| Mining | ||
Recovery of raw materials from open cast pits or underground mines. Pumps with a great delivery head are required for the continuous removal of water from underground mines. Virtually all these pumps are sealed by balanced mechanical seals fitted with seal faces and stationary seats made of tungsten or silicon carbide to cope with the solids contained in the mine water. Special cutting machines are often used for the tunnelling in underground mining, the raw materials being recovered by cutters, ploughs and disk shearers. |
The plough and cutter heads of these machines are fed with cooling water, which is used also to combat dust development and to extinguish sparks from the cutting tools. Too much water is also undesirable, however, as it would cause sludging of the mined product and so impede its transportation from the face. Mechanical seals are employed to seal those points where the water passes between the stationary and the rotating parts of the water feed system. (see illustrations) | |
Tunneling machine with plought head  Mechanical seals for mining ploughs and disk
hearers
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