title: Development of elastomeric isolators to reduce roof bolting machine drilling noise.
abstract: Among underground coal miners, hearing loss remains one of the most common occupational illnesses. In response to this problem, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR) conducts research to reduce the noise emission of underground coal-mining equipment, an example of which is a roof bolting machine. Field studies show that, on average, drilling noise is the most significant contributor to a roof bolting machine operator's noise exposure. NIOSH OMSHR has determined that the drill steel and chuck are the dominant sources of drilling noise. NIOSH OMSHR, Corry Rubber Corporation, and Kennametal, Inc. have developed a bit isolator that breaks the steel-to-steel link between the drill bit and drill steel and a chuck isolator that breaks the mechanical connection between the drill steel and the chuck, thus reducing the noise radiated by the drill steel and chuck, and the noise exposure of the roof bolter operator. This paper documents the evolution of the bit isolator and chuck isolator including various alternative designs which may enhance performance. Laboratory testing confirms that production bit and chuck isolators reduce the A-weighted sound level generated during drilling by 3.7 to 6.6 dB. Finally, this paper summarizes results of a finite element analysis used to explore the key parameters of the drill bit isolator and chuck isolator to understand the impact these parameters have on noise.
authors.affiliation: Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, School of Engineering, 5101 Jordan Road, Erie, PA, 16563 USA; rxm61@psu.edu and Corry Rubber Corporation, 601 West Main Street, Corry, PA 16407 USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.affiliation: NIOSH, 626 Cochrans Mill Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15236 USA; dcy6@cdc.gov .
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yantek
authors.affiliation: Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, School of Engineering, 5101 Jordan Road, Erie, PA 16563 USA; dhj1@psu.edu .
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Corry Rubber Corporation, 601 West Main Street, Corry, PA, 16407 USA; ebferro@corryrubber.com.
authors.forename: Ernie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.affiliation: Kennametal, 442 Chalybeate Rd., Bedford, PA 15522 USA; chad.swope@kennametal.com .
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Swope