GB2072322A

GB2072322A - Cooling device for mining machines

Info

Publication number: GB2072322A
Application number: GB8103395A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MINECOOL Ltd
Current assignee: MINECOOL Ltd
Priority date: 1980-02-06
Filing date: 1981-02-04
Publication date: 1981-09-30

Abstract

A cooling device comprises an inlet 24 for liquid coolant to be cooled, an outlet 20 for cooled coolant, a coolant reservoir and an electrically driven motor 21 arranged to drive both a cooling fan 22 and a pump 17, the pump 17 being arranged so that, in use, it pumps coolant from said inlet to said outlet through a cooling-coil positioned adjacent the cooling fan 22. The motor shaft extends on both sides of the motor housing and is connected on one side to the pump 17 and on the other side to the fan 22. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cooling device This invention relates to cooling devices and more particularly concerns devices for cooling a coolant for an associated machine.

A number of machines which are used in mines include a water cooling system. Such machines are usually electro-hydraulically operated and because of the large capacity of the machines a considerable amount of heat is generated. The present practice on such machines is for the cooling water to be used in another application if possible, such as dust suppression, but frequently the amount of water available is in excess of that required for such other purposes and this water must then be disposed of. Usually it is allowed to drain on to the floor either adjacent the machine or at a position remote therefrom and this causes considerable inconvenience.

According to the present invention we provide a cooling device for cooling a liquid coolant which comprises an inlet for coolant to be cooled, an outlet for cooled coolant, a coolant reservoir and an electrically driven motor arranged to drive a cooling fan and a pump, the pump being arranged so that, in use, it pumps coolant from said inlet to said outlet through a cooling-coil positioned adjacent the cooling fan.

Preferably, the device includes a flow switch to indicate when the coolant flow ceases.

Advantageously, the motor shaft extends on both sides of the motor casing and is connected at one side to the pump and at the other side to the fan.

The fan may be a centrifugal fan.

Preferably there is provided an inlet to the reservoir for make-up coolant and this is controlled by a valve such as a ball float valve.

In a preferred construction the casing of the device is provided with openings such as a grille which directs the air flow to the fan over the motor in order to assist in cooling it.

The cooling device described above can be constructed and employed as a separate unit which may be connected to the machine to be cooled for example by means of flexible hoses.

This is particularly convenient as it enables the cooling device to be located in a convenient position remote from the machine which provides for better control of the atmospheric conditions in the region of the machine.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic layout of a water circuit of a cooling device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a cooling device according to the invention; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the cooling device shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic end view of the cooling device shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The cooling device comprises a cooling coil 1 9 connected to an inlet 24 for coolant fluid, such as water, which is to be cooled. The output from the coil 1 9 is connected to a flow switch 26 and an inlet 27 to a water reservoir 1 5. Cooled water is delivered from the reservoir 1 5 by way of the outlet 1 8 to the cooled water output 20 by means of the pump 1 7. A by-pass outlet 30 is also connected to the pump 1 7.

The reservoir 1 5 is also connected to an inlet for make-up water by way of a strainer 16, a pressure reduction valve 1 3 and a reservoir inlet 12 controlled by a ball float-valve 11. The reservoir 1 5 is also provided with a pair of overflow outlets 10 which are connected to an overflow output 29.

An electric motor 21 (see Figures 2, 3 and 4) having a shaft which extends on both sides of the motor, is arranged to drive the pump 1 7 on one side and to drive the fan 22 on the other side, the fan 22 serving to force cooling air in the direction of arrows 31 through the cooling coil 19. The shaft of pump 21 is connected to the shafts of the pump 17 and fan 22 by couplings 28.

In order to provide for flow of cooling air grilles 32, 33 and 34 are provided in the casing (not shown). The arrangement of grilles serves to ensure that cooling air drawn by the fan 22 passes over the motor and thereby avoids the provision of additional cooling means. The arrangement illustrated in Figure 2 provides for 50% of the cooling air to pass over the motor.

In operation cooled coolant is delivered from the outlet 20 to a machine in which the coolant is required and coolant which has become heated in the machine is returned via the inlet 24 to the cooling coil 1 9 where it is cooled and recycled.

The flow switch 26 operates to detect a return flow of water so that if this flow is interrupted for any reason the motor 21 will be deactivated and also the drive of the associated machine may also be deactivated by conventional means.

The details of the layout of the various components of the device are shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 and from these drawings it can be seen that the device is an extremely convenient selfcontained unit which can be installed to operate in association with any fluid cooled machine. Such machines include road heading machines, heavy duty panza conveyors and ram packing machines.

The use of such a device is particularly advantageous in underground mines in that it reduces the amount of water which is consumed underground and completely eliminates the disposal problem of the spent water. Furthermore, the device utilises standard components which have been well tested in underground mine applications and thus complies with the stringent safety requirements for such applications.

