Modular Mining Escapeway

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application claims priority to and the benefit of: (i) U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/813,774 filed on May 29, 2025 entitled “MODULAR ESCAPEWAY,” and (ii) U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/709,134 filed on Oct. 18, 2024 entitled “MODULAR ESCAPEWAY.” The disclosures of each of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, including but not limited to those portions that specifically appear hereinafter, but except for any subject matter disclaimers or disavowals, and except to the extent that the incorporated material is inconsistent with the express disclosure herein, in which case the language in this disclosure shall control.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002]The present disclosure relates to personnel access, and more particularly, to ingress and egress systems for use in areas such as mines.

BACKGROUND

[0003]Emergency access (ingress/egress) to underground areas such as mines is typically via approaches such as an open can with a bullet hoist, or vertical ladders with landings at intervals such as 10 feet, 20 feet, or 30 feet, or the like. However, these approaches suffer from various drawbacks such as speed of access, user fatigue, and so forth. Accordingly, improved systems and methods remain desirable.

SUMMARY

[0004]Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to modular escapeways, for example for a mine. While the ways in which various embodiments of the present disclosure address drawbacks of prior systems and methods are discussed in more detail below, in general, exemplary embodiments of the disclosure provide improved systems and methods for modular escapeways providing ingress and egress to a mine. Exemplary methods provide desired speed and ease of access, minimize user fatigue, and provide for advantageous means of retrieving injured persons from a mine or delivering (e.g., heavy and/or large) equipment to a mine.

[0005]In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure, a modular escapeway for a mine is disclosed herein. The modular escapeway can include a cylindrical bottom can, a cylindrical top can, and a cylindrical middle can disposed between and coupled to the bottom can and the top can. Each of the bottom can, the middle can, and the top can may comprise a portion of a spiral staircase.

[0006]In various embodiments, each of the bottom can and the middle can may include an alignment component. Alignment of the alignment components can cause the respective portions of the spiral staircase to be continuous. The spiral staircase portion of the bottom can may have a topmost step at a preselected angular location, and the spiral staircase portion of the middle can may have a bottommost step at the next step location ahead of the preselected angular location. The spiral staircase may have a first step at a first angular location and a second step at a second angular location. An angle between the first angular location and the second angular location can be between about 10 and 40 degrees. Each of the bottom can, the middle can, and the top can may further include a handrail. The handrail can be coupled to an inner wall of the bottom can, the middle can, and the top can respectively. The handrail can be between about 2 and 4 feet above a step of the spiral staircase.

[0007]In various embodiments, the bottom can and the middle can may be welded together. The modular escapeway can include a plurality of middle cans coupled to one another. The plurality of middle cans may be disposed between the top can and the bottom can. The bottom can may include a bottom doorway and the top can may include a top doorway. A cable may be passed through the modular escapeway to assist in retrieval of an injured person from a mine.

[0008]In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure, a modular escapeway for a mine is disclosed herein. The modular escapeway can include a spiral staircase, a cylindrical bottom can, a cylindrical top can, and a cylindrical middle can disposed between and coupled to the bottom can and the top can. The bottom can may include a cylindrical outer bottom can, a cylindrical inner bottom can disposed within the outer bottom can, and a portion of the spiral staircase disposed between the outer bottom can and the inner bottom can. The top can may include a cylindrical outer top can, a cylindrical inner top can disposed within the outer top can, and a portion of the spiral staircase disposed between the outer top can and the inner top can. The middle can may include a cylindrical outer middle can, a cylindrical inner middle can disposed within the outer middle can, and a portion of the spiral staircase disposed between the outer middle can and the inner middle can.

[0009]In various embodiments, each of the bottom can and the middle can may include an alignment component. Alignment of the alignment components can cause the respective portions of the spiral staircase to be continuous. The portion of the spiral staircase disposed between the outer bottom can and the inner bottom can may have a topmost step at a preselected angular location. The portion of the spiral staircase disposed between the outer middle can and the inner middle can may have a bottommost step at the next step location ahead of the preselected angular location. The spiral staircase may have a first step at a first angular location and a second step at a second angular location. An angle between the first angular location and the second angular location may be between about 10 and 40 degrees. The spiral staircase may include a plurality of steps. Each of the steps may be disposed on a first shelf coupled to one of the inner bottom can, the inner middle can, and the inner top can and a second shelf coupled to one of the outer bottom can, the outer middle can, and the outer top can.

