Patents Examined by Michael Goodwin
  • Patent number: 11578536
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a tubular object inside a drill hole, a rock drilling rig and a method of supporting mouth openings of drill holes is provided. The apparatus includes a support device for supporting an elongated tube element blank having the potential for several successive tube inserts. A front end of the tube element blank is moved longitudinally inside a drill hole by means of a feeding device. Thereby, the drill hole is provided with a protective section extending a limited longitudinal dimension towards a bottom of the drill hole. The apparatus further includes a separation device for detaching the mentioned tube inserts one by one from the tube element blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SANDVIK MINING and CONSTRUCTION OY
    Inventors: Juha Piipponen, Johannes Välivaara
  • Patent number: 11572665
    Abstract: A milling system for a milling machine includes at least one cutting assembly configured to be coupled to a drum. Each of the cutting assemblies includes a base portion and an impact portion. The base portion includes a standoff coupled to the drum, a first base block coupled to the standoff, and a second base block coupled to the standoff at a position upstream of the first base block in a direction of rotation of the drum and at angle from the first base block. The impact portion includes a cutting bit and a tool holder coupled to the first base block, and a protective element coupled to the second base block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Dustin W. Sondreal
  • Patent number: 11566522
    Abstract: In a device and a method for continuously driving a tunnel along a desired setpoint trajectory there is provision to influence pressing forces which are applied to installed tubbing segments by compactors using a control circuit, wherein, during the driving and during the installation of tubbing rings, an actual trajectory of the device remains in a region which is permissible for maintaining the desired set point trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: HERRENKNECHT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Werner Burger, Thomas Joseph Edelmann
  • Patent number: 11566387
    Abstract: A milling machine has a frame, ground engaging tracks that support the frame, a first actuator connecting the frame to a first track of the ground engaging tracks and a second actuator connecting the frame to a second track from the ground engaging tracks. The milling machine has an orientation sensor that determines an orientation of the frame. The milling machine has a controller that operates the first and second actuators to raise or lower the frame. The controller determines the frame orientation using the orientation sensor. The controller also determines a velocity error between actuator velocities of the first and second actuators based on the frame orientation and a target orientation of the frame. The controller determines a control parameter for the second actuator based on the velocity error and operates the second actuator using the determined control parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, Hyppolite Kuissi, Lee M. Hogan
  • Patent number: 11555681
    Abstract: A method of mining in a rock formation, includes drilling blastholes extending into the rock formation. Each of the blastholes has a depth between a first end and a second end. For each blasthole the second end thereof is deeper into the rock formation than the first end thereof. The method further includes loading the blastholes with alternating layers of explosives charges and stemming material to establish a succession of blasting decks or sections extending across and within the rock formation. The rock formation includes at least a first blasting deck or section and a second blasting deck or section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: ORICA INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD
    Inventors: Nigel Brett Pereira, Les Willan, Murali Nagarajan, Carlos Vicente Arana Quijano, Stephen Jeric
  • Patent number: 11506053
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for controlling a mining machine within an underground mine. A rotatable laser source sends laser light and return light sensor receives reflected laser light and provides an indication of distance and return light intensity at multiple different rotation angles. A co-ordinate reference point comprises a pattern of varying reflectivity and provides at least a 2D co-ordinate position. A processor determines an absolute co-ordinate position in space of the mining machine as the mining machine moves through the underground mine. The processor collects intensity values of reflected laser light for multiple respective rotation angles and detects the pattern of the reference point in the multiple intensity values of reflected laser light, and determines the absolute co-ordinate position in space of the mining machine based on spatial information of the detected pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Mark Dunn, Peter Reid, Jeremy Thompson, Camrin Peacock, Kevin Saric
  • Patent number: 11499277
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine (1), in particular road milling machine, stabilizer, recycler or surface miner, comprising a machine frame (2), and at least one working device (6), in particular milling drum, which is arranged in a housing (4) open towards the bottom that is at least partially closed on at least one side by at least one edge protector (8) height-adjustable relative to the machine frame (2), wherein, for the purpose of height adjustment, at least one first lifting device (10) is provided, the first end (15) of which is connected to the machine frame (2), and the second end (16) of which is connected to the height-adjustable edge protector (8), it is provided for the following features to be achieved: a second lifting device (12) is provided, the first end (18) of which is connected to the machine frame (2), and the second end (20) of which is connected to a first end (22) of a transmission device (14), which is in turn connected, with a second end (24), to the height-adjustable edge p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventors: Tobias Stinner, Christian Berning, Andreas Salz
