Tunnel Radio on the Road:
- February 2012
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20-23 SME / CMA Annual Meeting & Exhibit
Seattle, WA
Tunnel Radio Announces MSHA approval issued for first of its kind Wireless Methane Sensor
Friday June 24, 2011
Tunnel Radio of America is pleased to announce the recent US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Approval of our latest technology, the TR-MX-332 Methane and CO detection capable wireless reader for coal mine use.
Designed for use with our MineAx® Bird Dog RFID personnel tracking system, this new micro-technology now makes it feasible to wirelessly deploy a multitude of Methane and CO (carbon dioxide) sensors anywhere needed in a coal mine environment. For the first time, this critical gas level information can be transmitted wirelessly to the surface from the primary methane sources deep in a mine – the working section faces and long-wall mining zones. Complementing our proven long-range wireless readers, these sensors may operate for months on battery power and provide underground personnel location and gas levels simultaneously to surface computer displays.
As coal mines are now required by MSHA to deploy electronic tracking under the Miner Act of 2006, the widely deployed Tunnel Radio MineAx® RFID technology can additionally be used to provide very precise methane and hydrocarbon group gas measurement 24/7 in the mines using a new digital technology. Sensors can be located exactly where needed, a shortcoming of existing wired technologies, that also must be disabled once an emergency occurs. In addition, the same device is equipped with CO (carbon monoxide) sensor – (a precursor gas emitted from very low level combustion sources), to alert mine crews immediately of unsafe thermal conditions, giving time to react before a fire breaks out. The unit also transmits temperature, humidity and barometric pressure readings, providing atmospheric data helpful in evaluating overall mine ventilation system effectiveness, a critical factor in recent mine disasters. Incorporating the most advanced digital technology available, MineAx® creates a modern laboratory within a mine.
With this equipment deployed, mine personnel will finally have the tools to prevent deadly methane detonation accidents as never before, prevalent for decades in the industry. Critical Information may now be viewed from the comfort of the office, home or Head Quarters by simply accessing the local mine computer through the internet, including the use of most mobile devices. The MineAx® Bird Dog tracking system is already deployed in over 50 mines across three countries.
Springing from this breakthrough technology, the design team at Tunnel Radio has more safety related products in to be released in the coming months. Our motto here is, “a wireless mine is a safer mine”. We appreciate the professional assistance tendered by the Mine Safety and Health’s Triadelphia, WV laboratory, whose dedicated staff worked hard to assist our engineers in the success of this endeavor. We feel this technology is a win for miner safety, the industry and is a credit to American know how.
Both MineAx® and MultihopTM have trademarks filed and such marks are the express property of Tunnel Radio of America. Patents are pending.
Tunnel Radio of America’s home office is located near Corvallis, Oregon with a field office in Lexington, KY. We have dealers in several States including outlets in Canada and Australia. We have provided services and manufactured technologies serving the Mining and Railroad industries for over 20 years.
If you’d like more information on the MineAx® Bird Dog Tracking System or any of our other products, please contact us at (541) 758-5637.
Download a printable Press Release here
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