[0010]In various embodiments, the modular escapeway may include a plurality of middle cans coupled to one another. The plurality of middle cans may be disposed between the top can and the bottom can. The outer bottom can may include an outer bottom doorway. The outer top can may include an outer top doorway. The inner bottom can may include an inner bottom doorway. The inner top can may include an inner top entrance. A cable may be passed through the modular escapeway to assist in retrieval of an injured person from a mine.

[0011]In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure, a method of assembling a modular escapeway is disclosed herein. The method can include providing a cylindrical bottom can which can include a first portion of a spiral staircase and a first alignment component, providing a cylindrical middle can which can include a second portion of the spiral staircase and a second alignment component, causing the first portion of the spiral staircase and the second portion of the spiral staircase to be continuous by aligning the first alignment component and the second alignment component, and coupling the bottom can and the middle can. The method can further include providing a cylindrical top can which can include a third portion of the spiral staircase and a third alignment component, causing the second portion of the spiral staircase and the third portion of the spiral staircase to be continuous by aligning the second alignment component and the third alignment component, and coupling the middle can and the top can.

[0012]These and other embodiments will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of certain embodiments having reference to the attached figures; the invention not being limited to any particular embodiment(s) disclosed. This section is intended as a simplified introduction to the disclosure, and is not intended to limit the scope of any claim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated in, and constitute a part of, this specification, illustrate various embodiments, and together with the description, serve to explain exemplary principles of the disclosure.

[0014]FIG. 1 illustrates configurations of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0015]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary bottom can of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0016]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary middle can of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0017]FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary top can of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0018]FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary top can of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0019]FIG. 6 illustrates a central column and alignment component of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0020]FIG. 7 illustrates a section view of an exemplary middle can of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0021]FIG. 8 illustrates a plan view of an exemplary middle can of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0022]FIG. 9 illustrates a section view of an exemplary middle can of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0023]FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary bottom can of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0024]FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary middle can of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0025]FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary top can of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0026]FIG. 13 illustrates a section view of an exemplary middle can of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0027]FIG. 14 illustrates a plan view of an exemplary middle can of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0028]FIG. 15 illustrates a plan view of an exemplary middle can of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0029]FIG. 16 illustrates a plan view of an exemplary top can of a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments; and

[0030]FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram of a method for assembling a modular escapeway, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031]The detailed description of various embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show various embodiments by way of illustration. While these various embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical, chemical, electrical, and/or mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation.

[0032]For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any suitable order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected, or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full, and/or any other possible attachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact.

[0033]As described in various embodiments herein, a modular escapeway is contemplated for use in a mine or other underground application. It will be appreciated, however, that principles of the present disclosure may be applicable to various use cases where modular access/ingress/egress is desired.

[0034]In various exemplary embodiments, a modular cylindrical underground spiral stairway or “modular escapeway” is used for escape to surface, level to level access, ventilation, or manway passage with airlock uses in underground mines. Prior approaches for access and egress are difficult, slow, and limited in space. For example, a series of vertical ladders and landings requires difficult climbing, opening and closing of hatches, resting on landings, and so on. Additionally, it is extremely difficult or impossible to assist an injured person or carry them or use a cable-or basket-based retrieval apparatus through this approach. Yet further, in these prior systems a slow or large person can delay or prevent the passage of numerous people behind them. In contrast, principles of the present disclosure enable modular stairways that can be quickly traversed with minimal fatigue, including by persons wearing bulky safety or operational gear. Moreover, an injured person can be raised via a basket and cable passed down the spiral of the staircase. In this manner, a faster, safer, more usable escapeway is provided herein.

[0035]With reference now to FIG. 1, in various exemplary embodiments a modular escapeway 100 is provided. Modular escapeway 100 may comprise multiple sections, portions, or “cans” which may be coupled together to form modular escapeway 100. Modular escapeway 100 is configured to allow humans to enter and exit therefrom, for example in order to ascend or descend between levels in a mine, to and from the surface, or the like. The cans may be tubular to facilitate ease of construction and installation. Modular escapeway 100 can be installed to any existing ventilation, ore pass, or escapeway cans on-site, or prefabricated in a shop and installed pre-assembled.

