Mining Publication: Technology News 430 - Translucent Face Partition Reduces Longwall Worker's Dust Exposure

Previous U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) studies have shown that an extended face-conveyor spillplate barrier can create two air splits effectively, but it proved to be impractical because the workers could not see the face area and a reliable radio remote control was not yet available for the sharing machines. The USBM's current approach to air splitting consists of using a polyester mesh partition to overcome the visibility problems of a solid barrier. A permeable mesh partition is expected to provide adequate air-splitting capabilities as long as the pressure differential between the face and worker walkway is minimal. New, reliable, radio remote shearer-control technology supplemented the development of this air-splitting technology.