Mine shaft and adit closure apparatus and method

摘要

A mine shaft closure plug which is created by a self-expanding plastic foam on a platform positioned within the mine shaft. Multiple expansion foam containers are used to provide the foam. Each expansion foam container has two closed waterproof pouches, an inner pouch and an outer pouch, each containing a separate component of the foam. The inner pouch is contained within the outer pouch. Upon breaking the inner pouch, the separate foam components combine within the outer pouch to form a complete expansion foam. The foam expands slowly enough to provide sufficient time for the container to be placed on the platform. Once in position, the expansion foam bursts the outer pouch to form the expansion foam plug above the platform. Either the platform or the expansion foam containers may be lowered into place by attached tethers.