Air filtration device for use with roof drill

An air filtration device for collecting dust generated by a roof drill having a drill steel while drilling a bolt hole in a mine roof, the filtration device comprising:

• a) an air intake block mounted at a mine roof adjacent a drill steel drilling a bolt hole in a mine roof, the air intake block having the shape of a rectangular box having a front face, a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of opposing side walls, the front face having a plurality of holes defined therein for admitting dust laden air, said air intake block having a common air passage defined therein, the plurality of holes being in communication with said common air passage, the air intake block further having an exit port;
• b) a plurality of mesh screens covering the plurality of holes defined in the front face of said air intake block for limiting the size of dust particles entering said air intake block;
• c) an air filter and dust collection box connected to said air intake block by a flexible hose;
• d) a vacuum source for applying a vacuum connected to said air filter and dust collection box, said air intake block directing the vacuum transverse to a longitudinal axis through the drill steel to an area around the bolt hole for removing dust laden air;
• and
• e) a switch electrically connected to said vacuum source for turning said vacuum source on and off.

An air filtration device for collecting dust generated by a roof drill while drilling a bolt hole in a mine roof in combination with a roof drill, comprising:

• a) a roof drill for drilling a bolt hole in a mine roof, the roof drill having a drill steel;
• b) an air intake block mounted at the mine roof adjacent the drill steel;
• and
• c) a vacuum source for applying a vacuum connected to said air intake block, said air intake block directing the vacuum transverse to a longitudinal axis through the drill steel to an area around the bolt hole for removing dust laden air.