Automatic dust suppression system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10151199-B2
Application number	US-201514825205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2015
Priority date	Aug 13, 2014
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling dust. One method includes automatically detecting an operating status of a mining machine. The method also includes automatically, with an electronic processor, adjusting operation of a dust suppression system based on the operating status of the mining machine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling dust, the method comprising:
automatically detecting an operating status of a mining machine; and
automatically, with an electronic processor, adjusting operation of a dust suppression system based on the operating status of the mining machine, wherein the electronic processor adjusts the operation of the dust suppression system by setting a first operating level for the dust suppression system from a plurality of operating levels in response to the mining machine drilling at a first depth and by setting a second operating level for the dust suppression system from the plurality of operating levels in response to the mining machine drilling at a second depth.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically detecting an environment condition.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein automatically adjusting the operation of the dust suppression system includes automatically adjusting the operation of the dust suppression system based on the operating status of the mining machine and the environment condition.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein automatically detecting the environment condition includes automatically detecting a dust particulate concentration.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically detecting the operating status of the mining machine includes automatically detecting a drilling mode of the mining machine.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically detecting the operating status of the mining machine includes automatically detecting a drilling depth of the mining machine.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the operation of the dust suppression system includes automatically adjusting the operation of a water injection system.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein automatically adjusting the operation of the water injection system includes automatically adjusting a water flow level of the water injection system.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the operation of the dust suppression system includes automatically adjusting the operation of a dry dust collection system.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically adjusting the operation of the dust suppression system includes automatically adjusting a suction level of a dry dust collection system.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically detecting the operating status of the mining machine includes receiving information from a hole depth sensor.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically detecting the operating status of the mining machine includes receiving information from a bit air exception sensor.

13. The method of claim 2 , wherein automatically detecting the environment condition includes receiving information from a particulate sensor.

14. A system for controlling dust, the system comprising:
a controller including an electronic processor communicating with non-transitory computer-readable media and an input/output interface, wherein the electronic processor is configured to:
automatically detect an operating status of a mining machine, and
automatically adjust operation of a dust suppression system based on the operating status of the mining machine, wherein the electronic processor adjusts the operation of the dust suppression system by setting a first operating level for the dust suppression system from a plurality of operating levels in response to the mining machine drilling at a first depth and by setting a second operating level for the dust suppression system from the plurality of operating levels in response to the mining machine drilling at a second depth.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to automatically detect an environment condition.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to automatically adjust the operation of the dust suppression system by automatically adjusting the operation of the dust suppression system based on the operating status of the mining machine and the environment condition.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to automatically detect the environment condition by automatically detecting a dust particulate concentration.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to automatically detect the operating status of the mining machine by automatically detecting a drilling mode of the mining machine.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to automatically detect the operating status of the mining machine by automatically detecting a drilling depth of the mining machine.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the dust suppression system includes a water injection system.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to automatically adjust the operation of the water injection system by automatically adjusting a water flow level of the water injection system.

22. The system of claim 14 , wherein the dust suppression system includes a dry dust collection system.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to automatically adjust the operation of the dust suppression system by automatically adjusting a suction level of the dry dust collection system.

24. The system of claim 14 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to automatically detect the operating status of the mining machine based on information received from a hole depth sensor through the input/output interface.

25. The system of claim 14 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to automatically detect the operating status of the mining machine based on information received from a bit air exception sensor through the input/output interface.

26. The system of claim 15 , wherein the electronic processor is configured to automatically detect the environment condition based on information received from a particulate sensor through the input/output interface.

Assignees

• Harnischfeger Tech Inc
• Joy Global Surface Mining Inc

Inventors

• Kuiper Eric J

Classifications

• E21F5/02

  by wetting or spraying · CPC title

• E21C35/04 Primary

  Safety devices (operating in the event of breakage of a haulage cable or chain E21C29/20) · CPC title

• E21B21/07

  for treating dust-laden gaseous fluids · CPC title

• E21C35/23

  Distribution of spraying-fluids in rotating cutter-heads · CPC title

• E21C35/223 Primary

  Equipment associated with mining machines for sucking dust-laden air from the cutting area, with or without cleaning of the air · CPC title