  • Patent number: 11492905
    Abstract: A lidar-based convergence deformation monitoring system for surrounding rock around a TBM shield region, including a data acquisition module. The data acquisition module includes: a lidar, a push-rod motor, an H-bridge circuit, a power supply module, an ARM chip, a guide rod, a linear bearing, a tempered glass cover and a protective case. The lidar and the push-rod motor are connected to a lidar connector to acquire raw data of the surrounding rock and store the raw data in the ARM chip. A middle portion of a top plate of the protective case allows the lidar to extend out of the protective case. The protective case is fastened to an inner wall of the TBM shield through two mounting brackets on both sides of the protective case, and the inner wall facilitates the lidar to extend out of the protective case to perform a measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan University
    Inventors: Xing Huang, Quansheng Liu, Xianze Xu, Tong Zheng, Xiaoping Zhang, Fengqiu Xu
  • Patent number: 11486249
    Abstract: Disclosed a combined rock-breaking TBM tunneling method in complex strata for realizing three-way force detection, comprising the steps of preparing a combined mechanical-hydraulic rock-breaking cutter head for TBM construction; starting construction; advancing the combined mechanical-hydraulic rock-breaking cutter head; pushing and pressing against a tunnel face by a mechanical cutter tool; subjecting a three-way force detection cutter to squeezing forces; feeding back three-way force data by a three-way force sensor; processing information by a TBM back-end control processor; obtaining a value of rock-cutter contact angle ?; feeding back parameter information to a TBM cutter head control center by a lithology index center; responding by the TBM cutter head control center, obtaining and adjusting parameters by the mechanical cutter tool equipped with the three-way force sensor; and breaking rock by the combined mechanical-hydraulic rock-breaking cutter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF ROCK AND SOIL MECHANICS, CAS
    Inventors: Hui Zhou, Jingjing Lu, Futong Xu, Chuanqing Zhang, Dawei Hu, Yang Gao, Fanjie Yang, Yong Zhu, Mingming Hu
  • Patent number: 11472063
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wire saw excavation apparatus that is installed on a plurality of entry holes, where the plurality of entry holes are drilled according to a cutting section of a target surface of rock to be excavated so that the target surface is excavated by using wire saws. The wire saw excavation apparatus mounts N number of pulleys on one entry arm to cut the rock in N number of directions all at once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: In Hwan Choi
  • Patent number: 11459888
    Abstract: An auxiliary transportation and support system used after rapid excavation is provided. The system includes a crushing and transportation device, a roof bolt support device and a side bolt support device. The crushing and transportation device includes a traveling mechanism, a transportation device, a receiving hopper, and a crushing device. The traveling mechanism is located at a bottom of the crushing and transportation device. A chassis is arranged above the traveling mechanism. The transportation device is mounted on the chassis along a traveling direction of the traveling mechanism. The receiving hopper and the crushing device are both arranged on the transportation device. The roof bolt support device includes a roof bolter, a middle roof bolter and a horizontally telescopic arm which is arranged at a head end of the chassis. The roof bolter is coupled to a movable stretching end of the horizontally telescopic arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: LANG FANG JING LONG GRAND INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Changyan Pu, Limin Wu, Wenguang Cheng, Zhiguo Jing, Min Zheng, Qi Liu, Pengfei Fan, Zhao Zhang
  • Patent number: 11447918
    Abstract: A milling unit for an earth working machine including a milling drum and a milling drum housing; the milling unit comprising a closed operating-medium circuit that includes an operating-medium pump that is embodied to drive the operating medium to circulate in the operating-medium circuit; the operating-medium circuit including a heat exchanger through which operating medium flows during circulating flow of the operating medium; the heat exchanger being arranged on the milling drum housing. Provision is made that the heat exchanger is configured for flow impingement by a cooling gas separate from the operating medium; and that a cooling fan, which is embodied to drive the cooling gas for flow impingement onto the heat exchanger, is arranged on the milling drum housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventors: Tobias Stinner, Christian Berning, Sebastian Bötzius
  • Patent number: 11448067
    Abstract: A cutting tool for a tunnel boring machine, including a tool head equipped with a wear sensor detachably connectable to a tool holder. A line arrangement having a wireless, connector-free coupling module between the tool head and the tool holder is provided for connecting the wear sensors to an evaluation module. In the event of wear, a tool head to be replaced may be removed from the tool holder and a new tool head may be connected to the tool holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: HERRENKNECHT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Christian Himmelsbach
  • Patent number: 11448069
