Abstract: A moveable shaft assembly including a frame, a first shaft, and a first drive assembly. The frame includes a first support wall and a second support wall opposite the first support wall. The first shaft includes a drive end and a support end and defining a first axis therebetween. The first shaft extends between the first support wall and the second support wall. The first drive assembly rotates the first shaft about the first axis, and the first drive assembly is coupled to the drive end of the first shaft. The first shaft and first drive assembly are moveable relative to the frame in response to a reaction force acting on the first shaft in a direction oblique or transverse to the first axis.

Abstract: An industrial machine and a method of controlling an industrial machine, the industrial machine including a dipper supported by a dipper handle. The method may include determining an operating phase of the industrial machine, in a first operating phase of the industrial machine, limiting, with at least one controller, a reach of the dipper handle, and in a second operating phase of the industrial machine, enabling, with the at least one controller, an extended reach of the dipper handle greater than the reach in the first operating phase. The industrial machine may include at least one controller configured to determine an operating phase of the industrial machine, in a first operating phase of the industrial machine, limit a reach of the dipper handle, and, in a second operating phase of the industrial machine, enable an extended reach of the dipper handle greater than the reach in the first operating phase.

Abstract: A retainer assembly for securing a bearing relative to a shaft in a first axial direction. The retainer assembly includes a collar, a lock ring, and a retaining nut. The collar includes a first portion, a second portion, and a bore extending through the first portion and the second portion. The first portion includes external threads, and the second portion includes an internal recess extending circumferentially around the bore. The lock ring is located within the internal recess such that the lock ring is positioned between the second portion of the collar and the shaft and is removably coupled to the shaft. The retaining nut includes internal threads that threadingly engage the external threads of the first portion.

Abstract: A method of controlling a digging operation of an industrial machine. The industrial machine includes a dipper connected to a dipper handle, a hoist rope attached to the dipper, and a hoist motor moving the hoist rope and the dipper. The method includes determining that the dipper is ready to be unloaded, activating a secondary tipping control operation by controlling a speed of the hoist motor, controlling an acceleration ramp rate of the hoist motor, and controlling a deceleration ramp rate of the hoist motor. The method further includes determining when the dipper is unloaded and deactivating the secondary tipping control operation.

Abstract: A dipper assembly for a mining shovel includes a dipper body, a dipper door pivotably coupled to the dipper body, an arm, a housing coupled to one of the body and the door, and a piston. The arm includes a first end pivotably coupled to the body and a second end pivotably coupled to the door. The movement of the door relative to the body drives the arm to pivot relative to the body. The housing includes an inlet in fluid communication with a fluid source, an outlet, and a cylinder partially defining a pump chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The piston is movable within the cylinder and biased in a first direction. The pivoting movement of the arm causes the piston to move in a second direction opposite the first direction. The movement of the piston changes a volume of the pump chamber.

Abstract: A rope shovel includes a wristing dipper arrangement. The shovel comprises a base, a boom extending from the base, the boom having a first end attached to the base and a second end remote from the base. The shovel further comprises a pulling mechanism mounted on the second end of the boom and a boom attachment pivotally mounted on the boom and attached to a dipper, the boom attachment including an actuator coupled to the dipper.

Abstract: Controlling a digging operation of an industrial machine that includes a dipper, a crowd motor drive, and a controller. The crowd motor drive is configured to provide one or more control signals to a crowd motor, and the crowd motor is operable to provide a force to the dipper to move the dipper toward or away from a bank. The controller is connected to the crowd motor drive and is configured to monitor a characteristic of the industrial machine, identify an impact event associated with the dipper based on the monitored characteristic of the industrial machine, and set a crowd motoring torque limit for the crowd motor drive when the impact event is identified.

Abstract: A machine includes a base, a main housing that is freely rotatable and supported on the base. The main housing includes a generally horizontal surface. The machine also includes a drum mounted on said main housing, a boom extending from said main housing, a bucket operatively connected to and supported by the boom, a wire rope extending between the drum and the bucket for movement of the bucket, a fairlead disposed on the main housing along a path of the wire rope. The wire rope passes through the fairlead between the drum and the bucket. A dynamic dampening mechanism is disposed on the fairlead, the dynamic dampening mechanism including a dampening fluid having a variable viscosity in response to an electrical current applied thereto.

