floor, page-53

Hi pooh – I don’t really want to labour the point, but I still can’t see a bifurcated conveyor.
I presume you are referring to the picture at http://www.citigold.com/goldtecminingsystem.html ?

The relevant text with the picture states:
“Co-axial Pipe Conveyors to Replace Haulage Trucks
Underground decline mining normally uses haulage trucks to transport ore and waste to the surface. The GoldTec Mining System will use a state-of-art Co-axial Pipe (CAP) conveyor, to haul ore and some minor waste to the surface. Because conveyors operate continuously they can be fully automated and controlled. The electric power will also significantly reduce ventilation requirements with a subsequent reduction in services capital, operation complexity and cleaner air.”

The picture shows a single conveyor belt (not bifurcated) which is rolled up into a tube (the co-axial pipe) where it goes through the roller boxes, enabling it to bend in tight curves horizontally and vertically (which a flat conveyor belt can’t) without losing its load. The belt then flattens out right at the end (outside the roller boxes) to dump the material from the conveyor. Not a bifurcation in sight.

CTO’s concept is interesting, and their point about ventilation is relevant – vent requirements underground are a minimum of half a cubic metre of air per second. Underground mobile diesel equipment produces fumes and heat which can only be removed by flowing air underground – a 300 kW engine puts out the same heat as 300 one-bar electric radiators. That’s a lot of air requirement that could be eliminated if the diesel gear can be eliminated, plus repairs, maintenance and diesel cost savings.