[0036]For example, modular escapeway 100 may comprise a bottom can 110, a middle can 120, and a top can 130. Moreover, modular escapeway 100 may comprise a bottom can 110 and a top can 130. Yet further, modular escapeway 100 may comprise a bottom can 110, a number n middle cans 120, and a top can 130. The configuration of modular escapeway 100 may be selected, for example, based on a desired vertical distance for modular escapeway to traverse. In various exemplary embodiments, two or more cans are coupled together to form modular escapeway 100.

[0037]With reference now to FIG. 2, an exemplary bottom can 210 of a modular escapeway is provided in accordance with various embodiments. Bottom can 210 may be constructed with suitable materials, such as stainless steel, fiberglass steps, carbon fiber, carbon steel, and hardened steel. Bottom can 210 may be constructed in various heights, widths, and lengths. For example, bottom can 210 may have a diameter of 5 feet, 6 feet, 7 feet, or the like. Bottom can 210 may have a height of 8 feet, 9 feet, 10 feet, 16 feet, 20 feet, and/or the like. In various exemplary embodiments, bottom can 210 is configured with a bottom doorway 207 to allow people to enter and exit bottom can 210. Bottom can 210 can include an outer tubular metal shell 202 having an inner shell wall 204 (for example, formed from ¼″ to ¾″ plate steel). Bottom can 210 can include a spiral staircase having a center column 209 and a plurality of stairs 240 disposed therein. The center column 209 can span between a top end 206 of the bottom can 210 and a bottom end 208 of the bottom can 210. The plurality of stairs 240 can spiral about center column 209. For example, each of the plurality of stairs may be coupled between the center column 209 and the inner shell wall 204 (i.e., for stability).

[0038]The center column 209 can be constructed from carbon steel pipe, stainless pipe, steel tube, drill pipe, solid stock steel, or any other suitable material. The treads of the plurality of stairs 240 can be carbon steel grating, fiberglass grating, diamond plate, galvanized plate or grating, stainless grating, or the like. The stairs can be bolted or welded in place and can be attached to the center column with a sleeved connection, bolted connection, or welded. The stairs can be attached to the outer shell with a sleeved connection, bolted connection, or welded.

[0039]In various exemplary embodiments, the spiral staircase makes one revolution (360 degree of spiral) in a known vertical distance, for example 8 feet, 10 feet, 12 feet, or the like. In this manner, cans comprising modular escapeway 100 may be coupled together quickly without the need to align staircases. Stated another way, a staircase of one can ends at the same radial position that a staircase of an adjacent can begins. With momentary reference to FIG. 8, cans of modular escapeway 100 may be configured with one or more alignment components 835, 837 (e.g., pins, lugs, flanges, apertures or the like) in order to permit placing the cans into position and retaining the cans together.

[0040]With reference now to FIG. 3, an exemplary middle can 320 of a modular escapeway 100 is provided in accordance with various embodiments. Middle can 320 may be formed from similar materials as bottom can 210 (FIG. 2). Middle can 320 can include an outer tubular metal shell 312 having an inner shell wall 314 (for example, formed from ¼″ to ¾″ plate steel). Middle can 320 can include a spiral staircase having a center column 309 and a plurality of stairs 340 disposed therein. The center column 309 and the plurality of stairs 340 can be the same as or similar to the center column 209 and the plurality of stairs 240, described above. The center column may span between a top end 316 of the middle can 320 and a bottom end 318 of the middle can 320. Middle can 320 may be configured to be disposed between bottom can 210 (FIG. 2) and top can 430 (FIG. 4). Any suitable number of middle cans 320 may be used in a modular escapeway, for example zero, one, two, five, or ten middle cans 320, in order to achieve a desired size and/or configuration for a modular escapeway. Middle can 320 may contain 360 degrees of spiral, 180 degrees of spiral, or the like. Middle can 320 may be the same height as bottom can 210 (FIG. 2); moreover, middle can 320 may be longer than bottom can 210 (FIG. 2) (for example, middle can 320 may be twice as long as bottom can 210 and may contain a spiral stair making two full revolutions therewithin, or any suitable or desired length and/or number of revolutions).

