Patents by Inventor Hannu Makela

Hannu Makela has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7603235
    Abstract: A mine vehicle and a method of preventing a mine vehicle from colliding. The mine vehicle (1) includes at least one scanner (13, 14) to scan the environment in front of the vehicle. On the basis of the scanning, an obstacle-free route is determined whose outermost points in a sideward direction are stored as memory points (21). At least one sideward safe area (15b) has been predetermined around the vehicle (1). A control system checks that no memory point (21) resides within the safe area (15b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Sandvik Tamrock Oy
    Inventors: Hannu Mäkelä, Thomas Von Numers
  • Patent number: 7477967
    Abstract: A method for automatically controlling a mining machine. In the method a route is determined for a mining machine (14) in the form of successive, interconnected segments in a coordinate system fixed in a relation to the mine, the segments in turn being determined as successive points located at a distance from one another. The location of each point is determined in the coordinate system fixed in relation to the mine and the data associated with the points is sent wirelessly (17) to the mining machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Sandvik Mining and Construction Oy
    Inventor: Hannu Mäkelä
  • Patent number: 7392151
    Abstract: A method of initializing the position and direction of a mining vehicle, and a mining vehicle. An environmental model and route points are stored in a control system of the vehicle. The environment of the vehicle is scanned, and scanned points are generated based on obstacles observed. The control system is arranged to determine coordinates of the scanned points by using the position of the route points within a search range and at least one direction. The coordinates calculated for the scanned points are compared with the environmental model. Such a route point and direction are selected as initial values for the mining vehicle, by which the generated coordinates of the scanned points best match the environmental model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Sandvik Mining and Construction Oy
    Inventor: Hannu Mäkelä
  • Patent number: 7191060
    Abstract: A method for automatically guiding a mining machine (14) provided with a route determined as successive route determined as successive route points in the mine. In the method, data relating to the successive points are used for determining additional route between the successive route points for guiding the mining machine (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Sandvik Tamrock Oy
    Inventor: Hannu Mäkelä
  • Publication number: 20060265166
    Abstract: A method of initializing the position and direction of a mining vehicle, and a mining vehicle. An environmental model and route points are stored in a control system of the vehicle. The environment of the vehicle is scanned, and scanned points are generated based on obstacles observed. The control system is arranged to determine coordinates of the scanned points by using the position of the route points within a search range and at least one direction. The coordinates calculated for the scanned points are compared with the environmental model. Such a route point and direction are selected as initial values for the mining vehicle, by which the generated coordinates of the scanned points best match the environmental model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventor: Hannu Mäkelä
  • Publication number: 20060235609
    Abstract: A method and a control system for positioning a mine vehicle. Measurement of a distance travelled by the mine vehicle (1) is based on monitoring rotation of a wheel (3). In the invention, an error caused in the distance measurement by wear of the wheel (3) is compensated for automatically when the distance value obtained from monitoring is corrected by a correction factor. The value of the correction factor is updated at predetermined intervals during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventor: Hannu Mäkelä
  • Publication number: 20060195237
    Abstract: A method and system for stopping an unmanned mine vehicle in a predetermined position. The mine vehicle is driven at a low speed towards a physical. When the mine vehicle encounters the obstacle (7, 7a, 7b), a speed difference greater than a predetermined limit value is generated between the speed of the mine vehicle and the driving power transmission. The control system of the mine vehicle detects the exceeding of the limit value and stops the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventor: Hannu Mäkelä
  • Publication number: 20060190165
    Abstract: A method and a system for monitoring the location of a mining vehicle in a mine. The first mine section (18) is provided with a wireless network (10) for data transmission between the mining vehicle (1, 1a, 1b) and the mine control system (11). In addition, the network is used for positioning. In the second mine section (21), the location is determined by means of measuring devices provided in the mining vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Hannu Makela, Riku Pulli, Timo Soikkeli
  • Publication number: 20060190124
    Abstract: A mine vehicle and a method of preventing a mine vehicle from colliding. The mine vehicle (1) includes at least one scanner (13, 14) to scan the environment in front of the vehicle. On the basis of the scanning, an obstacle-free route is determined whose outermost points in a sideward direction are stored as memory points (21). At least one sideward safe area (15b) has been predetermined around the vehicle (1). A control system checks that no memory point (21) resides within the safe area (15b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventor: Hannu MÄKELÄ
  • Publication number: 20060167608
    Abstract: A method and a system for monitoring the location of a mining vehicle in a mine. The mine comprises a first and a second work area. At least one identifier (29) whose exact location is known is arranged in the first work area (18a). The location of the mining vehicle (1) is determined continuously by means of a dead reckoning. The location data, based on the dead reckoning, can be updated by means of the identifier. The location data are transmitted to a mine control system for monitoring the mining vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Hannu Makela, Riku Pulli, Timo Soikkeli
  • Publication number: 20060069471
    Abstract: A method for automatically guiding a mining machine (14) provided with a mute determined as successive route points in the mine. In the method, data relating to the successive points are used for determining additional route between the successive route points for guiding the mining machine (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventor: Hannu Makela
  • Publication number: 20060069472
    Abstract: A method for automatically controlling a mining machine. In the method a route is determined for a mining machine (14) in the form of successive, interconnected segments in a coordinate system fixed in a relation to the mine, the segments in turn being determined as successive points located at a distance from one another. The location of each point is determined in the coordinate system fixed in relation to the mine and the data associated with the points is sent wirelessly (17) to the mining machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventor: Hannu Makela
  • Patent number: 6898503
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining the position of a mining machine as its wheels skid with respect to the underlying surface. In the method, at least one detector detecting the operation of transmission detects skidding of at least one wheel with respect to the underlying surface, whereupon determination of the position by means of the rotation of the wheels and the direction of travel is interrupted. The apparatus includes at least one detector for detecting the operation of the transmission, the detector detecting the skidding of at least one wheel with respect to the underlying surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Sandvik Tamrock Oy
    Inventors: Hannu Mäkelä , Thomas Von Numers
  • Publication number: 20040138799
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining position of a mining machine as its wheels skid with respect to the underlying surface. In the method, at least one detector detecting the operation of transmission detects skidding of at least one wheel (2c) with respect to the underlying surface, whereupon determination of the position by means of the rotation of the wheels (2c) and the direction of travel is interrupted. The apparatus comprises at least one detector for detecting the operation of the transmission, the detector detecting the skidding of at least one wheel (2c) with respect to the underlying surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: Sandvik Tamrock OY
    Inventors: Hannu Makela, Thomas Von Numers
  • Patent number: 5923270
    Abstract: The invention relates to an autonomous navigation system for an unmanned vehicle. The tracks or wheels are driven by hydraulic reversible motors, having the output thereof regulated by valves whose relative control can be used for controlling both heading and speed. The vehicle carries a navigation computer which receives positional information from an external positioning sytems. A ground station computer has been supplied with a digitized map over a predetermined path and the ground station computer is in a two-way radio communication with the vehicle navigation computer which is supplied with the information relating to the path. An established path, which is received from the external positioning system, is compared to the predetermined path and the vehicle navigation is modified for compensating the deviations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Modulaire Oy
    Inventors: Mikko Sampo, Jarmo Puputti, Kari Rintanen, Hannu Makela, Markku Ojala