Ore/rock Interface Determination During Cutting Patents (Class 299/1.1)
  • Patent number: 11891762
    Abstract: Systems and methods can sense, using a vibration sensor disposed relative to a rotor of a milling machine, vibration associated with a cutting operation of the rotor of the milling machine; and determine during the cutting operation whether the sensed vibration associated with the cutting operation of the rotor indicates now that the rotor is cutting a second material different from a first material being previously cut by the rotor during the cutting operation. The second material can be harder than the first material. Cutting operations of the milling machine can be controlled based on identification of the rotor cutting the second material. The cutting operations can include speed of the milling machine, cutting level and/or depth of the rotor, and/or rotational speed of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Edwin Carr, Paul J. Koenen, Gianfranco Perri, Nathan Louis Mashek
  • Patent number: 11761167
    Abstract: A system for uncovering a desired and pre-planned trench. A trenching machine is equipped with sensors, including visual imaging sensors. The sensors detect the inclination of the ground and movement of the trenching machine, as well as the angle of a trenching boom. Using this information, and a pre-determined preferred trench grade, a processor commands the trenching boom to adjust its angle to maintain the preferred trench grade. Surface irregularities may therefore be accounted for along the length of the trench to maintain a constant grade at the trench bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor D. Cámara Puerto, Benjamin Ryan Travers
  • Patent number: 11306586
    Abstract: An intelligent detection and recognition system and method for a coal-rock interface of a mine are provided. The intelligent detection and recognition system mainly includes an intelligent lifting support fastened to the top of a shearer, a non-contact radar antenna disposed at the top of the intelligent lifting support, and an operating terminal with which the radar antenna wirelessly conducts information transmission. In an operating state, a radiation direction of the radar antenna is perpendicular to the surface of a to-be-detected coal seam, and the operating terminal is configured to acquire radar data of the to-be-detected coal seam collected by the radar antenna, and draw and display a coal-rock horizon occurrence curve according to the radar data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing
    Inventors: Xianlei Xu, Suping Peng, Zheng Ma, Biao Guo, Tao Sun
  • Patent number: 10920588
    Abstract: Methods and systems of controlling a pitch angle of a shearer. A controller receives a sensor signal indicative of the pitch angle of the shearer, and receives a target pitch profile defining a plurality of target pitch angles for different sections of a mineral face. The controller determines a pitch difference between the pitch angle and a target pitch angle of the shearer, determines a pitch correction height corresponding to a new height for a floor cutter of the shearer based on the pitch difference, and changes a height of the floor cutter based on the pitch correction height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Joy Global Underground Mining LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Ley, Matthew Beilstein, Colten LeViere
  • Patent number: 10184337
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a machine (100) for surface mining or road milling. The machine (100) is arranged to remove material from a ground region (102) while moving along the ground region (102) and comprises a ground engager for removing a portion of the material from the ground region (102). The machine (100) further comprises a detecting system (110) that has at least one detector element coupled to a component of the machine (100) to move with the machine (100) and arranged to detect at least one quantity associated with an electrical property of the ground region (102). The detecting system (110) is arranged to provide composition information concerning a composition of at least one material layer in the ground region (102) and thickness information concerning a thickness of at least one material layer (102a,b,c,d). The detected at least one quantity associated with the electrical property is used to provide at least one of the composition information and the thickness information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried von Schönebeck, Klaus Vollmann, Stefan Wagner, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 10167721
    Abstract: The invention relates to a milling machine having a replaceable milling drum, different types of milling drums being capable of being associated with the milling machine; and having a control unit for controlling the milling machine, machine parameters of the milling machine being settable by way of the control unit. Provision is made that the milling machine has associated with it at least one means that is designed to detect at least one characteristic feature of the milling drum; that the at least one means is connected to the control unit; and that the control unit is designed to specify for at least one machine parameter, indirectly or directly from the characteristic feature, a value to be set, and/or a setting range. The invention further relates to a corresponding milling drum and to a corresponding method. The milling machine, milling drum, and method allow the selection of machine parameters for operation of the milling machine to be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Thomas Lehnert, Philip Verhaelen
  • Patent number: 10002514
    Abstract: A machine tool has the function of monitoring the sealing performance of a control panel. The machine tool measures temperature and humidity inside the control panel, calculates a vapor amount from the measured results, and stores the vapor amount. A vapor amount change ratio is calculated based on a currently calculated vapor amount and a previously calculated and stored vapor amount. An alert is announced when the calculated vapor amount change ratio is greater than or equal to a specific value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuuta Sekikawa
  • Patent number: 9965864
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling mining machines. One system includes an image sensor for capturing an image of a cutting face of a mine and interface sensing and control system for obtaining the image, identifying an anomaly in the image, calculating a distance between the anomaly and a reference, and using the distance to automatically instruct a mining machine control system to keep a cutter head of the mining machine within a seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.