[0041]With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5, an exemplary top can 430 of a modular escapeway is provided in accordance with various embodiments. Top can 430 may be formed from similar materials as bottom can 210 and/or middle can 320. In various exemplary embodiments, top can 430 may be configured with a top doorway 427 to allow people to enter and exit bottom can 430, a handrail and/or a guardrail 431, and/or the like. Top can 430 may be coupled to middle can 320 (or bottom can 210) to complete a modular escapeway. Top can 430 may include an overhead enclosure (for example, for user protection) at a top end 426; alternatively, top can 430 may be open.

[0042]Top can 430 can include an outer tubular metal shell 422 having an inner shell wall 424 (for example, formed from ¼″ to ¾″ plate steel). Middle can 430 can include a spiral staircase having a center column 409 and a plurality of stairs 540 disposed therein. The center column 409 and the plurality of stairs 540 can be the same as or similar to the center column 209 and the plurality of stairs 240, described above. The center column may span between a top end 426 of the top can 430 and a bottom end 428 of the middle can 430, or between a middle portion of top can 430 and the bottom end 428 of the middle can 430.

[0043]With reference now to FIG. 6, a center column 609 and alignment component 633 of a modular escapeway are provided, in accordance with various embodiments. The center column 609 and the stair 640 may be the same as or similar to the center column 209 and the plurality of stairs 240, described above. The alignment component 633 may be disposed on a bottom end of the center column 609. The alignment component may be configured to join a center column of an adjacent can to align the plurality of stairs (i.e., between a bottom can and a middle can). For example, the alignment component 633 may cause the portion of the spiral staircase in a bottom can to be continuous with the portion of the spiral staircase in an adjacent middle and/or top can. In this manner, the spiral staircase portion of a bottom can may have a topmost step at a preselected angular location (i.e., within the can and/or modular escapeway), and the spiral staircase portion of an adjoining middle can and/or top can may have a bottommost step at the next step location ahead of the preselected angular location (i.e., within the can and/or modular escapeway). The alignment described herein may be facilitated by the alignment component 633 and/or the alignment components 835, 837 (FIG. 8).

[0044]With reference now to FIG. 7, a section view of an exemplary middle can 720 of a modular escapeway is provided, in accordance with various embodiments. Middle can 720 can be the same as or similar to any middle can described herein. Middle can 720 can include a center column 709, an outer tubular metal shell 712, an inner shell wall 714, an alignment component 735, a plurality of stairs 740, and a bottom flange 741. The center column 709, the outer tubular metal shell 712, the inner shell wall 714, and the plurality of stairs 740 can be the same as or similar to the center column 309, the outer tubular metal shell 312, the inner shell wall 314, and the plurality of stairs 340, described above. The alignment component 735 can be coupled to the outer tubular metal shell 712. The alignment component 735 can include a flange comprising one or more coupling apertures. The coupling apertures may be configured to receive a coupling device (e.g., a screw, a pin, or the like). The bottom flange 741 may be configured to coupled an alignment component (i.e., alignment component 735) of an adjoining can and/or the ground. For example, bottom flange 741 may include one or more coupling apertures. The coupling apertures may be configured to receive a coupling device (e.g., a screw, a pin, or the like). Although illustrated as being included on middle can 720, the alignment component 735 and/or the bottom flange 741 may be included on a bottom can and/or on a top can.

[0045]With reference now to FIG. 8, a plan view of an exemplary middle can 820 of a modular escapeway is provided, in accordance with various embodiments. Middle can 820 can be the same as or similar to any middle can described herein. Middle can 820 can include an outer tubular metal shell 812, an inner shell wall 814, an alignment component 835, and an alignment component 837. The outer tubular metal shell 812, the inner shell wall 814, and the alignment component 835 can be the same as or similar to the outer tubular metal shell 312, the inner shell wall 314, and the alignment component 735, described above. The alignment component 837 may be disposed on a top end (e.g., top end 316 of FIG. 3) and/or on a bottom end (e.g., bottom end 318 of FIG. 3) of a middle can. The alignment component 837 may comprise one or more coupling apertures. The one or more coupling apertures may be configured to align with an alignment component (i.e., alignment component 837) of an adjoining can and receive a coupling device (e.g., a screw, a pin, or the like) therethrough. In this manner, the middle can 820 may be aligned with and/or coupled with an adjoining can. Although illustrated as being included on middle can 820, the alignment component 837 may be included on a bottom can and/or on a top can.

