A method and the apparatus for implementing the method to provide temporary ground support in a mine. After an auger or other type of hole has been bored in an underground mine, at least one inflatable bladder with a fluid conduit therethrough is inserted into the hole. Once the bladder is inflated it expands to fill the hole's diameter and to act as a plug. Thereafter, fluid is forced through the fluid conduit past the bladder and into the hole cavity to act in conjunction with the bladder as a ground support for the hole. Appropriate fluid valves, meters, and conduits are placed at the input to the fluid conduit to control and measure the fluid being forced into the bladder and the hole cavity. Quick connect-disconnect couplings are provided when two or more bladders are connected seriatim and placed within the hole.