Abstract: Techniques for acoustic vehicle location tracking are presented. In one embodiment, a processor receives, from a radio-frequency positioning system, measurements of a candidate location for a plurality of vehicles and receives, from a plurality of acoustic sensors, acoustic signals associated with a detected vehicle. The acoustic signals are compared to an acoustic vehicle signature library that includes acoustic information associated with the vehicles. Upon determining that the acoustic signals match acoustic information associated with a vehicle in the acoustic vehicle signature library, the measurements of the candidate location of the detected vehicle based on the radio-frequency signals are compared with a location of the vehicle based on the acoustic signals. Upon determining that the measurements of the candidate location are within a predetermined area of the location of the detected vehicle, the measurements are provided to a vehicle location database.

Abstract: The optimized mine ventilation system of this invention supplements mine ventilation basic control systems composed of PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers with human machine interfaces from vendors such as Allen-Bradley™, Modicon™ and others) or DCSs (Distributed Control System from vendors such as ABB™ and others) with supervisory control establishing a dynamic ventilation demand as a function of real-time tracking of machinery and/or personnel location and where this demand is optimally distributed in the work zones via the mine ventilation network and where the energy required to ventilate is minimized while totally satisfying the demand for each work zones. The optimized mine ventilation system operates on the basis of a predictive dynamic simulation model of the mine ventilation network along with emulated control equipment such as fans and air flow regulators.

Abstract: The optimized mine ventilation system of this invention supplements mine ventilation basic control systems composed of PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers with human machine interfaces from vendors such as Allen-Bradley™, Modicon™ and others) or DCSs (Distributed Control System from vendors such as ABB™ and others) with supervisory control establishing a dynamic ventilation demand as a function of real-time tracking of machinery and/or personnel location and where this demand is optimally distributed in the work zones via the mine ventilation network and where the energy required to ventilate is minimized while totally satisfying the demand for each work zones. The optimized mine ventilation system operates on the basis of a predictive dynamic simulation model of the mine ventilation network along with emulated control equipment such as fans and air flow regulators.

Abstract: The optimized mine ventilation system of this invention supplements mine ventilation basic control systems composed of PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers with human machine interfaces from vendors such as Allen-Bradley™, Modicon™ and others) or DCSs (Distributed Control System from vendors such as ABB™ and others) with supervisory control establishing a dynamic ventilation demand as a function of real-time tracking of machinery and/or personnel location and where this demand is optimally distributed in the work zones via the mine ventilation network and where the energy required to ventilate is minimized while totally satisfying the demand for each work zones. The optimized mine ventilation system operates on the basis of a predictive dynamic simulation model of the mine ventilation network along with emulated control equipment such as fans and air flow regulators.

Abstract: In the extrusion of hollow core concrete slabs, the density profile across the slab is controlled by the vibration of a hammering plate forming one side of a packing chamber through which the concrete is extruded. Vibrations are imparted to the hammering plate by a vibrator that acts to produce vibratory motions in the plate that are not parallel to the direction of extrusion. With two vibrators producing vibratory components both in the direction of extrusion and outwardly to opposite sides of the packing chamber, the flow of concrete to the side edges of the slab is augmented. In an auger-type extruder, this allows the outer augers to be run at a slower speed than otherwise, thus increasing their service life. The vibratory frequency may also be reduced considerably, thus reducing the noise generated by operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: Auxiliary or stub augers are used in conjunction with a convention auger machine that is used to form reinforced hollow cored slabs. They can be used to ensure consolidation of concrete above the cores particularly and relatively in large diameter slabs or can be substituted for one or more of the conventional core forming augers if a core or bore is not required in the slab at that location. The stub auger consists of a first portion having a non tapering shaft and a non tapering flight thereon. The second or downstream portion has a gradually reducing diameter shaft with the flight which continues from the flight around the first portion, decreasing in diameter to substantially zero at the extreme downstream end of the shaft.

Abstract: An auger assembly is provided which includes a core, the surface of which increases in diameter from the upstream end towards the downstream end. The auger flighting upon the core, however, maintains a constant diameter from the upstream end towards the downstream end so that the depth of flighting gradually decreases to zero at the downstream end. This means that the maximum thrust against the concrete being augered occurs at a negative angle of approximately 105.degree., said thrust being at right angles to the surface of the core. This produces a negative flow of the concrete thus contradicting the free concrete flow required in order to provide the necessary bond between the concrete and the cables. The present invention reduces this surface angle to an angle of approximately 90.degree., or having the surface substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.