Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of strip mining that involves dividing the pit into blocks in a diamond shape arrangement with an angular advancing strike face and removing waste material from each diagonally adjacent block so as to minimize the amount of waste material pushed by dozers and maintain the incline of ramps to gradients of 10% or less so that trucks can take mined ore from the pit.

Abstract: A method of determining a depth of a hole formed in a work piece is disclosed. The method includes determining the hole depth based upon a load signal indicative of a load on a tool forming the hole during the forming of the hole. The hole depth determined is then adjusted with an offset and component specifications are combined with the hole length to determine a component specification for use in the hole to fix components together. At least a part of the depth determination and component specification can be carried out automatically in a computer, for an array of holes.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of strip mining that involves dividing the pit into blocks in a diamond shape arrangement with an angular advancing strike face and removing waste material from each diagonally adjacent block so as to minimize the amount of waste material pushed by dozers and maintain the incline of ramps to gradients of 10% or less so that trucks can take mined ore from the pit.

Abstract: A method of determining a depth of a hole formed in a work piece is disclosed. The method includes determining the hole depth based upon a load signal indicative of a load on a tool forming the hole during the forming of the hole. The hole depth determined is then adjusted with an offset and component specifications are combined with the hole length to determine a component specification for use in the hole to fix components together. At least a part of the depth determination and component specification can be carried out automatically in a computer, for an array of holes.

Abstract: An improved blade assembly for an excavating apparatus having a front wall with a raised concave center section with sloping side gussets on each side of the center section for directing excavated material from the center to the side of the blade is described. There are improvements to the side gussets to further assist in directing excavated material, improvements to the shape of the front wall of the blade to retain excavated material and improved mountings to the dozer to improve blade control and balance and discharging of excavated material.

Abstract: An improved blade assembly for an excavating apparatus having a front wall with a raised concave centre section with sloping side gussets on each side of the centre section for directing excavated material from the centre to the side of the blade is described. There are improvements to the side gussets to further assist in directing excavated material, improvements to the shape of the front wall of the blade to retain excavated material and improved mountings to the dozer to improve blade control and balance and discharging of excavated material.

Abstract: An alternative blade assembly for an excavating apparatus comprising a front face, side walls, a centre forward edge portion, side forward edge portions on either side of the centre forward edge and end forward edges at each distal side of the side forward edges, wherein the end forward edges have bottom edges which are lower than the bottom edge of the centre forward edge.

Abstract: An alternative blade assembly for an excavating apparatus comprising a front face, side walls, a centre forward edge portion, side forward edge portions on either side of the centre forward edge and end forward edges at each distal side of the side forward edges, wherein the end forward edges have bottom edges which are lower than the bottom edge of the centre forward edge.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a vehicle tool including inputting tool data indicative of the location of the vehicle tool to a data processor, inputting data to the data processor on a topography model in which the vehicle tool is to operate, operating the data processing to compare the vehicle tool location with the model, outputting from the data processor to a visual display, data indicative of the difference in location between the vehicle tool and an adjacent surface of the model, displaying on the visual display an image of the topography model, a representation of the location of the vehicle tool and a representation of the distance of the vehicle tool to the adjacent surface of the model.