Underground Mining Machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190540-A1
Application number	US-201614988927-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2016
Priority date	Jan 6, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for managing an underground mining machine is disclosed. The system may include a reel-in switch located in an operator station configured to generate plurality of reel-in signals, and a reel-out switch located in the operator station configured to generate a reel-out signal. The system may additionally include an electronic controller in electrical communication with the reel-in switch and the reel-out switch. The electronic controller may be configured to receive the plurality of reel-in signals from the reel-in switch and enter into two or more reeling-in modes in response to the plurality of reel-in signals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for managing an underground mining machine, comprising:
a cable reel rotatably associated with the underground mining machine; a reel-in switch located in an operator station configured to generate a plurality of reel-in signals; a reel-out switch located in the operator station configured to generate a reel-out signal; and an electronic controller in electrical communication with the reel-in switch and the reel-out switch, the electronic controller configured to receive the plurality of reel-in signals from the reel-in switch and enter into two or more reeling-in modes in response to the plurality of reel-in signals and limit a reverse-direction maximum velocity of the underground mining machine in at least one of the two or more reeling-in modes.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , further including a speed sensor operatively associated with the underground mining machine configured to generate a speed signal, wherein the electronic controller is also in electrical communication with the speed sensor, wherein the electronic controller is further configured to receive the speed signal, wherein the electronic controller enters a latching reeling-in mode in response to the plurality of reel-in signals, wherein while in the latching reeling-in mode the electronic controller is further configured to limit speed of the underground mining machine to the reverse-direction maximum velocity and wherein while in the latching reeling-in mode the electronic controller is further configured to receive the speed signal from the speed sensor, calculate a velocity for the underground mining machine and generate a cable-reel-in signal while the velocity of the underground mining machine is greater than zero and less than or equal to the reverse-direction maximum velocity.

3 . The system according to claim 2 , further including a cable-reel-full-sensor operatively associated with the cable reel configured to generate a reel-full signal when activated, wherein the electronic controller is also in electrical communication with the cable-reel-full-sensor and wherein while in the latching reeling-in mode the electronic controller is further configured to receive the reel-full signal from the cable-reel-full-sensor and stop generating the cable-reel-in signal in response to the reel-full signal.

4 . The system according to claim 2 , further including a parking brake sensor operatively associated with a parking brake configured to generate a brake-on signal when activated, wherein the electronic controller is also in electrical communication with the parking brake sensor and wherein while in the latching reeling-in mode the electronic controller is further configured to receive the brake-on signal from the parking brake sensor and stop generating the cable-reel-in signal in response to the brake-on signal.

5 . The system according to claim 2 , further including a direction sensor operatively associated with the underground mining machine configured to generate a reverse signal when activated, wherein the electronic controller is also in electrical communication with the direction sensor and wherein while in the latching reeling-in mode the electronic controller is further configured to receive the reverse signal from the direction sensor and stop generating the cable-reel-in signal when its stops receiving the reverse signal.

6 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein while in the latching reeling-in mode the electronic controller is further configured to stop generating the cable-reel-in signal when it again receives the plurality of reel-in signals from the reel-in switch.

7 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein while in the latching reeling-in mode the electronic controller is further configured to stop generating the cable-reel-in signal in response to the reel-out signal.

8 . The system according to claim 2 , further including a cable-reel-full-sensor operatively associated with the cable reel configured to generate a reel-full signal when activated, wherein the electronic controller is also in electrical communication with the cable-reel-full-sensor and wherein while in the latching reeling-in mode the electronic controller is further configured to receive the reel-full signal from the cable-reel-full-sensor and stop generating the cable-reel-in signal in response to the reel-full signal.

9 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller enters a non-latching reeling-in mode in response to the plurality of reel-in signals, wherein while in the non-latching reeling-in mode the electronic controller is further configured to generate a cable-reel-in signal in response to the plurality of reel-in signals while it receives the plurality of reel-in signals.

10 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the reel-out switch is further configured to only generate the reel-out signal while being actuated, wherein the electronic controller is further configured to receive the reel-out signal and generate a ccable-reel-out-signal while receiving the reel-out signal.

11 . The system according to claim 10 , further including a cable-reel-empty sensor operatively associated with the cable reel configured to generate a reel-empty signal when activated, wherein the electronic controller is also in electrical communication with the cable-reel-empty sensor and wherein the electronic controller is further configured to stop generating the ccable-reel-out-signal in response to the reel-empty signal.

12 . The system according to claim 10 , further including a cable-reel-near-empty-sensor operatively associated with the cable reel configured to generate a reel-near-empty signal when activated, further including a speed sensor operatively associated with the underground mining machine configured to generate a speed signal, wherein the electronic controller is also in electrical communication with the cable-reel-near-empty-sensor and the speed sensor, wherein the electronic controller enters a speed-limiting reeling-out mode in response to the reel-near-empty signal, wherein while in the speed-limiting reeling-out mode the electronic controller is further configured to limit speed of the underground mining machine to a forward-direction maximum velocity and wherein while in the speed-limiting reeling-out mode the electronic controller is further configured to receive the speed signal from the speed sensor, calculate a velocity for the underground mining machine and generate the ccable-reel-out-signal while the velocity of the underground mining machine is greater than zero and less than or equal to the forward-direction maximum velocity.

13 . The system according to claim 12 , further including a cable-reel-empty sensor operatively associated with the cable reel configured to generate a reel-empty signal when activated, further including a direction sensor operatively associated with the underground mining machine configured to generate a forward signal when activated, wherein the electronic controller is also in electrical communication with the cable-reel-empty sensor and the direction sensor, wherein while in the speed-limiting reeling-out mode the electronic controller is further configured to stop generating the ccable-reel-out-signal in response to the reel-empty signal and generate a machine stop signal and wherein while in the speed-limiting reeling-out mode the electronic controller is further configured to receive the forward signal from the direction sensor and stop generating the reel-out signal when its stops receiving the forward signal.

14 . An underground mining machine, comprising:
a chass

Assignees

• Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment Llc

Inventors

• Szalko James R
• Glover Rex A

Classifications

• E21F17/06

  Distributing electric power; Cable networks; Conduits for cables (circuit arrangements for supplying or distributing electric power in general H02J) · CPC title

• B65H2701/34

  electric cords or electric power cables · CPC title

• B65H75/4484

  Electronic arrangements or adaptations for controlling the winding or unwinding process, e.g. with sensors · CPC title

• B65H75/425 Primary

  attached to, or forming part of a vehicle, e.g. truck, trailer, vessel · CPC title

• H02G11/02

  using take-up reel or drum · CPC title