Air shooting system for the mining of coal or the like

Patent · Tue Nov 24 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5961655

Fitzgerald, J E

An air shooting system is disclosed for use in lieu of explosives in the mining of coal employing a set of tubular shooting heads fitted in respective shot holes in a coal seam. Each shooting head is fed with air under high pressure and has a valve mechanism for triggering discharge of the air when it reaches a predetermined pressure. The source of air pressure is connected to a manifold and automatic shut-off valves are interposed between the manifold and the lines feeding the individual shooting heads. Each shutoff valve has a movable valve element biased into a normally open position to permit flow of air from inlet to outlet but which is snapped into closed position and held there by the inlet pressure when there is a sudden drop in pressure at the outlet accompanying discharge at the associated shooting head. The shooting heads are set to trigger in series at incrementally spaced pressures until all of the shut-off valves are in closed condition. A manual reset valve interposed between the source and the manifold cuts all flow from the source for resetting of the shut-off valves and prompt simultaneous venting of the lines feeding the shooting heads in readiness for a successive shot.

• Assignee: Zeto Ind Inc
• Patent Number(s): US 4301731
• OSTI ID: 5961655
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 12 Sep 1979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
COAL MINING
FRACTURING
MINING EQUIPMENT
DESIGN
BOREHOLES
COAL SEAMS
COMPRESSED AIR
HIGH PRESSURE
VALVES
AIR
CAVITIES
COAL DEPOSITS
COMMINUTION
COMPRESSED GASES
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FLUIDS
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINING
RESOURCES
012000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Mining