Abstract: A machine tooth for heavy equipment can be monitored by coupling an RFID tag to the heavy machine tooth and positioning an RFID reader to read the RFID tag. The RFID reader provides an indication that the heavy machine tooth is separated from the heavy machine. The heavy machine tooth is configured, for example, to be mounted on a bucket of a heavy machine.

Abstract: A rope guide that includes an arm, a rope-contacting element, and a spring damper. The rope guide is pivotably coupled to the boom of a mining shovel. The combination of the arm, spring damper, and rope-contacting element maintains a nominal tension in the rope, thereby reducing the likelihood of wear and fatigue on the rope.

Abstract: Determining dipper geometry. A method of determining dipper geometry includes obtaining a first set of data associated with an industrial machine for a first orientation of the industrial machine, and obtaining a second set of data associated with the industrial machine for a second orientation of the industrial machine. The first set of data includes at least one of a first length associated with a hoist rope and a first angle associated with the hoist rope, and the second set of data includes at least one of a second length associated with the hoist rope and a second angle associated with the hoist rope. The value of the physical characteristic of the dipper is then determined based on the first set of data and the second set of data.

Abstract: Permanent magnet inclinometer for an industrial machine. The industrial machine includes a component movable with respect to the industrial machine that includes a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet. A circular magnetic sensor array senses a first magnetic flux associated with the first permanent magnet and a second magnetic flux associated with the second permanent magnet. The circular magnetic sensor array includes a first magnetic sensor that senses the first magnetic flux and a second magnetic sensor that senses the second magnetic flux. The controller receives a first flux signal related to the first magnetic flux and a second flux signal related to the second magnetic flux, analyzes the first flux signal to identify a first peak magnetic flux, and analyzes the second flux signal to identify a second peak magnetic flux. The controller then determines the inclination of the component of the industrial machine based on the first peak magnetic flux and the second peak magnetic flux.

Abstract: A dipper including a dipper door and an impact actuated jaw defining a lip and a chin The jaw is rotatably mounted on the dipper door for rotation between a door-opened position and a door-closed position and positioned so that when the jaw is in the door-opened position, the jaw chin can be impacted by the dipper body when the door pivots to the door-closed position. The dipper also includes a hold open mechanism for releasably holding the door latch in the latch open position when the latch is in the open position, and a locking mechanism for releasably locking the latch when the latch is in the door-closed position. The locking mechanism includes one bar pivotally attached to the door, and another bar pivotally connected to and extending between each of the one bar and the latch.

Abstract: A reel system includes a reel having a rotational axis, the reel including a plurality of ledges spaced radially from the rotational axis, the ledges defining a stepped configuration along an interior surface of the reel. The reel system also includes a first clamp having a first width and a second clamp having a second width greater than the first width, wherein the first clamp and the second clamp engage the plurality of ledges as the reel is rotated.

Abstract: A pin retention system includes a pin having a circumferential groove disposed along the pin, and a plurality of retention elements sized to sit within the circumferential groove, each of the retention elements including a plurality of holes. The system also includes a plurality of dowels sized to slide within the holes in the retention elements.

Abstract: Methods for decomposing event information for a machine are described. In one aspect, a method includes receiving event data identifying events associated with a machine on a first communications channel, and receiving trend data for the machine associated with the identified events on a second communications channel separate from the first communications channel. Systems and machine-readable media are also described.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and computer readable media for controlling a digging operation of an industrial machine. A method includes determining a hoist bail pull associated with the industrial machine, determining a crowd torque limit value for a crowd drive based on the determined hoist bail pull of the industrial machine, and setting a crowd torque limit of the crowd drive to the crowd torque limit value to limit a torque associated with a crowd motor to the crowd torque limit value.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and computer readable media for controlling a digging operation of an industrial machine that includes a dipper and a crowd drive. A method includes determining an acceleration associated with the industrial machine, determining a crowd retract factor based on the acceleration, comparing the crowd retract factor to a threshold crowd retract factor, setting a crowd speed reference and a crowd retract torque for the crowd drive for a period of time based on the comparison of the crowd retract factor to the threshold crowd retract factor.

Abstract: An enclosure for an optical device generally includes a housing defining an opening, a transparent element coupled to the opening, a cover coupled to the housing for movement relative thereto between an opened position and a closed position, an actuator operable to move the cover relative to the transparent element between the opened position and the closed position, and a power supply electrically coupled to the actuator. The actuator maintains the opened position when it receives power from the power supply, and returns the cover to the closed position in response to a loss of power.