Blower and dust collecting machine and method of operation

摘要

Dust generated in coal mining is removed by means of a blower having an exhaust fan which draws air through its intake opening from the face of the coal. The blower is provided with a first stage of closely-arranged small-diametered cylindrical-shaped individual centrifuges between its intake opening and the exhaust fan in which the dust-laden air spins as air is drawn therethrough and concentrates the dust in an annular surrounding portion which is separately drawn from the centrifuges through a conduit also evacuated by the exhaust fan. This conduit contains a sharply-reversing bend which effectively separates and discharges the dust into a collection chamber, e.g. a removable bin. A grid disposed ahead of the first stage of individual centrifuges prevents large size particles from entering the centrifuges; and a second stage of closely-arranged, similarly-operating individual centrifuges located in the conduit closer to the exhaust fan remove "fines" which were not discharged to the collection chamber. The thus cleaned air exiting from the conduit is combined by the fan with the dust-freed air drawn from the core of the individual centrifuges and is discharged to the mine return area.