SAFETY
Underground Ventilation Mine Doors An innovative and robust range of underground ventilation mine doors has been launched into the Southern Africa’s mining sector.
T
hese doors are manufactured by global mine door solutions specialist, USA-based American Mine Door, and are available locally from Maxiflex. Thanks to their unique design, the door wings open in opposite directions, enhancing safety, efficiency and productivity. In addition to giving the mine doors the ability to endure water gauge pressure, the patented ‘opposing wing’ design cancels out the effects of static pressure. Moreover, this key differentiating feature enables the mine to reverse air current without accumulating the costs of disassembling and reassembling doors in opposite directions. As the same air assists the doors to open and close, the air pressure is equalised, reducing potential stored energy concerns. The risk of ramp slope effects is eliminated as the door wing that operates downhill helps the other wing uphill. Owing to the equal force principal, these versatile mine doors can be installed in most slope applications.
Innovative robust range of underground ventilation mine door
Key differentiating feature enables the mine to reverse air current without accumulating the costs of disassembling and reassembling doors in opposite directions The underground ventilation mine doors are available in three unique designs: low, medium and high-pressure in sizes ranging from 1.5m - 7m wide to 1.5m - 5m high. The doors are installed at a 12/6 pitch and the door wings both open at 63° versus 90°; which significantly reduces the open/close cycle resulting in improved productivity. Door speed is further increased by cushioned cylinders.
Safety awareness
All door functions are controlled by advanced automation control technology. The custom programmable logic control (PLC) package provides operators with greater control and increased productivity, while improving their safety awareness. The PLC package helps to maintain airlock integrity by allowing only one door to open at a time while the other door is ‘locked out’. Traffic lights and audible alarms at each door signals door positions. The mine doors can also be opened and closed from above ground. The PLC package can be utilised to count cycles and forecast when maintenance is needed. The units are available in electric, hydraulic, pneumatic and manual actuation systems as well as in single, two and three door configurations. In addition to standard logic packages, custom-programmed solutions assist operators to customise their doors to meet their individual operational needs. Additional options including lighting systems and audible
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THE SOUTH AFRICAN MECHANICAL ENGINEER
The door wings of underground ventilation mine doors open in productivity
VOL 70 Mar/Apr 2020
