Apparatus for dispersing explosion prevention mixture

Abstract

An apparatus for dispersing liquid flame retardant mixtures mounts in the bucket of mine scoop. The apparatus has a housing which is generally sized to fit within a mine scoop bucket while leaving space in the bucket for moving mine material. The housing has a reservoir within it for holding a fire prevention mixture. The mixture is a liquid mixture and the apparatus has a motor, pump, tubes, and nozzles for dispersing the fire prevention mixture. The apparatus accommodates a hydraulic cylinder for moving the mixture dispersing apparatus back and forth within the scoop bucket. The hydraulic cylinder is operated to position the nozzles for dispersing the liquid. Some embodiments of the apparatus have a front face with scraper blade elements that operate as a scraper blade similar to scraper blades in scoop buckets that do not have the apparatus in place.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for dispersing a liquid mixture for dust control in a mine, the apparatus comprising:
 an ejector blade;   a hydraulic cylinder and rod assembly configured to move the ejector blade;   a nozzle which is fixed with respect to the ejector blade and directed by moving the ejector blade; and,   a hose connected to the nozzle, the hose conducting the liquid mixture to the nozzle.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  positioned in a scoop. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a reservoir for holding a quantity of liquid mixture; and,   a pump, the pump supplying the liquid mixture to the nozzle via the hose.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  positioned in a scoop. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein;
 the hydraulic cylinder and rod assembly and the pump are separately operable by a single person.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising;
 a housing, the reservoir and the pump being located within the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein;
 the housing is fixed to the back of the ejector blade.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein;
 the nozzle is fixed to the housing.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  positioned in a scoop. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein;
 the scoop has a back and the hydraulic cylinder and rod assembly is connected to the back of the scoop.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for dispersing a liquid mixture, said apparatus comprising:
 an ejector blade assembly comprising a housing and an ejector blade;   a reservoir within the housing for holding the liquid mixture;   a nozzle mounted externally on the housing;   a hose for conducting the liquid mixture from the reservoir to the nozzle;   a pump connected to the hose to pump the liquid mixture from the reservoir through the hose to the nozzle; and,   a hydraulic cylinder and rod assembly connected to the ejector blade assembly, the hydraulic cylinder and rod assembly controlling the position of the housing.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 12  positioned in a material scoop having an operator, the pump and the hydraulic cylinder and rod assembly being independently controllable by the operator of the material scoop. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for dispersing a liquid mixture for dust control in a mine, said apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a reservoir within the housing for holding the liquid mixture;   a nozzle fixed externally on the housing;   a hose for conducting the liquid mixture from the reservoir to the nozzle;   a pump within the housing connected to the hose to pump the liquid mixture from the reservoir through the hose to the nozzle; and,   a hydraulic cylinder and rod assembly connected to the housing and to an object distal from the housing, the hydraulic cylinder and rod assembly controlling the position of the housing to direct the dispersal of the liquid mixture by the nozzle.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  positioned in a material scoop having an operator, the pump and the hydraulic cylinder and rod assembly being independently controllable by the operator of the material scoop. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an ejector blade on the housing.   
     
     
         16 . A method of dispersing a liquid, comprising:
 fixing a nozzle to an ejector blade assembly comprising an ejector blade;   connecting a hose to the nozzle;   using a hydraulic cylinder and rod assembly to position the ejector blade assembly;   supplying the liquid to the nozzle via the hose.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein:
 the ejector blade assembly further comprises a reservoir to store the fluid and a pump connected to the reservoir and the hose. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising;
 carrying the ejector blade assembly in a scoop.