[0046]With reference now to FIG. 9, a section view of an exemplary middle can 920 of a modular escapeway is provided, in accordance with various embodiments. The section view of FIG. 9 has been flattened (i.e., the cylindrical can is displayed on a 2D plane) for reference. Middle can 920 can be the same as or similar to any middle can described herein. Middle can 920 can include a handrail 939 and a plurality of steps 940. The handrail 939 may be a height H above a step of the plurality of steps. The height H may be any suitable height, for example, the height H may be between 2 and 4 feet. A center of a first of the plurality of steps may be angularly displaced from a center of a second of the plurality of steps 940 by an angular distance A. An angle of the angular distance A may be between 10 and 40 degrees. For example, the angle may be between 10 and 20 degrees, between 20 and 40 degrees, may be about 15 degrees, and/or may be about 30 degrees. Although illustrated as with reference to middle can 920, the handrail 939, the plurality of stairs 940, the height H, and the angular distance A may be included in a bottom can and/or a top can.

[0047]With reference now to FIG. 10, an exemplary bottom can 1050 of a modular escapeway is provided in accordance with various embodiments. Bottom can 1050 can include a plurality of stairs 1040, an outer bottom can 1052, an inner bottom can 1053, an inner shell wall 1054, a top end 1056, an outer doorway 1057, a bottom end 1058, and an inner doorway 1059. Inner bottom can 1053 may be disposed within outer bottom can 1052.

[0048]Outer bottom can 1052 and/or inner bottom can 1053 may be constructed with suitable materials, such as stainless steel, fiberglass steps, carbon fiber, carbon steel, and hardened steel. Outer bottom can 1052 and/or inner bottom can 1053 may be constructed in various heights, widths, and lengths. For example, outer bottom can 1052 may have a diameter of 10 feet, 10.5 feet, 11 feet, 11.5 feet, 12 feet, or the like. Inner bottom can 1053 may have a diameter of 5 feet, 6 feet, 7 feet, or the like. Outer bottom can 1052 and/or inner bottom can 1053 may have a height of 8 feet, 9 feet, 10 feet, 16 feet, 20 feet, and/or the like. Outer bottom can 1052 and inner bottom can 1053 may have the same height. In various exemplary embodiments, outer bottom can 1052 is configured with an outer bottom doorway 1057 to allow people to enter and exit outer bottom can 1052. In various exemplary embodiments, inner bottom can 1053 is configured with an inner bottom doorway 1059 to allow people to enter and exit outer inner bottom can 1059. Outer bottom can 1052 can include a tubular metal shell having an inner shell wall 1054 (for example, formed from ¼″ to ¾″ plate steel). Bottom can 1050 can include a spiral staircase having a plurality of stairs 1040 disposed therein. The plurality of stairs 240 can spiral about inner bottom can 1053. For example, each of the plurality of stairs may be coupled between the inner bottom can 1053 and the inner shell wall 1054 and/or outer bottom can 1052 (i.e., for stability). The treads of the plurality of stairs 1040 can be carbon steel grating, fiberglass grating, diamond plate, galvanized plate or grating, stainless grating, or the like. The stairs can be bolted or welded in place and can be attached to the inner bottom can 1053 with a sleeved connection, bolted connection, or may be welded. The stairs can be attached to the inner shell wall 1054 and/or the outer bottom can 1052 with a sleeved connection, bolted connection, or may be welded.

[0049]With reference now to FIG. 11, an exemplary middle can 1160 of a modular escapeway is provided in accordance with various embodiments. Middle can 1160 can include an outer middle can 1162 and an inner middle can 1163. In various embodiments, a bottom end of inner middle can 1163 may be configured to couple a top end of inner bottom can 1053 (FIG. 10). In this manner, a continuous inner tubular passageway may be formed. Inner middle can 1163 may be disposed within outer middle can 1162.