1. A cooling device for cooling a liquid coolant which comprises an inlet for coolant to be cooled, an outlet for cooled coolant, a coolant reservoir and an electrically driven motor arranged to drive a cooling fan and a pump, the pump being arranged so that, in use, it pumps coolant from said inlet to said outlet through a cooling-coil

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cooling device This invention relates to cooling devices and more particularly concerns devices for cooling a coolant for an associated machine. A number of machines which are used in mines include a water cooling system. Such machines are usually electro-hydraulically operated and because of the large capacity of the machines a considerable amount of heat is generated. The present practice on such machines is for the cooling water to be used in another application if possible, such as dust suppression, but frequently the amount of water available is in excess of that required for such other purposes and this water must then be disposed of. Usually it is allowed to drain on to the floor either adjacent the machine or at a position remote therefrom and this causes considerable inconvenience. According to the present invention we provide a cooling device for cooling a liquid coolant which comprises an inlet for coolant to be cooled, an outlet for cooled coolant, a coolant reservoir and an electrically driven motor arranged to drive a cooling fan and a pump, the pump being arranged so that, in use, it pumps coolant from said inlet to said outlet through a cooling-coil positioned adjacent the cooling fan. Preferably, the device includes a flow switch to indicate when the coolant flow ceases. Advantageously, the motor shaft extends on both sides of the motor casing and is connected at one side to the pump and at the other side to the fan. The fan may be a centrifugal fan. Preferably there is provided an inlet to the reservoir for make-up coolant and this is controlled by a valve such as a ball float valve. In a preferred construction the casing of the device is provided with openings such as a grille which directs the air flow to the fan over the motor in order to assist in cooling it. The cooling device described above can be constructed and employed as a separate unit which may be connected to the machine to be cooled for example by means of flexible hoses. This is particularly convenient as it enables the cooling device to be located in a convenient position remote from the machine which provides for better control of the atmospheric conditions in the region of the machine. Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic layout of a water circuit of a cooling device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a cooling device according to the invention; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the cooling device shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic end view of the cooling device shown in Figures 2 and 3. The cooling device comprises a cooling coil 1 9 connected to an inlet 24 for coolant fluid, such as water, which is to be cooled. The output from the coil 1 9 is connected to a flow switch 26 and an inlet 27 to a water reservoir 1 5. Cooled water is delivered from the reservoir 1 5 by way of the outlet 1 8 to the cooled water output 20 by means of the pump 1 7. A by-pass outlet 30 is also connected to the pump 1 7. The reservoir 1 5 is also connected to an inlet for make-up water by way of a strainer 16, a pressure reduction valve 1 3 and a reservoir inlet 12 controlled by a ball float-valve 11. The reservoir 1 5 is also provided with a pair of overflow outlets 10 which are connected to an overflow output 29. An electric motor 21 (see Figures 2, 3 and 4) having a shaft which extends on both sides of the motor, is arranged to drive the pump 1 7 on one side and to drive the fan 22 on the other side, the fan 22 serving to force cooling air in the direction of arrows 31 through the cooling coil 19. The shaft of pump 21 is connected to the shafts of the pump 17 and fan 22 by couplings 28. In order to provide for flow of cooling air grilles 32, 33 and 34 are provided in the casing (not shown). The arrangement of grilles serves to ensure that cooling air drawn by the fan 22 passes over the motor and thereby avoids the provision of additional cooling means. The arrangement illustrated in Figure 2 provides for 50% of the cooling air to pass over the motor. In operation cooled coolant is delivered from the outlet 20 to a machine in which the coolant is required and coolant which has become heated in the machine is returned via the inlet 24 to the cooling coil 1 9 where it is cooled and recycled. The flow switch 26 operates to detect a return flow of water so that if this flow is interrupted for any reason the motor 21 will be deactivated and also the drive of the associated machine may also be deactivated by conventional means. The details of the layout of the various components of the device are shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 and from these drawings it can be seen that the device is an extremely convenient selfcontained unit which can be installed to operate in association with any fluid cooled machine. Such machines include road heading machines, heavy duty panza conveyors and ram packing machines. The use of such a device is particularly advantageous in underground mines in that it reduces the amount of water which is consumed underground and completely eliminates the disposal problem of the spent water. Furthermore, the device utilises standard components which have been well tested in underground mine applications and thus complies with the stringent safety requirements for such applications. CLAIMS

1. A cooling device for cooling a liquid coolant which comprises an inlet for coolant to be cooled, an outlet for cooled coolant, a coolant reservoir and an electrically driven motor arranged to drive a cooling fan and a pump, the pump being arranged so that, in use, it pumps coolant from said inlet to said outlet through a cooling-coil positioned adjacent the cooling fan.

2. A cooling device according to Claim 1 which includes a flow switch.

3. A cooling device according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the motor shaft extends on both sides of the motor housing and is connected at one side to the pump and the other side to the fan.

4. A cooling device according to any of Claims 1 to 3 in which the fan is a centrifugal fan.

5. A cooling device according to any of Claims 1 to 4 in which the pump is provided between the reservoir and the coolant outlet.

6. A cooling device according to any of Claims 1 to 5 in which an inlet to the reservoir is provided for make-up coolant said inlet being controlled by a valve.

7. A cooling device according to Claim 6 in which the valve is a ball float valve.

8. A cooling device according to Claim 6 or 7 in which the coolant is water and the reservoir is supplied with make-up water by way of a pressure reduction valve.

9. A cooling device according to any of Claims 1 to 8 in which the casing comprises at least one opening to direct air flow to the fan over the motor.

10. A cooling device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.