Abstract: A fence post assembly including a wood post member (having a longitudinal axis, a first end surface, and a second end surface) and an elongated metal insert (having an insert longitudinal axis, a first end surface, and a second end surface), where the metal insert is positioned within the wood post member, with the first end surface of the metal insert at least substantially aligned with the first end surface of the wood post member, and the insert longitudinal axis at least substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the wood post member. Typically, the metal insert is longitudinally shorter than the wood post member so that the metal insert does not extend into an end portion of the fence post assembly, allowing the end portion to be conveniently trimmed off or otherwise processed, e.g., during or after installation. Other aspects are methods for manufacturing or installing any embodiment of the fence post assembly.

Abstract: A fence post assembly including a wood post member (having a longitudinal axis, a first end surface, and a second end surface) and an elongated metal insert (having an insert longitudinal axis, a first end surface, and a second end surface), where the metal insert is positioned within the wood post member, with the first end surface of the metal insert at least substantially aligned with the first end surface of the wood post member, and the insert longitudinal axis at least substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the wood post member. Typically, the metal insert is longitudinally shorter than the wood post member so that the metal insert does not extend into an end portion of the fence post assembly, allowing the end portion to be conveniently trimmed off or otherwise processed, e.g., during or after installation. Other aspects are methods for manufacturing or installing any embodiment of the fence post assembly.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a large-capacity main blower for drawing in air from the face of coal being mined. The main blower draws the air sequentially through a grid which deflects large pieces of coal into a refuse bin, and a main stage of centrifugal filters which separates dust and particles into a stream of dirty air while discharging the clean air back into the mine. The dirty air is routed through a secondary stage of centrifugal filters which is energized by a second blower or pressure unit, the output of which is then routed through a cloth filter stage. Only clean air is discharged into the atmosphere. An air balancing device maintains proper operating pressures in the secondary filter stage for more efficient processing of the dirty air discharge. An adjustable balancing plate maintains proper operating pressure at the collection outlets for the main and secondary filter stages.

Abstract: Dust generated in coal mining is removed by means of a blower having an exhaust fan which draws air through its intake opening from the face of the coal. The blower is provided with a first stage of closely-arranged small-diametered cylindrical-shaped individual centrifuges between its intake opening and the exhaust fan in which the dust-laden air spins as air is drawn therethrough and concentrates the dust in an annular surrounding portion which is separately drawn from the centrifuges through a conduit also evacuated by the exhaust fan. This conduit contains a sharply-reversing bend which effectively separates and discharges the dust into a collection chamber, e.g. a removable bin. A grid disposed ahead of the first stage of individual centrifuges prevents large size particles from entering the centrifuges; and a second stage of closely-arranged, similarly-operating individual centrifuges located in the conduit closer to the exhaust fan remove "fines" which were not discharged to the collection chamber.