Abstract: A method of operating a cable handling system of a longwall mining machine having a shearer movable along a pan line to mine material along a mine face, the cable handling system including: i) a service line configured to carry one or more supply lines to the shearer for facilitating shearer operation, ii) a plurality of interconnected trays to accommodate the service line, iii) a plurality of sensor nodes distributed along a length of the service line, and iv) a plurality of transceivers distributed along a length of the pan line, the method comprising: a) sensing orientation, acceleration and/or position data of the service line using the plurality of sensor nodes, b) using the plurality of transceivers to receive the orientation, acceleration and/or position data from the plurality of sensor nodes and to transmit the orientation, acceleration and/or position data to a controller, and c) detecting, by the controller, an actual or imminent failure mode of the service line using analysis of the orientatio

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for monitoring operation of a mining machine unit, particularly of a longwall mining system, having a shield unit connected to a material removing unit by means of an actuator for adjusting a distance between the shield unit and the material removing unit, the method comprises the steps of determining a position change of the shield unit during an actuating operation of the actuator; and a step of detecting a malfunction of the mining machine unit based on the determined position change.

Abstract: A method of operating a cable handling system of a longwall mining machine having a shearer movable along a pan line to mine material along a mine face, the cable handling system including: i) a service line configured to carry one or more supply lines to the shearer for facilitating shearer operation, ii) a plurality of interconnected trays to accommodate the service line, iii) a plurality of sensor nodes distributed along a length of the service line, and iv) a plurality of transceivers distributed along a length of the pan line, the method comprising: a) sensing orientation, acceleration and/or position data of the service line using the plurality of sensor nodes, b) using the plurality of transceivers to receive the orientation, acceleration and/or position data from the plurality of sensor nodes and to transmit the orientation, acceleration and/or position data to a controller, and c) detecting, by the controller, an actual or imminent failure mode of the service line using analysis of the orientatio

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for monitoring operation of a mining machine unit, particularly of a longwall mining system, having a shield unit connected to a material removing unit by means of an actuator for adjusting a distance between the shield unit and the material removing unit, the method comprises the steps of determining a position change of the shield unit during an actuating operation of the actuator; and a step of detecting a malfunction of the mining machine unit based on the determined position change.

Abstract: An area isolation system (AIS) is provided. The AIS may include a barrier adjacent to a work area, a barrier control panel (BCP) operatively connected to and disposed proximate the barrier, the BCP including a BCP controller in communication with a BCP short-range transceiver, the BCP controller configured to control the barrier, and a machine configured to autonomously operate within the work area. The machine may include a remote shutdown module (RSM) having an RSM controller in communication with an RSM short-range transceiver, and an RSM unique identifier preprogrammed into a memory associated with the RSM controller. The RSM short-range transceiver may be configured to send signals indicative of the RSM unique identifier to the BCP short-range transceiver when a machine radio zone associated with the RSM short-range transceiver intercepts with a BCP radio zone associated with the BCP short-range transceiver.

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.

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.

Abstract: A shearer system for removing material along a mineable distance relative to a mining environment includes a rail assembly to support movement of a shearer carriage thereon. The system further includes a haulage motor structured and arranged to move the shearer carriage along the rail assembly. The system has a rotatably driven cutter that is positionable relative to the shearer carriage. The system further includes an actuator supported by the shearer carriage for changing a cutting height of the cutter. The system further includes a controller that can control a velocity of the shearer carriage based on a translation speed of the cutter, a maximum speed of the shearer carriage, a current cutter height, and a desired cutter height. Optionally, the controller can further control the velocity of the shearer carriage based on a predetermined stopping distance of the shearer carriage.