Efficiency System

• US 20140122162A1
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baker, Mark R.
• Application Number:
  US13/665,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20140122162A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining

Abstract

A system, and related method and computer program product are disclosed. The system may comprise a loading machine, a first fleet, a second fleet, and a controller operably connected to the loading machine(s) and the first fleet and the second fleet. The controller may be configured to determine a FF System Efficiency for a first scenario based on a FF Mining Efficiency and a FF Percent Shift Time Difference. The controller may be further configured to determine a SF System Efficiency for a second scenario based on a SF Mining Efficiency and a SF Percent Shift Time Difference.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a loading machine;

a first fleet;

a second fleet; and

a controller connected to the loading machine and the first fleet and the second fleet, the controller configured to determine a FF System Efficiency for a first scenario by multiplying a FF Mining Efficiency by a FF Percent Shift Time Difference, the controller configured to determine a SF System Efficiency for a second scenario by multiplying a SF Mining Efficiency by a SF Percent Shift Time Difference.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first fleet is a plurality of manned vehicles.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the manned vehicles are haul trucks.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the second fleet is a plurality of unmanned vehicles.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the unmanned vehicles are haul trucks.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second fleet consists of one unmanned vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first fleet consists of one manned vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the loading machine is a shovel.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first fleet is a plurality of manned vehicles configured to receive and carry a load and the second fleet is a plurality of manned vehicles configured to receive and carry a load.

10. A method of determining and comparing System Efficiencies, the method comprising:

calculating, by a controller, a FF Mining Efficiency and a FF Percent Shift Time Difference for a first scenario;

determining, by the controller, a FF System Efficiency from the FF Mining Efficiency and the FF Percent Shift Time Difference;

calculating, by the controller, a SF Mining Efficiency and a SF Percent Shift Time Difference for a second scenario; and

determining, by the controller, a SF System Efficiency from the SF Mining Efficiency and the SF Percent Shift Time Difference.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising comparing the SF System Efficiency to the FF System Efficiency to determine which is greater.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying the FF System Efficiency and the SF System Efficiency.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first fleet is comprised of manned vehicles.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the manned vehicles are haul trucks.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second fleet is comprised of unmanned vehicles.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the unmanned vehicles are haul trucks.

17. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for determining and comparing System Efficiencies, the method comprising:

calculating a FF Mining Efficiency and a FF Percent Shift Time Difference for a first scenario;

determining a FF System Efficiency based on the FF Mining Efficiency and the FF Percent Shift Time Difference;

calculating a SF Mining Efficiency and a SF percent shift time difference for a second scenario;

determining a SF System Efficiency based on the SF Mining Efficiency and the SF Percent Shift Time Difference; and

comparing the SF System Efficiency to the FF System Efficiency to determine which is greater.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first fleet is comprised of manned haul trucks.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the second fleet is comprised of unmanned haul trucks.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first fleet is comprised of manned haul trucks, the second fleet is comprised of unmanned haul trucks, and the first scenario includes includes a first shovel configured to load the manned haul trucks and the second scenario includes a second shovel configured to load the unmanned haul trucks.