MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND MANAGEMENT METHOD OF MINING MACHINE

• US 20160224029A1
• Filed: 07/30/2013
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Tojima, Masanori, Ryuman, Mitsuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 10,671,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0214 in accordance with safety or protection criteria, e.g. avoiding hazardous areas monitoring the location of vehicles within a certain area, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas, in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/13
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/028 using a RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room

Abstract

A management system of a mining machine includes a vehicle, a first antenna, in the vehicle, receiving radio waves from GPS satellites, a portable second antenna, in a releasable manner in the vehicle, receiving radio waves from the GPS satellites, a first detector, in the vehicle, detecting a position of the first antenna based on a signal from the first antenna, a second detector, in the vehicle, detecting a position of the second antenna based on a signal from the second antenna, and a processer setting a prohibited area where an entry of a mining machine is prohibited based on detection results of the first and second detectors, such that the prohibited area includes the positions of the first and second antennae.

Claims

1. A management system of a mining machine comprising:

a vehicle able to run at a mine;

a first antenna, placed in the vehicle, configured to receive radio waves from GPS satellites;

a portable second antenna, mounted in a releasable manner in the vehicle, configured to receive radio waves from the GPS satellites;

a first detection device, placed in the vehicle, configured to detect a position of the first antenna based on a signal from the first antenna;

a second detection device configured to detect a position of the second antenna based on a signal from the second antenna; and

a processing device configured to set a prohibited area where an entry of a mining machine able to run at the mine is prohibited based on a detection result of the first detection device and a detection result of the second detection device, such that the prohibited area includes the position of the first antenna and the position of the second antenna.

2. The management system of a mining machine according to claim 1, wherein

the second detection device is placed in the vehicle, and

the second antenna is configured to receive radio waves from the GPS satellites in a state of being placed outside the vehicle.

3. The management system of a mining machine according to claim 1, wherein the second antenna is an antenna carried by a worker manning the vehicle.

4. The management system of a mining machine according to claim 1, further comprising an operating unit, placed in the vehicle, configured to allow an input of a signal into the processing device, and

the operating unit is operated to perform at least one of the setting of the prohibited area including the position of the second antenna and a cancellation of the setting.

5. The management system of a mining machine according to claim 1, wherein

the mining machine is operated on at least a part of a load site, a dump site, and a haul road leading to at least one of the load site and the dump site at the mine, and

the prohibited area including the position of the first antenna is continued to be set during the operation of the mining machine.

6. The management system of a mining machine according to claim 1, wherein the prohibited area is one area including both the position of the first antenna and the position of the second antenna.

7. The management system of a mining machine according to claim 6, wherein the processing device is configured to change a size of the prohibited area based on a relative position between the first antenna and the second antenna.

8. The management system of a mining machine according to claim 1, wherein the prohibited area includes a first prohibited area including the position of the first antenna, and a second prohibited area that is set away from the first prohibited area and includes the position of the second antenna.

9. The management system of a mining machine according to claim 1, further comprising a communication system configured to transmit an instruction signal to the mining machine to prevent the mining machine from entering the prohibited area.

10. The management system of a mining machine according to claim 9, wherein the communication system includes a first communication device, mounted in the vehicle, configured to allow a transmission of information based on signals respectively from the first and second antennas.

11. The management system of a mining machine according to claim 10, wherein the information based on the signals include information on the position of the first antenna detected by the first detection device, and information on the position of the second antenna detected by the second detection device.

12. The management system of a mining machine according to claim 11, further comprising a control facility including the processing device, wherein

the processing device of the control facility is configured to set the prohibited area based on the information based on the signals from the first communication device,

the communication system includes a second communication device placed in the control facility and a third communication device placed in the mining machine, and

the instruction signal is transmitted from the second communication device to the third communication device.

13. A management system of a mining machine, including a central control apparatus placed in a control facility, the management system comprising:

a vehicle able to run at a mine;

a first antenna, placed in the vehicle, configured to receive radio waves from GPS satellites;

a portable second antenna, mounted in a releasable manner in the vehicle, configured to receive radio waves from the GPS satellites in a state of being carried by a worker manning the vehicle outside the vehicle;

a first detection device, placed in the vehicle, configured to detect a position of the first antenna based on a signal from the first antenna;

a second detection device, placed in the vehicle, configured to detect a position of the second antenna based on a signal from the second antenna;

a processing device, provided in the central control apparatus, configured to set a prohibited area where an entry of a mining machine able to run at the mine is prohibited based on a detection result of the first detection device and a detection result of the second detection device, such that the prohibited area includes the position of the first antenna and the position of the second antenna, and set a travel condition of the mining machine to stop a travel of the mining machine before the prohibited area; and

a communication system configured to transmit to the mining machine information on the travel condition set by the processing device,

wherein the mining machine is configured to run at the mine in accordance with the information on the travel condition transmitted from the central control apparatus by the communication system.

14. A management method of a mining machine comprising:

receiving radio waves from GPS satellites with a first antenna placed in a vehicle able to run at a mine;

receiving radio waves from the GPS satellites with a portable second antenna mounted in a releasable manner in the vehicle;

detecting a position of the first antenna based on a signal from the first antenna;

detecting a position of the second antenna based on a signal from the second antenna; and

setting a prohibited area where an entry of a mining machine able to run at the mine is prohibited based on results of the detection, such that the prohibited area includes the position of the first antenna and the position of the second antenna.

15. (canceled)