Method of Estimating Life Expectancy of Electric Mining Shovels Based on Cumulative Dipper Loads
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a mining shovel, said method comprising:
- measuring each load of a plurality of dipper payloads of the mining shovel over a time period;
determining a cumulative life score of said mining shovel over said time period;
said cumulative life score being determined as a function of said plurality of dipper payloads; and
communicating said cumulative life score to a user.
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Abstract
An operational life of an electric mining shovel is determined by monitoring cumulative dipper loading, both above and below a benchmark weight set by a manufacturer over a time period, such as an operating shift. The running shovel life score is increased when a dipper payload is less than the benchmark weight and increased when the dipper payload is greater than the benchmark weight. The shovel life may be tracked over a time period such as an operator'"'"'s shift or a thirty day period. The shovel life is used by the operator to operate the shovel in a manner consistent with the manufacturer'"'"'s ratings.
33 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of operating a mining shovel, said method comprising:
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measuring each load of a plurality of dipper payloads of the mining shovel over a time period; determining a cumulative life score of said mining shovel over said time period;
said cumulative life score being determined as a function of said plurality of dipper payloads; andcommunicating said cumulative life score to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17)
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10. A method of determining a maintenance requirement for a mining shovel, said method comprising:
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measuring each load of a plurality of dipper payloads of the mining shovel; determining a cumulative relative life score of a specific component of the mining shovel as a function of said plurality of dipper payloads; and reporting a need to perform maintenance of said specific component when said relative life reaches a predetermined threshold.
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12. A method of determining an estimated mining shovel life based on the loading characteristics of a dipper, the method comprising:
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maintaining a life score of the shovel, wherein the life score is cumulative over a period of time and based on the weight of each of a plurality of dipper loads relative to a benchmark; determining weights of each of a plurality of subsequent dipper payloads; increasing the running life score for each of the plurality of payloads having a weight less than the benchmark and decreasing the running life score for each of the plurality of payloads having a weight greater than the benchmark. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification