Patent GB-725805-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to ventilating plant
Inventor: WALKER JAMES BARTON
IPC: E21F1/00
Filed: 1953-01-23
Abstract: 725,805. Axial-flow fans. WALKER BROS. (WIGAN), Ltd. Dec. 31, 1953 [Jan. 23, 1953], No. 1962/53. Class 110 (1). [Also in Group X] A group of fans of the axial flow, or propeller type, preferably two in number, are arranged to rotate about a horizontal, or substantially horizontal axis, each fan being separately mounted on its own carriage, or bogey, capable of being moved in a direction at right angles, or substantially at right angles, to the direction of the axis of the fan so that one fan can be moved from an operative position in line with a ventilating drift, and another, or the other, can be moved into said operative position. Two fans 37, 38, Fig. 1, are each mounted on a separate bogey 4, Fig. 4, one fan 37, being normally located for operation between two portions 1, 2 of a fan drift 36 and the other fan 38 being located in a standby position 5. A " T "-shaped track 7 is arranged on one side of the drift 36, rails 6 for guiding a bogey accurately between the parts 1, 2 of the drift being narrow to engage between the flanges of the bogey wheels 20, the rest of the track being flat faced and broad for the flanges to run on. A fan being withdrawn from service, e.g. the fan 37, Fig. 1, is first moved transversely of the drift along the track 7 and then at right angles to a position 9, the standby fan 38 being moved to the right and then transversely and onto the rails 6 in the operative position. The fan 37 is then moved from the position 9 to a standby position 5 where it is mounted on bearers 8. In order that the bogeys may change direction at the head of the track each bogey wheel is mounted on a trunnion 21, Fig. 6, rotatable about a vertical axis in a bearing 22 fixed to the bogey and having a hole 23 therein to receive a locking pin 24 which can be located in one of two holes 25 in the trunnion for locking the wheels with their axis either in line with, or at right angles to, the longitudinal axis of the bogey. Each bogey is provided with two jacks 10 arranged at opposite sides at one end, and a jack 11 between the sides at the other end so that the wheels 33 can be raised for - changing their direction. Near one end of the rails 6, i.e. at the lower end as viewed in Fig. 1, are fixed a pair of buffers 12 having " V " blocks 13 to engage corresponding abutments 14 mounted on the ends of each bogey. A bracket 17 is also fixed at one side at the other end of each bogey, a pin 19 being passed through a hole in the bracket 17 for location in one of a series of socket openings in the corresponding bracket of a pair of brackets 15, 16, situated at either side of the track for accurately locating the operative bogey in the transverse direction of the drift. The bogey is lifted, by the jacks, on to packing pieces 33 on robust sole-plates 31 located on opposite sides of the rails 6, bolts being passed through corresponding holes in the lower flanges of the bogey frame, the packings 33, and the sole-plates 31, to finally secure the bogey in the operative position. A fan 26, mounted for operation on a bogey 4 is enclosed in a casing 27 corresponding in diameter to that of the drift 1, 2, and is sealed to the drift by strips 28. Rotatable blades 29 co-operate with fixed blades 30. When the fan is in the operative position in the drift it is flexibly coupled to a driving shaft 35, Fig. 5, which is preferably driven by a variable-speed electric motor. When there is room in the mine the " T "-shaped track may be dispensed with and a single track, extending on both sides of the drift, may be used, for instance the track 6 may extend on both sides of the drift.