A Polish research team has developed a new signalling system. To construct the intrinsically safe shaft signalling system fibre-optics transmission and industrial controllers have been used. This system has replaced the transmitter-technology-based systems used till now in order to increase reliability and user-friendliness while keeping all functions in conformance with the mining regulations. They are looking for partners for technical co-operation.

The system has been constructed based on the redundant set of PLC (programmable logic controllers) controllers that operate together with the intrinsically safe DP-slave devices placed underground in mines. The set consists of two different controllers operating in parallel. If one of them is damaged the second one will automatically take over the control of the system. Communication between the controllers and underground part of the system is carried at through bus PROFIBUS DP. Fibre-optic cable is used as a transmission medium. Use of the PROFIBUS configuration in a form of closed circle makes system operation independent of a fibre-optic single damage. The system underground elements are: intrinsically safe local outstations (DP (decentralised periphery) slave's) with acoustic signalling units, signal transmitters and optical signalling units placed at particular mine flats. They are supplied from power supply units with intrinsically safe output. The advanced diagnostic functions of the system allow easy location of damages. A graphic panel is used for communication with the operator. On the panel, all messages on the system operation and the states of its elements are displayed. The PROFIBUS allows simple integration of the shaft signalling unit e.g. with loading skip hoists and other shaft equipment. Visualisation of the system operation is possible by using the advanced computer programme SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition).

Innovative Aspects:
This is a first intrinsically safe shaft-signalling unit. Advanced redundant mechanisms used in software and in hardware provide to obtain the highest degree of reliability.

Main Advantages:
- Fully intrinsically safe quality of work allowing the use of this system in any ventilation conditions
- Reliability of operation resulting from used technical and program solutions
- Module construction allowing fully adaptation to user's demands
- Developed diagnostic potentiality to detect incorrectness in the system operation
- Easy integration with other equipment installed in the shaft area

• Automation, Robotics Control Systems
• Electronic circuits, components and equipment
• Data Processing / Data Interchange, Middleware
• Information Technology/Informatics
• Network Technology, Network Security
• Signal Processing

• Automation/Robotics
• Measurement methods
• INDUSTRY

• Analytical and Scientific Instrumentation
• Process control equipment and systems
• Robotics
• Other industrial automation

• Technical Co-operation
• Commercial Agreement with Technical Assistance