Object proximity detection and feedback system for a mining machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12428818-B2
Application number	US-202117500772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2021
Priority date	Oct 13, 2020
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

A system for detecting a potential collision between an object and a mining machine, the system comprising: a sensor, a first strobe light and a second strobe light, and an electronic processor configured to identify a virtual perimeter around at least a portion of the mining machine, identify a plurality of collision zones, the plurality of collision zones including at least one immediate collision zone and at least one potential collision zone, receive a signal from a sensor indicating detection of the object in one of the plurality of collision zones, determine, based on the signal, whether the object is in the immediate collision zone or the potential collision zone, generate, in response to determining that the object is in the potential collision zone, a first indication, and generate, in response to determining that the object is in the immediate collision zone, a second indication different than the first indication.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for detecting an object within a vicinity of a mining machine, the system comprising:
a sensor configured to secure to the mining machine;
a first plurality of light sources configured to secure to the mining machine; and
an electronic processor configured to:
receive a signal from the sensor indicative of the object being positioned in the vicinity of the mining machine,
determine that the position of the object corresponds to a first segment of a virtual perimeter extending at least partially around the mining machine, the first segment associated with the first plurality of light sources,
identify a first light source of the first plurality of light sources that is closest to the object,
control the first light source to repeatedly flash,
control a second light source of the first plurality of light sources to illuminate in a different manner than the first light source,
receive a second signal from the sensor indicative of a second object being positioned in the vicinity of the mining machine,
determine that the position of the second object corresponds to the first segment of the virtual perimeter,
determine which of the first object and the second object is the closest object to the mining machine,
determine which of the first plurality of light sources is closest light source to the closest object, and
control the closest light source to repeatedly flash.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mining machine is one of a rope shovel and a blasthole drill.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein illuminating the second light in a different manner includes at least one selected from the group consisting of illuminating the second light source in a continuous manner, illuminating the second light source at a lower illumination that the first light source, and turning off the second light source.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor determines that the position of the object corresponds to the first segment by determining that the position of the object is between two lines extending away from the mining machine from two end points that define the first segment of a virtual perimeter.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first light source of the first plurality of light sources repeatedly flashes at a flash rate determined based on a distance between the object and the first segment.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the object that is detected is a first object and wherein the electronic processor is further configured to:
receive a second signal from the sensor indicative of a second object being positioned in the vicinity of the mining machine,
determine that the position of the second object corresponds to the first segment of the virtual perimeter,
determine that the second light source of the first plurality of light sources is closest to the second object,
control the second light source to repeatedly flash based on a distance of the second object to the first segment, and
control the first light source to repeatedly flash based on the distance of the first object to the first segment.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to control the at least one other light source of the first plurality of light sources to illuminate in a different manner than the second light source of the first plurality of light sources.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the object that is detected is a first object and wherein the electronic processor is further configured to:
receive a second signal from the sensor indicative of a second object being positioned in the vicinity of the mining machine,
determine that the position of the second object corresponds to a second segment of the virtual perimeter, the second segment associated with the second plurality of light sources,
identify a first light source of the second plurality of light sources that is closest to the object, and
control the first light source of the second plurality of light sources to repeatedly flash.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first light source of the first plurality of light sources is flashing simultaneously with the first light source of the second plurality of light sources.

10. A method for detecting an object within a vicinity of a mining machine, the method comprising:
receiving, by an electronic processor, a signal from a sensor indicative of the object being positioned in the vicinity of the mining machine;
determining, by the electronic processor, that the position of the object corresponds to a first segment of a virtual perimeter extending at least partially around the mining machine, the first segment associated with the first plurality of light sources;
identifying, by the electronic processor, a first light source of the first plurality of light sources that is closest to the object;
controlling, by the electronic processor, the first light source to repeatedly flash;
controlling, by the electronic processor, a second light source of the first plurality of light sources to illuminate in a different manner than the first light source;
receiving a second signal from the sensor indicative of a second object being positioned in the vicinity of the mining machine;
determining that the position of the second object corresponds to the first segment of the virtual perimeter;
determining which of the first object and the second object is the closest object to the mining machine;
determining which of the first plurality of light sources is closest light source to the closest object; and
controlling the closest light source to repeatedly flash.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein illuminating the second light in a different manner includes at least one selected from the group consisting of illuminating the second light source in a continuous manner, illuminating the second light source at a lower illumination that the first light source, and turning off the second light source.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining that the position of the object corresponds to the first segment includes determining that the position of the object is between two lines extending away from the mining machine from two end points that define the first segment of a virtual perimeter.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein controlling the first light source to repeatedly flash includes controlling the rate of the flashing based on a distance between the object and the first segment.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the object that is detected is a first object and wherein the method further comprises
receiving a second signal from the sensor indicative of a second object being positioned in the vicinity of the mining machine;
determining that the position of the second object corresponds to the first segment of the virtual perimeter;
determining that the second light source of the first plurality of light sources is closest to the second object;
controlling the second light source to repeatedly flash based on a distance of the second object to the first segment; and
controlling the first light source to repeatedly flash based on the distance of the first object to the first segment.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the method further includes controlling the at least one other light source of the first plurality of light sources to illuminate in a different manner than the second light source of the first plurality of light sources.

16. A system for detecting an object within a vicinity of a mining machine, the system comprising:
a sensor configured to secure to the mining machine;

Assignees

• Joy Global Surface Mining Inc

Inventors

• Malegam Keshad D
• Taylor Wesley P
• Reiland Matthew

Classifications

• E21C35/302

  Measuring, signaling or indicating specially adapted for machines for slitting or completely freeing the mineral (measuring or indicating on tunneling machines E21D9/003) · CPC title

• E21C35/282

  Autonomous machines; Autonomous operations · CPC title

• E21C35/04

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

• E21B7/02

  Drilling rigs characterised by means for land transport {with their own drive}, e.g. skid mounting or wheel mounting · CPC title

• E02F9/24 Primary

  Safety devices {, e.g. for preventing overload (E02F9/226 takes precedence)} · CPC title