On August 15, Shendong Coal’s Jinjie Coal Mine received a Certificate of Utility Model Patent from the China National Intellectual Property Administration for its innovative “Ventilation Duct Folding Device.” This breakthrough not only reduces the labor intensity of underground operations but also minimizes damage and waste of ventilation ducts, providing new momentum for safe and efficient coal mine production.
Once the working face is fully ventilated, local fans will be turned off, and ventilation ducts need to be recovered for reuse. Efficient recovery and cleaning for spare use of the ventilation ducts are thus essential tasks. Previously, the recovery process relied heavily on manual folding and storage, resulting in high labor-intensity and inefficiency. In response, employees of the mine’s N0.1 tunneling team developed the “Ventilation Duct Folding Device.” The device consists of a support frame, rotating shaft, chuck, and pneumatic anchor head. During operation, the chuck and steel ring securely hold one end of the duct, while the rotating shaft winds the duct onto the fixed end, achieving the folding and recovery of the ventilation duct.
Lei Kaichun, Deputy Electromechanical Team Leader of the mine’s No.1 tunneling team, explained, “Due to the heavy material of the ventilation ducts, the previous folding process required substantial manpower and resources. Now, with this device, the folding speed has increased nearly fivefold. It’s time-saving, and labor-saving, and has helped us a lot! The device’s simple design, easy operation, portability, stability, and efficient folding make it an invaluable tool for the tunneling team’s removal planning and duct recovery work.”