March 2016
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World Coal
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45
Christian Fimpler and
Herbert Nüllmann, Eaton,
Germany,
detail wireless data and
voice communication as important
safety factors for shaft conveyor systems.
odern shaft conveyor systems use radio systems
for data transmission and voice communication
to and from the conveyor. These systems have to
fulfill the operational, climatic and
safety-relevant aspects and requirements of deep mining.
Featuring explosion protection mode Ex ib I
(intrinsically safe systems), the MR90 shaft radio system
from Funke & Huster Bergbautechnik GmbH in
Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, not only meets the
explosion protection requirements, but also the high
technical and functional requirements of the TAS Directive
(Technical Requirements for Shaft and Inclined Conveyor
Systems, German Regulations for Mines) in their entirety.
In addition to transmitting and receiving data, the system
includes an integrated bi-directional voice connection,
enabling communication with the conveyor operator.
Thanks to its modular design and operating mode, this
basic concept can be extended to a size of 64 digital
inputs/outputs and up to 16 analogue input values. This
enables collection and transmission of a large package of
safety-relevant information from the conveyor, such as
emergency stop, gate and door monitoring, hoist blocked
switch and slack rope monitoring. Moreover, it is possible to
transmit commands from the conveyor directly to the
automatic drive system, and to send feedback to the
conveyor.
Basic structure of the mine radio
system
The MR90 mine radio system has two stations enabling
bi-directional communication using individual
omni-directional antennae. One of the two radio stations is
located on the conveyor (cage station: Figure 2), while the
other one is mounted close to the drive system and/or
control room (fixed station: Figure 1). In both housings,
there are two rear-frequency transmitters and receivers,
one rear-frequency front-end module connected to the
antenna, one low-frequency interface for connection of a
microphone and loudspeaker, as well as one data radio
modem with corresponding analogue and binary input and
output modules. By means of the location identification
codes listed in the plant-specific circuit documents, the
On the safety
wavelength
M
