PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

CON-PNEU-FLATE™ TRANSPORTER
International Patent Application No PCT/IB2006/053715

This is an introduction to a conveyance device or transporter. This is a pneumatic inflatable conveyer, hence the name con-pneu-flate™. This device is a simple design manufactured from a plastic material similar to that of children’s jumping castles.

There is information that underground miners have problems to place an explosive charge under a blockage that occurs in an underground oar pass. There is a threat to human life and it is unlawful for personnel to enter the oar pass to lay an explosive charge to free the blockage. Remote controlled devices that are available cannot climb the steep incline. Due to this problem that the miners need to solve, a conveyance device has been designed.

Two factors have influenced the design of the con-pneu-flate™. The first is that there is compressed air available underground and that the device has to reduce in size to be able to pass through a restricted entrance to the oar pass. Deflated and limp, the con-pneu-flate™ can pass through the small access hole into the oar pass, where it can be inflated into shape and be ready for operation.

The con-pneu-flate™ consists of an array of fabricated circular plastic modular bladders coupled together to form a train. the modular bladders are inflated and deflated in a permutation sequence in a concertina motion to propel the con-pneu-flate™ up the tunnel or passage way. The advantage of the con-pneu-flate over radio controlled devices is that it can climb up a perpendicular incline. The con-pneu-flate™ can be used in unsafe confined spaces where personnel are prohibited from entering. Equipment can be mounted on the leading modular bladder. A closed circuit TV camera is mounted to observe the route to be travelled by the con-pneu-flate™.

An explosive charge can be mounted on the leading modular bladder to free a blockage up an oar pass in an underground mine. The con-pneu-flate™ can be used for inspections with the closed circuit TV camera mounted on the leading modular bladder. For inspecting the refractory lining of a chimney stack, where the personnel could be injured due to lining becoming dislodged and falling. The con-pneu-flate™ can be used in a disaster situation where a structure or a building has collapsed and an inspection through the debris and rubble has to be done.

A workable prototype of the con-pneu-flate™ has been manufactured and put to the test. a vertical steel tower was fabricated to replicate the tunnel or passage way. Successful tests were performed using a household vacuum cleaner and a hand held electric blower to inflate and deflate the modular bladders. An array of ball valves mounted on a manifold was used to control the sequence to propel the con-pneu-flate™. Standard pool cleaner plastic hoses were used to deliver the air to the modular bladders. The modular bladders are easily coupled together with cable ties through an array of eyelets around the collars of the modules to form the train.

Now that the preliminary tests have been successful, more robust equipment is in the process of been designed. a combination vacuum pump and blower is been designed that will be portable and can be powered by an electric motor, a petrol or diesel engine or an air turbine. Suppliers of continues lengths of hoses are been sourced. A new control valve train system is been designed. At present the con-pneu-flate™ can only follow the path of a predetermined route such as a tunnel bored through rock. Research is been done to design a steering mechanism to add to the features of the con-pneu-flate™.

The con-pneu-flate™ can be fabricated in a range of sizes according to the application.