In mine production, belt conveyors need to pass through airlocks in different ventilation zones to achieve material transportation. The anti-reverse airflow airlock for belt conveyors passing through airlocks is the core equipment that resolves the contradiction between "transportation passage and ventilation isolation." It ensures the normal operation of the belt conveyor while effectively preventing airflow from reversing through the gap where the belt passes through the airlock, maintaining the stability and safety of the mine ventilation system.

I. Core Functions and Design Objectives

The core function of the anti-reverse airflow airlock for belt conveyors is "bidirectional isolation + dynamic sealing":

• Reverse Flow Prevention: Prevents airflow from different areas of the mine (such as intake and return airways, high-gas and low-gas zones) from leaking through the gap where the belt passes through the airlock, avoiding risks such as gas accumulation and airflow imbalance.
• Adaptation to Belt Conveyance: Maintains a sealed state during the continuous operation of the belt conveyor (including vibration and deviation) without affecting material transportation efficiency.
• Compatibility with Airlock Operation: Synchronizes with the airlock body to ensure that the anti-reverse airflow structure does not interfere with the normal opening and closing of the airlock.

II. Core Structural Components

The anti-reverse airflow airlock consists of three parts: the basic airlock frame, dynamic sealing components, and linkage control mechanism. These components work together to achieve a balance between sealing and transportation:

1. Basic Airlock Frame

• Bidirectional Airlock Body: Typically a double-leaf airlock made of steel or composite materials, which can be manually, pneumatically, or electrically operated to meet conventional ventilation isolation needs. The frame dimensions must match the width of the belt conveyor and the roadway cross-section, with reserved passages for the belt to enter and exit.
• Rigid Support Structure: High-strength steel beams (horizontal or vertical) are added to the airlock frame at the position where the belt passes through, serving as the installation base for the dynamic sealing components to ensure stability and vibration resistance.

2. Dynamic Sealing Components (Core Anti-Reverse Airflow Unit)

This is the key to preventing reverse airflow, requiring real-time contact sealing during the operation of the belt conveyor. It mainly includes:

• Sealing Chamber: A rectangular or circular chamber structure surrounding the section of the belt passing through the airlock, fixed to the airlock frame to form a "closed passage," reducing the chance of airflow directly contacting the belt gap.
• Flexible Follow-Up Sealing Element:
  • Materials: Wear-resistant rubber, canvas composite layers, polyurethane, etc., combining elasticity (to adapt to belt vibration) and wear resistance (to withstand belt friction).
  • Structure: Often arranged in a "U-shaped" or "bilateral symmetric" configuration, with pre-tension applied via springs, counterweights, or pneumatic rods to ensure the edges of the sealing element always lightly contact the belt surface (contact pressure ≤5N/cm2 to avoid hindering belt operation).
• Wear-Resistant Guide Device: Wear-resistant liners or rollers are installed at the contact points between the sealing element and the belt to reduce wear. Guide limit blocks are placed on both sides to restrict the lateral deviation range of the belt (typically ±50mm), preventing sealing failure.