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Mine Shaft Rescue Device and System Project

RESC 1
Rescue Extraction System Cocoon

Chief Engineer and Designer: Troy Laclaire

Collaboration Review: Lance Winslow

Quick Overview: Over the last decade mining accidents have received a huge amount of news coverage. Mining accidents are not of course anything that belongs only to our modern era. The challenges and hardships of extracting material from underground mines has always been hazardous. Today it is actually much safer due to the safety equipment and procedures, especially in the United States. Still, no underground mine is completely safe from cave-ins, accidents, falls, or gas leaks and the potential for explosions. Things happen, and it is for this reason that the Online Think Tank decided to come up with a potential solution to rescue injured or incapacitated people trapped in underground mine shafts.

Recently there was an accident in Nevada, where a gentleman had fallen down a mine shaft nearly 200-feet. The rescuers sent down a camera, and the man was still breathing, but could not risk sending the rescuers down as it was an abandoned mine, with debris falling, it was unsafe. The gentleman finally died due to his condition after the fall and died, the body was not retrieved. Could he have been saved?

CNN STORY

Below is the device invented by Troy Laclaire.

RESC 1 mine shaft rescue system


Green - This would be the hookup for the ropes/chains/wire
Red - Expandable cones (think how an umbrella works)
Blue - Fold in handles
Yellow - This would be the main tube, inside would be a basic piston  type system to activate everything else.

Note: Easy Storage for transporting.

Rescue System ready to be lowered


Blue: Handles and strap connections for rescue worker to use while riding down on the device as they are lowered into the shaft. Also able to hold Flashlight, Wire, Rope, Chain Hookups.
Green Tube: Holds expandable pod for rescue, once lowered to the floor, it is set on it's side and the expandable pod is extracted and pops into shape. Top light green piece is where the pulley or eye hook attachment is located
Red: Top Umbrella to prevent debris from falling on rescue worker as they are lowered into the shaft. The Base is where the rescue worker stands on the way down.

Note: If the individual is able-bodied, this system can be lowered, the person can jump on, attach themselves with a strap and ride back up without a rescue worker going dow.

rescue pod to extract injured worker


Green: This is where is where the cartridges for breathable gas are. Water packs, packaged food in case the individual cannot be extracted right away. They could get inside, sleep, and be protected from toxic gas, freezing, etc.
Red: Rollers to keep it moving on the way up as it may come in contact with the side walls of the shaft.
Blue: Hooks to attach cable to raise the cocoon back up.
Grey: The Rescue Pod.

mine shaft rescue pod


This is the interior of the rescue cocoon/pod. An incapacitated individual could be placed inside and hoisted back up. The cable re-lowered and the rescue worker can ride back up the same way they came down.

If you'd like to contact the engineer and chief designer on this project please contact the Online Think Tank for further information. Commercial partners and industry welcomed. Safety First!

 

March 2007 (patent pending)