[0050]Outer middle can 1162 and/or inner middle can 1163 may be formed from similar materials as bottom can 1050 (FIG. 10). Outer middle can 1162 can include an outer tubular metal shell having an inner shell wall 1164 (for example, formed from ¼″ to ¾″ plate steel). Middle can 1160 can include a spiral staircase having a plurality of stairs 1140 disposed therein. The plurality of stairs 1140 can be the same as or similar to the plurality of stairs 1040, described above. Middle can 1160 may be configured to be disposed between bottom can 1050 (FIG. 10) and top can 1270 (FIG. 12). Any suitable number of middle cans 1160 may be used in a modular escapeway, for example zero, one, two, five, or ten middle cans 1160, in order to achieve a desired size and/or configuration for a modular escapeway. Middle can 1160 may contain 360 degrees of spiral, 180 degrees of spiral, or the like. Middle can 1160 may be the same height as bottom can 1050 (FIG. 10); moreover, middle can 1160 may be longer than bottom can 1050 (FIG. 10) (for example, middle can 1160 may be twice as long as bottom can 1050 and may contain a spiral stair making two full revolutions therewithin, or any suitable or desired length and/or number of revolutions).

[0051]With reference now to FIG. 12, an exemplary top can 1270 of a modular escapeway is provided in accordance with various embodiments. Top can 1270 can include an outer top can 1272 and an inner top can 1273. Inner top can 1273 may be disposed within outer top can 1272. In various embodiments, a bottom end of inner top can 1273 may be configured to couple a top end of inner bottom can 1053 (FIG. 10) and/or inner middle can 1163 (FIG. 11). In this manner, a continuous inner tubular passageway may be formed.

[0052]Top can 1270 may be formed from similar materials as bottom can 1050 and/or middle can 1160. In various exemplary embodiments, outer top can 1272 may be configured with an outer top doorway 1277 to allow people to enter and exit the outer top can 1272. Inner top can 1273 may be configured with an inner top entrance 1279 (e.g., a ledge) to allow people to enter and exit the inner top can 1273 and/or the continuous tubular passageway. In this manner, the inner tubular passageway may be used to transport materials, personnel, equipment, or other suitable units of transport, such as an injured person, between the bottom can and the top can, for example by a cable. Top can 1270 may be coupled to middle can 1160 (or bottom can 1050) to complete a modular escapeway. Top can 1270 may include an overhead enclosure (for example, for user protection) at a top end; alternatively, top can 1270 may be open.

[0053]Top can 1270 can include an outer tubular metal shell having an inner shell wall 1274 (for example, formed from ¼″ to ¾″ plate steel). Top can 1270 can include a spiral staircase having a plurality of stairs 1240 disposed therein. The plurality of stairs 1240 can be the same as or similar to the plurality of stairs 1040, described above.

[0054]With reference now to FIG. 13, a section view of an exemplary middle can 1360 of a modular escapeway is provided, in accordance with various embodiments. Middle can 1360 can be the same as or similar to any middle can having an outer middle can and an inner middle can described herein. Middle can 1360 can include an outer middle can 1362, an inner middle can 1363, an inner shell wall 1364, an alignment component 1335, a plurality of stairs 1340, and a bottom flange 1341. The outer middle can 1362, the inner middle can 1363, the inner shell wall 1364, the alignment component 1335, the plurality of stairs 1340, and the bottom flange 1341 can be the same as or similar to outer middle can 1162, the inner middle can 1163, the inner shell wall 1164, the alignment component 735, the plurality of stairs 1140, and the bottom flange 741, described above. The alignment component 1335 can be coupled to the outer middle can 1362. Although illustrated as being included on middle can 1360, the alignment component 1335 may be included on a bottom can and/or on a top can.

[0055]With reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, a plan view of an exemplary middle can 1460 of a modular escapeway is provided, in accordance with various embodiments. Middle can 1460 can be the same as or similar to any middle can having an outer middle can and an inner middle can described herein. Middle can 1460 can include an outer middle can 1462, an inner middle can 1463, an inner shell wall 1464, an alignment component 1435, and an alignment component 1437. The outer middle can 1462, inner middle can 1463, inner shell wall 1464, alignment component 1435, and alignment component 1437 can be the same as or similar to the outer middle can 1162, the inner middle can 1163, the inner shell wall 1164, the alignment component 735, and the alignment component 837, described above. Although illustrated as being included on middle can 1460, the alignment component 1437 may be included on a bottom can and/or on a top can.

