Apparatus for removing and collecting moisture from a moisture-laden air flow

A mining machine comprising:

• a self-propelled body,
• a driven cutter on a forward end of said body,
• air-cleaning means comprising:
• a pair of inlet ducts located on opposite sides of said body and including inlet openings,
• a common discharge duct communicating with said forward ducts for receiving air from the latter and conducting it rearwardly,
• means creating a suction at said inlet openings for sucking-in dust-laden air from areas adjacent the forward end of said body,
• a sprayer means in each inlet duct for spraying water onto the sucked-in air, and
• demisting means in each inlet duct downstream of said sprayer means for separating moisture from the air, said demisting means comprising:
• a flow inlet having a lower level,
• a plurality of louvers for receiving air flow from said inlet and causing moisture in the flow to separate-out and gravitate toward a lower collecting surface to be conducted rearwardly under the influences of the air flow,
• an outlet for conducting air from said demisting means, said outlet including a lower level disposed above said lower level of said inlet such that the lower portion of said air flow travels upwardly from said inlet to said outlet,
• a moisture accumulating section disposed completely rearwardly of said louvers and including a floor generally coplanar with said collecting surface, an end wall, and a top wall disposed at a level above said lower level of said inlet, the front portion of said accumulating section defining an entrance for moisture, at least a portion of said entrance immediately below said top wall being substantially open to substantially prevent the travel of moisture droplets upwardly and over said top wall.