    Inventor: David Kevin Herdle
  • Patent number: 9810066
    Abstract: A method of controlling a shearer is disclosed. The shearer may be configured to travel along a longwall face to extract material with a first cutting drum and a second cutting drum. The method may include setting a first cutting profile including a plurality of desired positions (Di) to be approached by the first cutting drum in a first travel direction (E). Further, the method may include determining a plurality of actual advancing vectors (vi) indicating a change of a position of the shearer resulting from advancing the shearer towards the longwall face. The method may also include determining a plurality of shearer orientations (Oi) along the longwall face. In addition, the method may include generating a second cutting profile to be approached by at least one of the first cutting drum and the second cutting drum in a second travel direction (F) of the shearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Johannes Westphalen, Euan Kirkhope, Siddartha Saikia, Hrishikesh Ranjalkar
  • Patent number: 9606036
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining geomechanical parameters of a rock sample, including a searching step, during which the horizontal and vertical forces provided to a blade advancing at a constant speed and at a constant cutting depth along the sample are measured, in order to destroy a constant volume per unit of length at the surface of the rock sample; a micro-indentation step, during which mechanical features of the rock are determined by micro-indentation; a step of determining the geological parameters of the sample, during which at least one parameter chosen from the uniaxial compressive strength, the angle of friction, internal cohesion, Brinell hardness and Young's modulus of the rock is estimated by means of measurements taken during the scratching and micro-indentation steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOTAL SA
    Inventors: Kun Su, Edmond Poyol
  • Patent number: 8985700
    Abstract: Methods and equipment have been developed that combine the use of continuous miners, flexible conveyor trains, and longwall mining techniques to provide flexible and efficient removal of resources from subterranean formations. Some systems for use in a mining operation include: a continuous miner configured to cut material from a face; a plurality of powered roof supports positioned along the face; and a guidance system operable to receive a location signal based on relative location of the continuous miner along the face and to send a control signal to the plurality of powered roof supports positioned along the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Seneca Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Myers, Michael Cline, John Dickinson
  • Patent number: 8690260
    Abstract: An automated coal mining system outfits rotating cutterhead drums with bit blocks and replaceable bit picks according to a lacing pattern. A set of strain gauges are configured to measure the mechanical forces experienced by the bit picks during coal cutting. Measurements are taken that can be processed for indications that the replaceable bit picks have encountered a boundary layer of rock during coal cutting operations, or they are working harder than necessary to cleave coal, or that a better lacing pattern is possible. A resonant microwave patch antenna is mounted on a top surface shoulder of the bit blocks to take impedance measurements of the coal face. The impedance measurements are calibrated according to indications that the replaceable bit picks have encountered a boundary layer of rock. The rotating drum sensor data is wirelessly transmitted back to the machine for analysis and control purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Stolar, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry G. Stolarczyk
  • Patent number: 8622479
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for horizon control in a mining operation where fresh product 3 is cut from a seam 1. The cutting exposes a fresh cut product face 25. The fresh cut product face 25 is observed at a position immediately adjacent a cutter 11. Any temperature contrast regions from an IR observation between an upper limit of observation and a lower limit of observation are noted. At least one height co-ordinate position of a temperature contrast region 33 is determined and an output signal provided of the determined height co-ordinate position so that the output signal can be used as a horizon datum for horizontal control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Chad Owen Hargrave, David Charles Reid, David William Hainsworth, Jonathan Carey Ralston, Michael Shawn Kelly, Ronald John McPhee
  • Patent number: 8608248
    Abstract: A method for controlling longwall mining operations, having a face conveyor, at least one extraction machine, and a hydraulic shield support, in underground coal mining. At least one sensor is disposed on the shield support frames for acquiring solid-borne noise data generated by the engagement of the extraction machine in coal and/or country rock. A cut of the extraction machine into the country rock is determined in a downstream computer on the basis of recorded vibration data that corresponds to the generated solid-borne noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: RAG Aktiengesselschaft AG
    Inventors: Martin Junker, Armin Mozar
  • Patent number: 8593462
    Abstract: Correlating a measured and predicted log. At least some illustrative embodiments are methods including: plotting values of the measured log with respect to an ordinate axis and an abscissa axis, and the plotting in a first pane; plotting values of the predicted log with respect to the ordinate axis and the abscissa axis; selecting an inflection point of the predicted log; shifting horizontal position of the inflection point relative to the measured log responsive to the pointing device; changing dip of at least one modeled surface in a structural model based the relative location of the inflection point; recalculating the predicted log based on the change in dip, the recalculating creates a modified predicted log; and then plotting the modified predicted log. In some cases, the method may also include adding a fixed X, Y, Z point in the at least one modeled surface based on location of the inflection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Ross, Richard J. Langenwalter
