GB2111190A

GB2111190A - Ventilation equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2111190A
Application number: GB08136970A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin James Robson
Original assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1981-12-08
Filing date: 1981-12-08
Publication date: 1983-06-29
Also published as: GB2111190B

Abstract

A diffuser (2) comprises a generally cylindrical sack of foldable material, the sack being made up of a generally cylindrical wall component (3) and an end wall component (4). Both the components (3,4) are provided with holes (6,7). The diffuser can be used on the end of ducting (1) of a forced ventilation system in a mine to minimize the disturbance of dust by high velocity air discharging from the ducting. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ventilation equipment This invention relates to ventilation equipment.

In particular, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to ventilation equipment used in underground mines.

It is known in underground mines for working regions to have only one access roadway and for such regions to be ventilated by forcing air into the regions along ducting. In order to control airborne dust in such a working region it is often necessary to install an extraction ventilation system comprising ducting, a fan for inducing air flow along the ducting and a dust collector for arresting dust from the induced air flow. For such a system to be effective it is necessary for the extraction system to induce air flow into itself and relies on dusty air in the working region not being disturbed by the effect of high velocity air discharging from the ducting of the main forced ventilation system. In order to overcome or reduce this problem diffusers have been fitted to the discharge section of the ducting.

Unfortunately, known diffusers tend to be heavy, bulky, liable to damage by passing equipment and relatively expensive.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the above disadvantages associated with known diffusers.

According to the present invention, a diffuser for air induced to flow along ducting comprises a generally cylindrical sack of foldable material which is adapted on one end for connection to the ducting and which is at least partially closed against air flow, at least portions of the sack wall being provided with holes for the passage of air which in use is discharged from the ducting.

Preferably, the holes are provided in a generally cylindrical wall component of the sack and in an end wall component partially closing the associated end of the sack.

Advantageously, the total area defined by the holes is at least as great as the cross-sectional area of the ducting.

Preferably, the total area defined by the holes is at least twice as great as the cross-sectional area of the ducting.

Conveniently, the total area defined by the holes provided in the end wall component of the sack constitutes approximately one tenth of the toal area defined by all the holes provided in the sack walls.

Conveniently, the end wall component is detachable from the generally cylindrical wall component.

By way of example only, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic perspective view of a sack constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The accompanying drawing shows one end of a section 1 of air flow ducting installed along an undergound mine roadway. A fan (not shown) is arranged to blow air into a working region in the mine causing air to be directed along the ducting towards the section 1 (in a direction indicated by arrow X) where it is discharged into the working region. A diffuser 2 is mounted on the downstream end of the section 1 in order to defuse the air discharging from the ducting. The diffuser 2 comprises a generally cylindrical sack of foldable material constituted by a generally cylindrical wall component 3 and an end wall component 4 detachably mounted on to one end of the generally cylindrical wall component 3, the component 3 being mounted at its other end on to the section 1.The mounting means for both these connections comprises rings provided on the associated ends of the section 1 and of the diffuser components 3 and 4, and clamp means for holding two adjacent rings connected together.

The walls of the diffuser sack components 3 and 4 are provided with holes 6 and 7, respectively, for the passage of air flow discharging from the ducting. The total area defined by the holes is at least as great as the cross-sectional area of the ducting 1 and frequently the total area defined by the holes is at least twice as great as the cross-sectional area of the ducting 1.

Conveniently, the total area defined by the holes provided in the end wall component 4 of the diffusers constitutes approximately one tenth of the total area defined by all the holes provided in the sack walls.

In use, the action of the diffuser is to at least partially close the discharge end of the ducting to avoid the aforementioned problems associated with relatively high air flow discharging towards a region of dust production.

From the above description it will be appreciated that the present invention provides an air diffuser which collapses and is light to facilitate easy handling and assembly and which is simple, robust and inexpensive, the diffuser tending to overcome the problems associated with prior known diffusers.

Claims

1. A diffuser for air induced to flow along ducting comprising a generally cylindrical sack of foldable material which is adapted on one end for connection to the ducting and which is at least partially closed against air flow, at least portions of the sack wall being provided with holes for the passage of air which in use is discharged from the ducting.

2. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1, in which the holes are provided in a generally cylindrical wall component of the sack and in an end wall component partially closing the associated end of the sack.

3. A diffuser as claimed in claim 2, in which the total area defined by the holes is at least as great as the cross-sectional area of the ducting.

4. A diffuser as claimed in claim 2, in which the total area defined by the holes is at least twice as

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Ventilation equipment This invention relates to ventilation equipment. In particular, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to ventilation equipment used in underground mines. It is known in underground mines for working regions to have only one access roadway and for such regions to be ventilated by forcing air into the regions along ducting. In order to control airborne dust in such a working region it is often necessary to install an extraction ventilation system comprising ducting, a fan for inducing air flow along the ducting and a dust collector for arresting dust from the induced air flow. For such a system to be effective it is necessary for the extraction system to induce air flow into itself and relies on dusty air in the working region not being disturbed by the effect of high velocity air discharging from the ducting of the main forced ventilation system. In order to overcome or reduce this problem diffusers have been fitted to the discharge section of the ducting. Unfortunately, known diffusers tend to be heavy, bulky, liable to damage by passing equipment and relatively expensive. An object of the present invention is to overcome the above disadvantages associated with known diffusers. According to the present invention, a diffuser for air induced to flow along ducting comprises a generally cylindrical sack of foldable material which is adapted on one end for connection to the ducting and which is at least partially closed against air flow, at least portions of the sack wall being provided with holes for the passage of air which in use is discharged from the ducting. Preferably, the holes are provided in a generally cylindrical wall component of the sack and in an end wall component partially closing the associated end of the sack. Advantageously, the total area defined by the holes is at least as great as the cross-sectional area of the ducting. Preferably, the total area defined by the holes is at least twice as great as the cross-sectional area of the ducting. Conveniently, the total area defined by the holes provided in the end wall component of the sack constitutes approximately one tenth of the toal area defined by all the holes provided in the sack walls. Conveniently, the end wall component is detachable from the generally cylindrical wall component. By way of example only, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic perspective view of a sack constructed in accordance with the present invention. The accompanying drawing shows one end of a section 1 of air flow ducting installed along an undergound mine roadway. A fan (not shown) is arranged to blow air into a working region in the mine causing air to be directed along the ducting towards the section 1 (in a direction indicated by arrow X) where it is discharged into the working region. A diffuser 2 is mounted on the downstream end of the section 1 in order to defuse the air discharging from the ducting. The diffuser 2 comprises a generally cylindrical sack of foldable material constituted by a generally cylindrical wall component 3 and an end wall component 4 detachably mounted on to one end of the generally cylindrical wall component 3, the component 3 being mounted at its other end on to the section 1.The mounting means for both these connections comprises rings provided on the associated ends of the section 1 and of the diffuser components 3 and 4, and clamp means for holding two adjacent rings connected together. The walls of the diffuser sack components 3 and 4 are provided with holes 6 and 7, respectively, for the passage of air flow discharging from the ducting. The total area defined by the holes is at least as great as the cross-sectional area of the ducting 1 and frequently the total area defined by the holes is at least twice as great as the cross-sectional area of the ducting 1. Conveniently, the total area defined by the holes provided in the end wall component 4 of the diffusers constitutes approximately one tenth of the total area defined by all the holes provided in the sack walls. In use, the action of the diffuser is to at least partially close the discharge end of the ducting to avoid the aforementioned problems associated with relatively high air flow discharging towards a region of dust production. From the above description it will be appreciated that the present invention provides an air diffuser which collapses and is light to facilitate easy handling and assembly and which is simple, robust and inexpensive, the diffuser tending to overcome the problems associated with prior known diffusers. Claims

4. A diffuser as claimed in claim 2, in which the total area defined by the holes is at least twice as great as the cross-sectional area of the ducting.

5. A diffuser as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, in which the total area defined by the holes provided in the end wall component of the sack constitutes approximately one tenth of the total area defined by all the holes provided in the sack walls.

6. A diffuser as claimed in claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, in which the end wall component is detachable from the generally cylindrical wall component.

7. A diffuser for air induced to flow along ducting substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.