Abstract: Equipment having an energy management system includes an articulated arm, a work implement, an energy management system, and a hydraulic circuit. The articulated arm includes hydraulic actuators designed to maneuver the articulated arm, and the work implement is fastened to the articulated arm. The energy management system is adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration, and includes a hydraulic rotating machine and an electric rotating machine coupled to the hydraulic rotating machine. When the energy management system is in the first configuration, the hydraulic rotating machine and the electric rotating machine function as an electric motor powering a hydraulic pump. When the energy management system is in the second configuration, the hydraulic rotating machine and the electric rotating machine function as a hydraulic motor powering an electric generator.

Abstract: A drill bit carousel for use on a blast hole drill includes a base structure that movably supports a plurality of drill receptacles. The drill bit carousel is movable between a storage position and at least one exchange position. In the exchange position, one of the drill receptacles is aligned with a centerline of a drill pipe string. In the storage position, the drill bit carousel is clear of the centerline of the drill pipe string.

Abstract: A tool wrench assembly for a blasthole drill includes a fork pivotally fixed relative to at least one actuator that moves the fork between an engaged and a disengaged position.

Abstract: A crowd control mechanism for a power shovel includes an extendible dipper handle having an extended position and a retracted position. A double acting hydraulic cylinder having a an extendible ram has one of the cylinder and the ram fixed to the dipper handle and the other of the cylinder and the ram is stationary relative to the dipper handle. At least one of the cylinder and the ram have at least one of a blind end port and a rod end port, and at least one of the cylinder and the ram have the other of the blind end port and the rod end port, wherein hydraulic fluid flowing into the cylinder through the blind end port urges the ram toward an extended position to extend the dipper handle, and hydraulic fluid flowing into the rod end port urges the ram toward a retracted position to retract the dipper handle. Hydraulic fluid flowing into and out of the cylinder is controlled by one or more pilot operated poppet valves.

Abstract: A dipper assembly includes a dipper, a dipper door, ands a closure mechanism. The dipper door is pivotally linked relative to the dipper, and has a closed position in which the dipper door closes the open bottom. The closure mechanism has a lock position and an unlock position, and is fixed relative to the dipper and linked to the dipper door. In the lock position, the closure mechanism holds the dipper door in the closed position. In the unlock position, the closure mechanism allows the dipper door to swing away from the closed position.

Abstract: A dragline excavating machine includes a gearless direct drive AC drive motor for driving each of the hoist and the drag drums in the system. The gearless AC motor is driven using a digital system which receives AC power from the utility system rectifies the power using active front end circuits, and converts the resultant DC to a frequency controlled AC using an inverter circuit. The resultant AC signal is employed to drive the gearless AC motor, resulting in reduced harmonic distortion, unity or leading power factor, and increased efficiency, reduced operating costs, and reduced mean time between failure.

Abstract: A swing drive assembly for use with a mining shovel having a frame rotatable relative to a base, wherein the swing drive assembly is fixed to the frame and engages a ring gear fixed to the base to rotatably drive the mining shovel frame relative to the mining shovel base. The assembly includes a swing girder having a top wall and bottom wall joined by a back wall. At least one strut having a top end extends upwardly from the top wall, and an attachment point is proximal said strut top end for fixing the swing drive assembly to the frame. At least one attachment point is proximal one end of the top wall, and at least one attachment point is proximal an opposing end of the top wall, wherein the girder is fixable to a mining shovel frame at each of the attachment points. Preferably, each attachment point is fixed to the mining shovel frame with at least one bolt. Most preferably, the swing girder is mounted to the frame, and hangs below the frame to engage the ring gear.

Abstract: A dipper assembly includes a dipper having an open bottom and forward end, and a door pivotally linked to the dipper. The dipper bottom is defined by dipper wall bottom edges. The door has a bottom wall and side walls which extend above the bottom wall to define a volume between the side walls, wherein top edges of the side walls abut bottom edges of the dipper wall bottom edges to close the dipper bottom.

Abstract: A dipper door pivotally mounted to a dipper is controlled as it pivots between open and closed positions. In one embodiment, the door is controlled by a brake pivotally linking the door to the dipper. In another embodiment, the door is pivotally mounted to the dipper by a pin, and the door is controlled by a linkage actuated by a linear actuator. The pivot point of the door is positioned above the dipper bottom to decrease the dump height of the dipper.

