Identification and classification of noise sources in a chain conveyor

• Published in: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 2002-05, Vol.111 (5_Supplement), p.2336-2336
• Main Authors: Homer, John P., Vipperman, Jeffrey S., Reeves, Efrem R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0001-4966; 1520-8524
• DOI: 10.1121/1.4777810

Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most significant disabilities of workers in the mining industry. In response, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is conducting a study associated with mining equipment. This study outlines the analysis of a chain conveyor. Band-limited accelerometer, sound-intensity, far-field and near-field microphone measurements were taken along the conveyor section. The sound intensity measurements were used to identify areas with high noise as well as to calculate and 1/3-octave sound power levels. The total sound power results were used to classify the dominant noise sources where the 1/3-octave sound power results were used to identify the most contributive frequency bands to the overall noise of the system. Coherence analysis was performed between accelerometer and microphone measurements to identify structure–borne and air–borne noise paths of the system. Summary results from the analysis include recommendations for transmission control and damping devices and their ability to reduce noise to regulatory acceptable levels.