REMOTE MONITORING SAFETY SYSTEM

摘要

A roof monitoring safety system which is especially adapted for use in underground mines, especially underground stone mines, is provided. More specifically, this roof monitoring safety system can accurately and inexpensively gauge movement at single or multiple points in a structure (e.g., a mine roof or wall) relative to a fixed point and can, therefore, provide warning of an impending unsafe condition. Movement of the rock strata overlying the mine is measured directly by use of one or more potentiometers connected via cables to the rock strata at differing locations (normally vertically displaced) in a bore hole in the roof surface. Movement is precisely determined by measuring the output of the potentiometer(s) and comparing it to the control level calibration value (generally determined at the time of installation). Depending on the depth of the bore hole and the location of anchors within the bore hole, movement can be detected within the layers of rock up to 20 feet (or even more) above the surface layer. By providing early warning of an unstable and potentially hazardous condition, efforts can be made to eliminate the unstable condition and/or remove personnel from the potentially hazardous area until the unstable condition is eliminated. The present invention can also be used in and during building or other construction to increase worker safety.