    Abstract: A tunnel boring machine for boring a tunnel in rock including: locating means mounted to a frame for supporting and locating the frame in a disposition with respect to a tunnel axis and a boring face of the tunnel being bored; a first boring assembly operatively associated with said frame for boring into an annular face surrounding a core substantially coaxial with the tunnel axis, the annular face being a portion of the boring face; a core removal assembly operatively associated with said frame and disposed axially with respect to said first boring assembly away from the annular face, said core removal assembly being operable for removing at the core exposed by the first boring assembly transverse to the tunnel axis to expose the remainder of the boring face; and drive means operatively associated with said first boring assembly for driving said boring assembly into the annular face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventor: Malcolm John Peardon
  • Patent number: 11414820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled construction machine, comprising a machine frame supported by a chassis having wheels or crawler tracks. The basic principle of the invention involves determining a variable ? which is characteristic of the milling profile on the basis of a functional relationship between the variable which is characteristic of the milling profile and the advance speed v and/or milling drum rotational speed n. The variable ? which is characteristic of the milling profile is a correction variable for adjusting the height of the milling drum with respect to the surface of the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Rene' Müller, Sebastian Hofrath, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 11408136
    Abstract: A rotary mixer includes a frame. The rotary mixer also includes a milling enclosure supported by the frame. The milling enclosure includes a side plate. The rotary mixer further includes a rotor disposed within the milling enclosure. The rotary mixer includes at least one vibration device coupled to the milling enclosure. The at least one vibration device is arranged to induce vibrations in at least one component of the milling enclosure for resisting accumulation of debris on the at least one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew-David S. Frantz, Derek Peter Nieuwsma, Nathaniel S. Doy, Dustin William Sondreal, Jason W. Muir
  • Patent number: 11401664
    Abstract: A milling machine having a height-adjustable machine body includes a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, a plurality of traction elements, a milling rotor assembly; and a machine height sensor system. The machine height sensor system includes a plurality of laterally adjustable machine height sensors and a plurality of position sensors, each associated with a respective height sensor and measuring a lateral extent of the height sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Muir, Nathaniel S. Doy
  • Patent number: 11391151
    Abstract: An automatic coal mining machine and a fluidized coal mining method are provided. A first excavation cabin is configured to cut coal seam to obtain raw coal and to be transported to a first coal preparation cabin for separating coal blocks from gangue. Then, the obtained coal blocks are transported to a first fluidized conversion reaction cabin. The first fluidized conversion reaction cabin converts the energy form of the coal block into liquid, gas or electric energy, which is transported to a first energy storage cabin for storing. Coal mining and conversion are carried out in underground coal mines, so it is not necessary to raise coal blocks to the ground for washing and conversion, thereby reducing the transportation cost of coal, improving the utilization degree of coal, and avoiding the pollution of the ground environment caused by waste in the mining and conversion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY, BEIJING, SHENZHEN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yang Ju, Heping Xie, Yong Zhang, Yan Zhu, Feng Gao, Xiaodong Nie, Changbing Wan, Jinxin Song, Chang Lu, Hongbin Liu, Zhangyu Ren
  • Patent number: 11346065
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine comprises a machine frame, at least three travelling devices, at least one hydraulic drive system for driving at least two travelling devices, wherein the hydraulic drive system comprises at least one controllable hydraulic motor with variable displacement volume and at least one hydraulic pump, at least one working device (e.g. a milling drum), for working the ground pavement. A detection device detects fluctuations in the longitudinal speed of the construction machine during movement thereof, wherein a control unit alters the displacement volume of the at least one controllable hydraulic motor as a function of the detected fluctuations so that the natural frequency of the hydraulic drive system is altered, wherein the control unit adjusts the discharge volume of the pump as a function of the amount of adjustment of the displacement volume in such a fashion that the specified drive speed remains constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Wagner, Markus Bach, Axel Mahlberg, Markus Schäfer, Eduard Fitz
  • Patent number: 11339542
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for processing a hard surfacing, the device comprising a rotatable hammering unit configured to process the hard surfacing under the hammering unit with hammers, the hammering unit comprising a substantially flat first and second disc with a number of hammer wheels on the underside of the second disc, wherein the coupling between the first and second disc is formed by one or more vibration-damping coupling elements. The invention also relates to a method for processing a hard surfacing with a vehicle provided with the device described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ART EN RENO BVBA
    Inventors: Franciscus Andreas Anna Maria Bax, Linda Anna Emiel Noeyens