Underground-mine suction-ventilator system has dust-extractor - and has fan following extractor giving greater suction than that exhausting air

摘要

Dust-laden air is extracted from the working face area by a fan (9) in a conduit (8) extended as the extracting machine (3-5) moves forward, the dust being separated from the air by an extractor in the main tunnel. The fan and conduit are designed to give the desired degree of ventilation, while there is a further suction fan (11) downstream of the extractor (10), and whose output is at least 10% higher. When the extractor is out of use, the air is forced past it under pressure, suppressing turbulence in it in the process and giving at least partial dust separation. The extractor can be cut in synchronism with the slewing movement of the extracting machine. There can be a diffuser (12) preceding the extractor and overlapping its inlet. USE/ADVANTAGE - Underground mine suction ventilator combines reliability and minimum power consumption.