[0056]In various embodiments, a plurality of first shelves 1582 may be coupled to the inner middle can 1463. A plurality of second shelves 1584 may be coupled to the inner shell wall 1464 and/or the outer middle can 1462. Each of the plurality of stairs 1540 may be disposed on a respective first shelf 1582 and a respective second shelf 1584. In this manner, a damaged and/or broken stair may be removed and/or replaced quickly and with ease.

[0057]With reference to FIG. 16, a plan view of an exemplary top can 1670 of a modular escapeway is provided, in accordance with various embodiments. Top can 1670 can be the same as or similar to any top can having an outer top can and an inner top can described herein. Top can 1670 can include an outer top can 1672, an inner top can 1673, an inner shell wall 1674, an alignment component 1635, an alignment component 1637, and a ledge 1686. The outer top can 1672, inner top can 1673, inner shell wall 1674, alignment component 1635, and alignment component 1637 can be the same as or similar to the outer top can 1272, the inner top can 1273, the inner shell wall 1274, the alignment component 735, and the alignment component 837, described above. Ledge 1686 may be configured to provide a space for people to enter the top can 1670 before proceeding down the spiral staircase and/or inner tubular passageway. The ledge 1686 may be carbon steel grating, fiberglass grating, diamond plate, galvanized plate or grating, stainless grating, or the like.

[0058]With reference to FIG. 17, a block diagram of a method 1700 for assembling a modular escapeway is provided, in accordance with various embodiments. Method 1700 can include a step 1710 of providing a bottom can, a step 1720 of providing a middle can, a step 1730 of causing a first spiral staircase portion and a second spiral staircase portion to be continuous, a step 1740 of coupling the bottom can and the middle can, a step 1750 of providing a top can, a step 1760 of causing the second spiral staircase portion and a third spiral staircase portion to be continuous, and a step 1770 of coupling the middle can and the top can.

[0059]At step 1710, a bottom can may be provided. The bottom can may be in accordance with any bottom can described herein. The bottom can may include a first portion of a spiral staircase and a first alignment component. The first portion of the spiral staircase can be in accordance with any spiral staircase portion described herein. The first alignment component can be in accordance with any alignment component described herein. The bottom can may be provided by compression or by tension.

[0060]At step 1720, a middle can may be provided. The middle can may be in accordance with any middle can described herein. The middle can may include a second portion of a spiral staircase and a second alignment component. The second portion of the spiral staircase can be in accordance with any spiral staircase portion described herein. The second alignment component can be in accordance with any alignment component described herein. The middle can may be provided by compression or by tension.

[0061]At step 1730, a user may cause the first portion of the spiral staircase and the second portion of the spiral staircase to be continuous. The first portion of the spiral staircase and the second portion of the spiral staircase may be caused to be continuous by aligning the first alignment component and the second alignment component.

[0062]At step 1740, the bottom can may be coupled to the middle can. The bottom can may be coupled to the middle can by any suitable method. For example, the bottom can may be coupled to the middle can by welding or by a coupling device (e.g., any coupling device described herein).

[0063]At step 1750, a top can may be provided. The top can may be in accordance with any top can described herein. The top can may include a third portion of a spiral staircase and a third alignment component. The third portion of the spiral staircase can be in accordance with any spiral staircase portion described herein. The third alignment component can be in accordance with any alignment component described herein. The top can may be provided by compression or by tension.

[0064]At step 1760, a user may cause the second portion of the spiral staircase and the third portion of the spiral staircase to be continuous. The second portion of the spiral staircase and the third portion of the spiral staircase may be caused to be continuous by aligning the second alignment component and the third alignment component.

[0065]At step 1770, the middle can may be coupled to the top can. The middle can may be coupled to the top can by any suitable method. For example, the middle can may be coupled to the top can by welding or by a coupling device (e.g., any coupling device described herein).

[0066]A modular escapeway as described herein may be configured in a desired size, shape, and materials. However, variations in size and materials are contemplated and all such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0067]Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” or “at least one of A, B, and C” is used in the claims or specification, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Different cross-hatching may be used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials.

[0068]Methods, systems, and articles are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “various embodiments”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments.

[0069]Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.