Albany International Corporation

Washington Penn Plastic Co.

John H Beale

Myron J Coplan

Robert B Davis

Albert Andy

A method of completely filling mines and underground cavities in such a way as to reinforce the strata and ground thereabove in order to prevent collapse or subsidence. The method comprises introduction into mines and cavities, expandable plastic materials which are incorporated into a chemically catalysed foam reaction and strongly bonded thereby. The heat required to expand foamable plastic materials many-fold is provided by the chemically exothermic polymerization reaction of polymeric isocyanate with polyols and epoxides by basic catalysis which promotes highly exothermic urethane/isocyanurate polymer formation in the presence of suitable blowing agents and surfactants.

Method for filling abandoned mines

A hollow filament separatory module utilizing an annulus of semi-permeable hollow filaments with open ends encased in a potting compound and a collection chamber communicating with said open ends adjacent the potting compound with access surface means formed in the potting compound wherein the open ends appear, said filaments having ends thereof encapsulated by the introduction of potting medium into the interfilament interstices under the urging of vibratory energy and thereafter creating said open ends by cutting of ends and potting medium at a time in the curring cycle of the potting compound prior to its final cure.

Growing community of inventors

Medfield, MA, United States of America

John H Beale