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Underground mine and method of miningUnderground mine and method of mining description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070170771, Underground mine and method of mining. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001]This divisional patent application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/339,761 filed on Jan. 25, 2006, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]The present invention generally relates to an underground mine and a method of mining and more particularly to employing ventilation configurations to permit more rapid extraction of material. [0003]The need for properly ventilating underground mines, such as underground coal mines, has long been recognized and serves two key purposes: 1) to dilute and remove potentially harmful gases (e.g., methane, carbon dioxide) and dust; and 2) to provide breathable air to the workers in the mine. Accordingly, fresh outside air is circulated along a circulation path through the mine to move gases and dust away from the face of the mine (i.e., the exposed area of a seam from which coal or ore is being extracted), and to bring breathable air to the areas of the mine in which workers may be present. [0004]After the ventilation air passes the face of the mine it is referred to as return air. Return air carries any harmful gases and/or dust away from the face of the mine and is vented to a location outside of the mine. Mining regulations prohibit mine workers from working in the return air. This prevents workers from potentially being exposed to any harmful gases or dust that may be present in the return air. As a result, all mine workers prefer to be upstream of any extraction processes that are occurring at the mine face. [0005]Accordingly, the circulation path of the ventilation air through the mine plays a critical role in determining the extraction process. Coal and other types of ore are typically mined using mechanical mining equipment, for example, a continuous miner. Since mine workers prefer to be upstream of the continuous miner, conventional ventilation techniques, which are described below in more detail, substantially limit the efficiencies of operating an underground mine. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006]One aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of underground mining. The method generally comprises mining material using a continuous miner to form at least one set of entries comprising a plurality of entries, a plurality of crosscuts extending between and connecting the entries, and a plurality of pillars defined by the entries and crosscuts. The entries and crosscuts define a passage having a roof, a floor, and sidewalls. Roof bolts are installed in the roof of the passage. Material is mined from the sidewalls of the passage with the continuous miner to form perimeter cuts extending outwardly from the passage. The perimeter cuts are free of roof bolts. At least approximately 30 percent of the material is mined from within the set of entries being derived from the unbolted perimeter cuts. [0007]Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008]FIG. 1 is a schematic showing part of an underground mine, portions of the mine are shown in phantom indicating areas that have not yet been mined; [0009]FIG. 1A is an enlarged detail of the circumscribed portion of FIG. 1; [0010]FIG. 1B is an enlarged detail of the circumscribed portion of FIG. 1; [0011]FIG. 2 is a schematic of the part of the underground mine showing a known ventilation configuration; [0012]FIG. 2A is an enlarged detail of the circumscribed portion of FIG. 2; [0013]FIG. 3 is a schematic of the part of the underground mine showing another known ventilation configuration; [0014]FIG. 3A is an enlarged detail of the circumscribed portion of FIG. 3; [0015]FIG. 4 is a schematic of part of an underground mine showing one ventilation configuration in accordance with the present invention; [0016]FIG. 4A is an enlarged detail of the circumscribed portion of FIG. 4; [0017]FIG. 5 is a schematic of the part of the underground mine showing a second ventilation configuration in accordance with the present invention; [0018]FIG. 5A is an enlarged detail of the circumscribed portion of FIG. 5; [0019]FIG. 6 is a schematic showing part of an underground mine having sets of perimeter wall entries; [0020]FIG. 6A is an enlarged detail of the circumscribed portion of FIG. 6; Continue reading about Underground mine and method of mining... 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