DETECTING SUMP DEPTH OF A MINER

• US 20150061351A1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joy Global Underground Mining LLC (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Joy Mm Delaware Incorporated (Mitsui & Company Limited)
• Inventors: Paterson, Alastair J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,222,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 299/1.4
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 25/06 Machines slitting solely by one or more cutting rods or cutting drums which rotate, move through the seam, and may or may not reciprocate
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 35/08 Guiding the machine
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 35/12 along a conveyor for the cut material
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 35/24 Remote control specially adapted for machines for slitting or completely freeing the mineral control in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 41/16 Methods of underground mining winning machines therefor E21C25/00 - E21C39/00; Layouts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 17/18 Special adaptations of signalling or alarm devices for mine lifts B66B; gas-sensitive devices per se G01N

Abstract

Systems and methods for operating a mining machine. One system includes a controller, a stationary object, and a radar device. The radar device transmits radio waves toward the stationary object and detects reflections of the radio waves. The controller obtains timing information regarding the radio waves and the reflections. Based on the timing information, the controller is configured to determine a first distance between the radar device and the stationary object before sumping the mining machine into material and a second distance between the radar device and the stationary object after sumping the mining machine into the material. The controller is also configured to determine a sump depth of the mining machine based on the first distance and the second distance, compare the determined sump depth to a predetermined sump depth, and perform at least one automatic action when the determined sump depth does not satisfy the predetermined sump depth.

Claims

1. A system for operating a mining machine, the system comprising:

at least one radar device mounted on the mining machine configured to transmit a plurality of radio waves toward a stationary object positioned in a mine and detect a plurality of reflections of the plurality of radio waves; and

at least one controller configured to

obtain reflection data from the at least one radar device, the reflection data representing timing information regarding the plurality of radio waves and the plurality of reflections,

determine, based on the reflection data, a first distance between the at least one radar device and the stationary object before sumping the mining machine into material,

determine, based on the reflection data, a second distance between the at least one radar device and the stationary object after sumping the mining machine into the material,

determine a sump depth of the mining machine based on the first distance and the second distance,

compare the determined sump depth to at least one predetermined sump depth, and

perform at least one automatic action when the determined sump depth does not satisfy the at least one predetermined sump depth.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary object includes an anti-stealth device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the anti-stealth device includes a corner cube reflector.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary object includes a roof bolt.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary object includes a roof bolt positioned between 20 meters and 150 meters to a rear of the mining machine.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary object includes a roadway rib.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationary object includes haulage equipment.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to filter the reflection data to identify at least one of the plurality of reflections having an angle within a predetermined range of angles.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to filter the reflection data to identify at least one of the plurality of reflections having a signal strength greater than a predetermined threshold.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the mining machine includes a continuous miner and the at least one radar device includes two radar devices mounted to a rear of the continuous miner.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one automatic action includes issuing a warning to an operator.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one automatic action includes sumping the mining machine further into the material.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one automatic action includes retracting the mining machine from the material.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one automatic action includes stopping a cutting drum of the mining machine.

15. A method of operating a continuous miner comprising:

transmitting a first radio wave from the continuous miner toward a stationary object including a corner cube reflector;

receiving a reflection of the first radio wave from the stationary object;

determining, with at least one controller, a first distance between the continuous miner and the stationary object based on the reflection of the first radio wave;

sumping the continuous miner into material;

after sumping the continuous miner into the material, transmitting a second radio wave from the continuous miner toward the stationary object;

receiving a reflection of the second radio wave from the stationary object;

determining, with the at least one controller, a second distance between the continuous miner and the stationary object based on the reflection of the second radio wave;

determining, with the at least one controller, a sump depth of the continuous miner based on a difference between the first distance and the second distance;

comparing, with the at least one controller, the determined sump depth to a predetermined sump depth; and

when the determined sump depth does not satisfy the predetermined sump depth, modifying operation of the continuous miner.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting the first radio wave toward the stationary object includes transmitting the first radio wave toward a roof bolt including the corner cube reflector.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting the first radio wave toward the stationary object includes transmitting the first radio wave toward a roadway rib including the corner cube reflector.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein modifying the operation of the continuous miner includes automatically sumping the continuous miner further into the material.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein modifying the operation of the continuous miner includes automatically retracting the continuous miner from the material.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein modifying the operation of the continuous miner includes automatically stopping a cutting drum of the continuous miner.