Signaling System in Mines

• three main methods of signalling system in

mines. The methods are:
• 1. Bare Wire System
• 2. Pull Wire System
• 3. Signaling Keys and Receivers.
 Signaling System in Mines: Method
# 1. Bare Wire System:
• In this system there are two parallel bare
wires, usually of galvanized iron, which are
suspended at a convenient height just above
head level along the entire length of the
haulage road or conveyor. A signal can be sent
from any point along the run by making
connection between the two wires. This can
be done either by squeezing them together
with the hand, or by bridging them with a
signaling device.
 Signaling System in Mines: Method
# 2. Pull Wire System

• Along the haulage road or conveyor in the

colliery, pull switches are placed at regular
intervals. These are connected together into
the signalling circuit by insulated cable. A
signal can be sent from any position along the
haulage road or conveyor by pulling a flexible
steel wire running between the switches.
• The signalling cable itself is sometimes used as
the pull wire. It is then lashed to the pull key
and looped into the cable entry as shown in
Fig 10.8(a).
• Some types of pull switch are designed so that the
operating cable enters the switch through a gland
and is connected to a spring loaded contact. The
contact is operated directly by pulling on the cable.
Fig. 10.8(b) shows diagrammatically such a pull
switch. Generally this type of switch is used in a
break-to-operate signal-stop circuit.
•
 Signaling System in Mines: Method
# 3. Signaling Keys and Receivers
• Signalling keys are make-and-break switches
operated by a pull lever or button. The operating
device is usually shrouded, or otherwise protected,
to prevent accidental operation. A common type of
signalling key consists of a robust metal box as shown
in Fig. 10.9(a) with an operating bar spanning two
levers underneath.
• The operating bar is protected by a fixed bar
in front of it, and the key is operated by
squeezing the-two bars together. The signal
receiver is usually an electric bell as shown in
Fig. 10.9(b), but hooters as in Fig 10.9(c) are
used if a distinctive signal is required.
 Signal Bells:
The signal receiver is usually an electric bell, but
hooters are also used particularly if a distinctive signal
is required. Bells can be designed for use either on a.c.
systems, or d.c. systems. Alternatively they can be
designed for use on D.C. bells which are obviously for
use on d.c. systems only, as shown in Fig. 10.10
schematically.
However these can be designed for use on both a.c.
or d.c system by supplying the bell through a bridge
rectifier. Whatever supply is connected to the
terminals, d.c. current is supplied to the bell coils. Fig.
10.11 explains how a bell operates.
• A bell for use with a.c. systems only consists of
a simple solenoid polarized by a permanent
magnet as shown in Fig. 10.12. During one
half of each cycle of supply, the solenoid has
the same polarity as the permanent magnet
and these two magnetic fields augment one
another attracting the striker arm of the bell.
• During the other half of each cycle the polarity of the solenoid
field opposes that of the permanent magnet so that the field
is neutralized and the striker arm is returned to its normal
position by its return spring. The striker arm, therefore, moves
rapidly backwards and forwards striking the gong once for
each cycle of supply.
• A single stroke bell as explained in Fig. 10.10(a) consists of a
coil, or solenoid wound on to a soft iron core, a soft iron
armature with a striker arm fixed to it, a return spring and a
gong. A single stroke bell sounds the gong once only with a
single stroke when the solenoid is energised.
• The bell does not sound again until the solenoid has been
de-energised and is then energised again. This type of bell
can be used in a circuit with a make and break operating
device to deliver number code signals.
• The main disadvantage of a single stroke bell is that due to
the short duration of its sound, in a noisy surrounding a
signal could easily be lost. But more pronounced signaling
is possible with a continuously ringing bell.
• A continuously ringing bell, as shown in Fig. 10.10(b), is
similar to a single stroke bell, except that the solenoid
circuit is completed through a switch operated by the
striker arm. The arm moves continuously and rapidly
backwards and forwards, as long as the supply is connected
to the bell terminals.
• The principal requirements for a rope haulage signalling
system are that it must be possible to ring signals from any
point along the haulage roads and that any signal which is
rung can be heard at all the main stations. The second of
these requirements may mean that two or more bells must
ring simultaneously whenever a signal is given.