REMOTELY CONTROLLED MINING MACHINES, CONTROL SYSTEMS, AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20100221071A1
• Filed: 09/17/2007
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: J.H. Fletcher & Company.
• Original Assignee: J.H. Fletcher & Company.
• Inventors: Hinshaw, Gregory E., Wilson, Henry E.
• Application Number:
  US12/441,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20100221071A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/259.100
• CPC Class Codes: E21D 20/003 Machines for drilling anchor holes and setting anchor bolts
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 17/18 Special adaptations of signalling or alarm devices for mine lifts B66B; gas-sensitive devices per se G01N

Abstract

In one aspect, a system assists an operator in controlling a machine, such as a bolter including a drill head for drilling a borehole in a mine passage having a face and installing a bolt therein, as well as possibly a miner for advancing the mine passage. A controller controls the operation of the machine, and a transmitter transmits to the controller control signals from the operator at a remote location from the borehole. A sensor causes the controller to take action, such as by providing a warning signal or disabling one or more aspects of the machine, if the operator is within a predetermined proximity of the drilling, bolting, or mining operation. Systems and methods pertain to other related aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for assisting an operator in controlling a machine including a drill head for drilling a borehole in a face of a mine passage and installing a bolt therein, comprising:

a controller for controlling the operation of the drilling or bolting machine;

a transmitter for transmitting to the controller control signals from the operator at a remote location from the drill head; and

a sensor for generating an output signal to the controller when the operator is within a predetermined proximity of the drill head.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller receives the output signal and generates a warning signal to the operator.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller receives the output signal and disables the drilling or bolting machine.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a wireless device for emitting;

the control signals received by the controller.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a proximity detector for detecting one of the operator or the transmitter.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a miner for advancing the mine passage, and wherein the transmitter transmits the control signals from the operator at the remote location to control the miner.

7. The system of claim 1, further including a miner associated with the machine for advancing the mine passage, and wherein the transmitter transmits the control signals from the operator at the remote location to control the miner.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller upon receiving the output signal disables the operation of the miner.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller upon receiving the output signal disables the drill head.

10. The system of claim 1, further including an automated temporary support for engaging the face, and wherein the controller disables the automated temporary support after the output signal is received.

11. A system assisting an operator in mining materials for form a mine passage having a face into which a borehole is formed for receiving a bolt to provide support for the face, comprising:

a miner capable of advancing the mine passage and forming the face;

a drilling module supported by the miner for drilling the face to form the borehole and installing the bolt therein to form the supported face;

a transmitter for transmitting to the controller control signals for controlling at least the drilling module from the operator at a remote location from the drilling module and below the supported face.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the transmitter comprises a wireless device for emitting signals received by the controller.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the transmitter transmits control signals for controlling the miner.

14. A system assisting an operator in mining materials for forming a mine passage having a face and forming a borehole in the face for receiving a bolt, comprising:

a miner for advancing the mine passage and forming the face;

a drilling module for drilling the face to form the borehole and generating output signals representative of one or more drilling parameters; and

a controller for receiving the one or more drilling parameters, determining a characteristic of the material forming the face based on the drilling parameters, and instructing the operation of the miner based on the characteristic.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the miner and the drilling module are physically connected.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the drilling module comprises a rotational drill head, and the drilling parameters comprise thrust or torque.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the controller instructs the operation of the miner by displaying the characteristic of the material forming the face on a display for viewing by the operator.

18. A system assisting an operator in mining materials for Conning a mine passage having a face into which a borehole is formed for receiving a bolt, comprising:

a miner for advancing the mine passage and forming the face;

a drilling module for drilling the face to form the borehole and installing the bolt in the borehole during a first period of time and

a controller for controlling the miner to advance the mine passage a predetermined distance within a second period of time substantially matching the first period of time.

19. A system for assisting an operator in mining materials for forming a mine passage having a face into which a borehole is formed for receiving a bolt, comprising:

a miner for advancing the mine passage and forming the face;

a drilling module for drilling the face to form the borehole and installing the bolt in the borehole;

a controller for controlling the miner;

a transmitter for transmitting to the controller control signals from the operator at a remote location from the face; and

a sensor for sensing when the operator is within a predetermined proximity of the miner and, generating an output signal.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the transmitter transmits signals to control the drilling module.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the sensor comprises an infrared proximity detector for detecting the proximity of one of the operator or the transmitter.

22. A method of operating a mining machine with a drill head for use by an operator in forming a borehole in a face of a mine passage and installing a bolt therein, comprising:

from a location remote from the drill head, operating the machine with the drill head to form the borehole; and

determining if the operator is within a predetermined proximity of the drill head.

23-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A method of assisting an operator in mining materials for forming a mine passage having a face, comprising:

drilling the face to form a borehole;

based on the drilling step, determining a characteristic of the material comprising the face; and

advancing the mine passage based on the characteristic,

27. (canceled)

28. A method for assisting an operator in mining materials for forming a mine passage having a face into which a borehole is formed for receiving a bolt, comprising:

drilling the face to form the borehole and installing the bolt in the borehole during a first period of time; and

advancing the mine passage in a second period of time substantially matching the first period of time.

29. (canceled)

30-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A method of mining a face in a mine passage, comprising:

forming a first entry in the face to a predetermined advance distance;

forming a second entry in the mine face adjoining the first entry to about the predetermined advance distance;

while forming the second entry, installing roof support in the first entry.

39-43. -43. (canceled)