  • Patent number: 8469455
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a cutting extraction machine, which can be moved along a working front in longwall mining, in which method the heat emission of the working face (4) newly exposed by the extraction machine, in each instance, is observed using an infrared camera (10), and control data for the subsequent extraction run are generated on the basis of this observation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Eickhoff Bergbautechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Hackelboerger, Fiona Mavroudis, Reik Winkel, Karl Nienhaus
  • Patent number: 8465104
    Abstract: The invention relates to an extraction system for mineral extraction, having a machine frame which is movable along a conveying device and which for each direction of travel, on its front side that, in operation, lies facing a working face, has hewing tools for the minerals to be won, and having a sensor system, disposed on the machine frame, for mineral/host rock recognition. In order to provide an extraction system which can be provided with or used with an improved sensor system, a retaining box for the sensor device is fastened in projecting arrangement to the front side of the machine frame, the retaining box preferably containing a georadar as the sensor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian M. Mundry, Marco Ahler, Simon Pauli, Stefan Hengstler, Henner Ruschkamp
  • Publication number: 20120161493
    Abstract: Method of automatically producing a defined face opening, in underground coal mining, during longwall mining operations having a face conveyor, a disk shearer loader and a hydraulic shield support. Via at least one inclination sensor on the top canopy of the shield support frame, the inclination of the top canopy relative to the horizontal, in the direction of mining or extraction of the disk shearer loader, is determined to provide angles of the course of an overlying stratum at the shield support frame. A stepping path length of each shield support frame is detected, and therefrom a cutting depth of the disk shearer loader during an extraction run is determined. A cutting height of the disk shearer loader is detected by means of sensors disposed thereon, and a cutting height of the disk shearer loader is adjusted in alignment with the angle of the course of the overlying stratum to produce the defined face opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Martin Junker, Armin Mozar
  • Patent number: 8128176
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining the cutting horizon of a mining winning system, having a movable conveyor which is composed of individual pan elements, and having at least one optical detection sensor which has a sensor head that is received in a sensor carrier and can be pressed with at least one pressure means against a coal/basement rock boundary layer. In order to improve the sensing and working reliability, over the length of the conveyor, a plurality of pan elements are configured as sensor pans which are provided with a protected recess which is open to the basement rock and in which the sensor carrier is arranged or can be arranged such that it can be disassembled together with the sensor head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Bucyrus Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Adam Klabisch, Norbert Hesse, Klaus Duhnke, Diedrich Bettermann, Gerhard Siepenkort
  • Patent number: 8061782
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a machine for degrading a natural and/or man-made formation has picks connected to a drum of the machine and at least one accelerometer mounted to the machine adapted to measure forces acting on the machine. Electronic equipment is in communication with the at least one accelerometer and the electronic equipment has a processor adapted to determine a change in the formation based off of input from the at least one accelerometer. The electronic equipment also is in communication with a mechanism adapted to control, at least in part, a location of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventors: David R. Hall, David Wahlquist, Scott Dahlgren, Thomas Morris
  • Publication number: 20100117439
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining the cutting horizon of a mining winning system, having a movable conveyor which is composed of individual pan elements, and having at least one optical detection sensor which has a sensor head that is received in a sensor carrier and can be pressed with at least one pressure means against a coal/basement rock boundary layer. In order to improve the sensing and working reliability, over the length of the conveyor, a plurality of pan elements are configured as sensor pans which are provided with a protected recess which is open to the basement rock and in which the sensor carrier is arranged or can be arranged such that it can be disassembled together with the sensor head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: BUCYRUS DBT EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Adam Klabisch, Norbert Hesse, Klaus Duhnke, Diedrich Bettermann, Gerhard Siepenkort
  • Patent number: 7686400
    Abstract: The invention provides, in one embodiment, a detector for a miner comprising a gamma sensing element and a light sensing element coupled to the gamma sensing element. According to the embodiment, the detector is mounted on a rotary cutter of a boring-type continuous miner such that the gamma sensing element has a view of a geologic formation being mined. A mining control system is also provided, comprising a miner having at least two rotary cutters and a gamma detector on each of the at least two rotary cutters for receiving gamma emissions from a geologic formation. The mining control system also provides an accelerometer and a rate gyro, wherein the accelerometer and the rate gyro correlate the received gamma emissions with positions of the at least two rotary cutters, and a central module that utilizes the correlated readings to determine whether the cutters should be moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: The Mosaic Company
    Inventors: Larry D Fredrick, Dwight Medley, Roy W. Tivas
  • Publication number: 20090212216
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for horizon control in a mining operation is provided. Fresh product 3 is cut from a seam 1. The cutting exposes a fresh cut product face 25. The fresh cut product face 25 is observed at a position immediately adjacent a cutter 11. Any temperature contrast regions from an IR observation between an upper limit of observation and a lower limit of observation are noted. At least one height co-ordinate position of a temperature contrast region 33 is determined and an output signal provided of the determined height co-ordinate position so that the output signal can be used as a horizon datum for horizontal control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Chad Owen Hargrave, David Charles Reid, David William Hainsworth, Jonathan Carey Ralston, Michael Shawn Kelly, Ronald John McPhee
  • Patent number: 7177709
    Abstract: A controller is disclosed for control operations in underground mining, especially for controllers to control support shields. The controller utilizes a central unit with a microprocessor and assigned, programmable memory devices for the storage and processing of software as well as a connector unit with connectors or circuits for communication between the controller and other controllers and/or actuators, sensors or the like, that are to be controlled with the controller. Both the central unit and the connector unit utilize a modular design. A collection of modules with different performances and/or functionalities are provided for both the central unit and the connector unit to form the hardware of a controller. The modules can be combined with one another and coupled together according to a modular concept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: DBT GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Uhlendorf, Wilfried Weigel, Johannes Wesselmann, Jens Titschert, Jürgen Tschöpe
  • Patent number: 6857706
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a mining method for steeply dipping orebodies. In the method, an excavator 152 is tethered to a deployment system 120 by one or more cables/umbilicals 144. The excavator 152 excavates slices 172a-h of the orebody 100 by moving generally up-dip, down-dip or a combination thereof. The excavator can be automated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Placer Dome Technical Services Limited
    Inventors: Marilyn Patricia Ann Hames, Timothy B. Dimock, Edward William Drew Anwyll, Donald Duncan Young, Fredric Christopher Delabbio, Eric Jackson, Simon Mark Jackson
  • Patent number: 6666521
    Abstract: A control system for continuous mining machine to control the mining horizons of roof and floor horizons relative to the rock boundaries of an underground coal seam or ore vein. The mining machine is provided with a cutting drum mounted on a pivoted arm to allow for vertical displacement of the cutter to control the mining height. A plurality of sensors is carried on the rotatable arm to locate the roof and floor boundaries. Attitude sensors are mounted on the machine for providing signals indicative of the inclinations of the body of the machine, and, a microprocessor receives the signals from the boundary sensors and the attitude sensors for calculating the required roof cut and floor cut. A display device receives the signals from the microprocessor and displays the calculated results to the machine operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: American Mining Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Pease, John W. Ramsden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6435619
    Abstract: An armored detector assembly, a mining system, and methods of using it are described. The armored detector assembly consists of a main assembly and a hatch assembly. The hatch assembly is welded onto mining equipment, and the main assembly is removably attached to the hatch assembly. The armored detector assembly houses sensitive monitoring equipment used in mining operations. Because of its rugged construction the armored detector assembly is suitable for storing a wide range of sensitive equipment in harsh industrial environments. One embodiment allows for openings in the main assembly so that gamma radiation can enter the main assembly and be measured by gamma radiation monitoring equipment used in continuous mining operations. A portion of the gamma radiation monitoring equipment is enclosed within an integral explosion proof enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Geosteering Mining Services, LLC
    Inventors: Larry D. Frederick, Dwight Medley
  • Patent number: 6361119
    Abstract: A mining control system for adjusting the advance of the working tools of a mining machine with respect to working depth and/or working height connects to a detection device that is for recognizing the rock being mined and is carried along by the mining machine. A central command station connects by radio to the detection device of the mining machine. The mining control system comprises a plurality of radio receivers arranged in spaced relationship along the longwall, as well as a comparator, which is used for comparing the intensity of the radio signals received by the individual radio receivers and for retransmitting only the strongest of the radio signals to the central command station for generating the command signals for controlling the advance of the mining tools. It is also possible to transmit the radio signals received by each radio receiver to adjacent radio receivers. A separate comparator is associated to and controls each radio receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Tiefenbach Bergbautechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Willy Kussel