Change Over Station and Method

A method for providing a protected environment to miners from a mine environment in a mine comprising the steps of:

• opening a primary valve disposed in a control panel located on the outside of a steel housing of a change over station (COS) to an on state which causes compressed gas from compressed gas cylinders inside the housing to flow through a first flow path of plumbing in the steel housing into the chamber of the housing and create positive pressure in the chamber relative to the mine environment;
• opening a door of the housing which activates a door activated switch that causes compressed gas from the compressed gas cylinders to flow through a third flow path of the plumbing into the chamber of the housing and add to the flow through the first flow path of compressed gas into the chamber to increase the positive pressure in the chamber and to direct gas flow out of the chamber and through the open door;
• miners entering the chamber through the door, the miners taking SCSRs or SCBAs from a storage portion in the housing and the miners using the SCSRs or SCBAs;
• closing the door of the housing which deactivates the door activated switch stopping compressed gas flow through the third flow path;
• and
• turning the primary valve to a standby state which causes the compressed gas from the compressed gas cylinders to flow through a second flow path of the plumbing into the chamber and a flow rate that is less than the rate of flow of compressed gas through the first flow path.