Abstract: An excavator base is fabricated on-site by first erecting a substructure of beams on a concrete foundation. Large flat plates are placed on the substructure, welded together at their adjacent edges, and cut at a perimeter to form a bottom plate. A prefabricated center section is welded to the bottom plate. Upright diaphragms and edge plates are assembled on the bottom plate and welded to each other and to the bottom plate. Large flat plates are assembled on the top of the diaphragms, and edge plates, and are welded thereto and to each other. The welded plates are cut at a perimeter to complete a top plate. The base is then removed from the substructure. Alternately, the top plate can be formed on the substructure first and then removed and set aside for later use. Adjacent plates are held flat for welding using brackets and wedges.

Abstract: A crowd rope take-up mechanism is mounted on the end of a shovel handle remote from the dipper bracket. The mechanism includes a cylinder with external screw threads engaged by a nut wheel. The cylinder mounts a sheave that received a loop of the crowd rope. A worm gear engages gear teeth on the outside of the nut wheel. The cylinder is restrained against rotation and the nut wheel is captured longitudinally so that rotation of the worm gear by a power wrench is translated into longitudinal movement of the cylinder and sheave. The worm gear is locked against rotation by a removable plug.

Abstract: A mechanism for loosening the threaded joint between members of a blast hole drill string induces a wrench to hold one of the members while the other member is gripped between one arm and a jaw pivotally mounted on the arm. A hydraulic cylinder advances one end of the arm to engage the member and another cylinder pivots the jaw to engage the member. The one end of the arm is then further advanced while the other end of the arm is retracted by a cylinder to apply a moment. The wrench has a pair of wrench arms that are pivotally attached at their rear to a support. Pawls are mounted on the wrench arms to engage slots in a drill pipe. A hydraulic cylinder is mounted between the wrench arms to open and close the arms. One end of the cylinder is fixed to one wrench arm while the other end is connected to the second arm by a spring mechanism.

Abstract: A drill mast has two tubular side chords and a central chord equally spaced from the side chords. The central chord is joined to the side chords by transverse and diagonal tubular lacing members. Space frames formed of tubular members extending from spheres are connected to each of the chords. The spheres are aligned along a line equidistant from the chords.

Abstract: A blast hole drill with a drill head mounted on a mast has a pipe carousel on the drill deck which holds drill pipe along the length of the deck. A pipe handling arm mechanism has a lower arm portion pivotally mounted on the deck and an upper arm portion pivotally mounted to the lower arm portion. The upper arm portion has jaws that grasp a drill pipe. A ram connected to the upper arm portion pivots the arm mechanism until the lower arm portion engages a stop adjacent the mast. The ram thereafter continues to pivot the upper arm portion until a drill pipe carried thereby is aligned on the mast.

Abstract: A mechanism for loosening the threaded joint between members of a blast hole drill string includes a wrench to hold one of the members while the other member is gripped between one arm and a jaw pivotally mounted on the arm. A hydraulic cylinder advances one end of the arm to engage the member and another cylinder pivots the jaw to engage the member. The one end of the arm is then further advanced while the other end of the arm is retracted by a cylinder to apply a moment. The wrench has a pair of wrench arms that are pivotally attached at their rear to a support. Pawls are mounted on the wrench arms to engage slots in a drill pipe. A hydraulic cylinder is mounted between the wrench arms to open and close the arms. One end of the cylinder is fixed to one wrench arm while the other end is connected to the second arm by a spring mechanism.

Abstract: A control is provided for a drill head that is mounted on a drill mast. Hydraulic motors raise and lower the drill head and a hydraulically releasable brake holds the drill head in position on the mast. The control has a hoist line that connects the hydraulic motors to a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure. A brake release line is connected to the brake and a brake release valve normally connects the brake release to a tank. The brake release valve is electrically actuated to connect the brake release line to a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure to release the brake. A programmable logic controller with a memory storage controls the actuation of the brake release valve. A pressure transducer is connected to the hoist line and to the controller for providing a signal to the controller representative of the hoist line pressure and this signal is storable in the memory.