SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING A FLUID SYSTEM OF A MINING MACHINE

• US 20140236432A1
• Filed: 02/18/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joy Global Surface Mining Inc. (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harnischfeger Technologies Inc. (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Inventors: Haisler, Michael, Gudur, Shashi, Bhushan, Anubhaw
• Granted Patent: US 10,113,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/268 with failure correction follow-up actions
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 35/04 Safety devices operating in the event of breakage of a haulage cable or chain E21C29/20
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 47/00 Machines for obtaining or the removal of materials in open-pit mines obtaining peat E21C49/00
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/50 Pressure control

Abstract

A method of monitoring a fluid system of a mining machine. The method including sensing a pressure level of a fluid in the fluid system of the mining machine to generate pressure level data; analyzing the pressure level data to detect pressure level deviations; determining at least one selected from the group of when a frequency of the pressure level deviations exceeds a predetermined frequency, and when the fluid pressure level fails to reach a threshold within a predetermined reaction time period; and outputting an alert in response to the determination.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a fluid system of a mining machine, the method comprising:

sensing a pressure level of a fluid in the fluid system of the mining machine to generate pressure level data;

analyzing the pressure level data to detect pressure level deviations;

determining at least one selected from the group of

when a frequency of the pressure level deviations exceeds a predetermined frequency, and

when the fluid pressure level fails to reach a threshold within a predetermined reaction time period; and

outputting an alert in response to the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure level deviation is a predetermined amount below or above an expected pressure level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert is also based on an amount of the pressure level deviation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is air.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising injecting a lubricant into the air by a lubricator of the fluid system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is a liquid lubricant.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid pressure is sensed by one or more transducers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing is performed locally by a controller of the mining machine.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting the pressure level data to a remote server, wherein the remote server performs the analyzing of the pressure level data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the alert performs one of shutting down the mining machine, communicating the alert to a network, and communicating the alert to an operator.

11. A mining machine including a fluid system, the mining machine comprising:

a fluid pressure sensor operable to sense a pressure level of a fluid in the fluid system of the mining machine;

a controller operable to

analyze the pressure level to detect pressure level deviations;

determine at least one selected from the group of

when a frequency of the pressure level deviations exceeds a predetermined frequency, and

when the fluid pressure level fails to reach a threshold within a predetermined reaction time period; and

output an alert in response to the determination.

12. The mining machine of claim 11, wherein the pressure level deviation is a predetermined amount below or above an expected pressure level.

13. The mining machine of claim 11, wherein the alert is also based on an amount of the pressure level deviation.

14. The mining machine of claim 11, wherein the fluid is air.

15. The mining machine of claim 14, further comprising injecting a lubricant into the air by a lubricator of the fluid system.

16. The mining machine of claim 11, wherein the fluid is a liquid lubricant.

17. The mining machine of claim 11, wherein the fluid pressure is sensed by one or more transducers.

18. The mining machine of claim 11, wherein the controller is further operable to output the pressure level data to a remote server for analysis

19. The mining machine of claim 18, wherein the pressure level data is wirelessly output to the remote server.

20. The mining machine of claim 11, wherein outputting the alert performs one of shutting down the mining machine, communicating the alert to a network, and communicating the alert to an operator.