Gauging apparatus and method, particularly for controlling mining by a mining machine
First Claim
1. Apparatus for mining or excavating having a movable cutting element movable to different elevations and means for controlling the movement of said movable cutting element adapted to be pre-set to establish a predetermined final elevation at which the cutting element, in making a cut, is to be stopped, and to establish a predetermined preliminary elevation, in advance of the final elevation, at which the movement of the movable cutting element is to be slowed down, said apparatus comprising:
- slow-down signal means pre-settable in accordance with said preliminary elevation for signalling when the movable cutting element, in making a cut, has moved to said preliminary elevation short of the said final elevation at which it is to be stopped;
stop signal means pre-settable in accordance with said final elevation for signalling when the movable cutting element has moved to its said predetermined final elevation for stopping the movable cutting element at said predetermined final elevation;
said slow-down signal means including first means for generating a slow-down signal;
said stop signal means including second means for generating a stop signal; and
means operable by said movable cutting element for actuating said first signal generating means for actuating the slow-down signal means when the movable cutting element has moved to the said preliminary elevation and for actuating said second signal generating means for actuating the stop signal means when the movable cutting element has reached its said final elevation.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for and method of controlling the mining by a mining machine of a seam of material (e.g., coal) overlying or underlying a stratum of undesired material (e.g., clay) to reduce the quantity of undesired material mined with the desired material, the machine comprising a cutter movable up and down and adapted to cut down into a seam of coal on being lowered. The control apparatus comprises a first electrical signal constituting a slow-down signal adapted to be automatically operated to signal when the cutter has cut down into a seam of desired material generally to a predetermined depth short of the interface between the seam and the underlying stratum for slowing down the cutting rate as the cutter approaches the interface, and a second electrical signal adapted to be automatically operated subsequent to the first signal for signalling when the cutter has cut down through the seam to the interface for stopping the cutting operation, thereby to avoid mining undesired material with the desired material. Similar signalling may be provided on an upward cut to avoid cutting into the overlying stratum.
-
Citations
42 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for mining or excavating having a movable cutting element movable to different elevations and means for controlling the movement of said movable cutting element adapted to be pre-set to establish a predetermined final elevation at which the cutting element, in making a cut, is to be stopped, and to establish a predetermined preliminary elevation, in advance of the final elevation, at which the movement of the movable cutting element is to be slowed down, said apparatus comprising:
-
slow-down signal means pre-settable in accordance with said preliminary elevation for signalling when the movable cutting element, in making a cut, has moved to said preliminary elevation short of the said final elevation at which it is to be stopped; stop signal means pre-settable in accordance with said final elevation for signalling when the movable cutting element has moved to its said predetermined final elevation for stopping the movable cutting element at said predetermined final elevation; said slow-down signal means including first means for generating a slow-down signal; said stop signal means including second means for generating a stop signal; and means operable by said movable cutting element for actuating said first signal generating means for actuating the slow-down signal means when the movable cutting element has moved to the said preliminary elevation and for actuating said second signal generating means for actuating the stop signal means when the movable cutting element has reached its said final elevation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. Apparatus for controlling the mining by a mining machine of a seam of desired material, such as coal, overlying a stratum of undesired bottom material, such as clay, to reduce the quantity of the undesired material mined with the desired material, said machine comprising a carriage, a cutter boom mounted on the carriage for up-and-down movement relative to the carriage, and a cutter carried by the boom adapted to cut down into a seam on lowering the boom, said apparatus comprising:
-
first electrical signal means constituting a slow-down signal means for signalling when the cutter has cut down into a seam generally to a predetermined depth short of the interface between the seam and the underlying stratum for slowing down the cutting rate as the cutter approaches the interface; second electrical signal means constituting a stop signal means for signalling when the cutter has cut down through the seam to the interface for stopping the cutting operation, thereby to avoid mining undesired material with the desired material; a cable adapted for connection to the boom; means guiding the cable for movement lengthwise of the cable; the cable being movable in one direction by the boom on movement of the boom in one direction and the apparatus having means for moving the cable in the opposite direction on movement of the boom in the opposite direction; said first signal means comprising a first switch for generating the first signal; said second signal means comprising a second switch for generating the second signal; each switch having an actuator; switch-operating means on the cable engageable with the switch actuators for actuating the first switch to generate the first signal when the cutter has cut down into the seam generally to said predetermined depth and for subsequently actuating the second switch to generate the second signal when the cutter has cut down through the seam to the interface; means mounting the switches adjacent the cable with their actuators positioned for the successive actuation of the switches; and means for adjusting said switch-mounting means to adjust the position of the switch actuators relative to the switch-operating means on the cable to adjust the apparatus for different seam conditions. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. In mining or excavating, the method of controlling a movable cutting element in the movement thereof to a seam interface at which the cutting element is to be stopped, comprising:
-
gauging the position of the cutting element relative to the interface as the cutting element moves toward said interface; operating a slow-down signal when the movable cutting element has moved to a preliminary elevation short of said interface; slowing down the cutting element upon operation of said slow-down signal, while continuing the gauging of the position of the cutting element relative to said interface; operating a stop signal when the movable cutting element reaches said interface; and stopping the cutting element upon operation of said stop signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. The method of controlling the mining by a mining machine of a seam of desired material, such as coal, overlying a stratum of undesired bottom material, such as clay, with reduction in the quantity of undesired material mined with the desired material, the machine comprising a cutter movable up and down and adapted to cut down into a seam of the desired material on being lowered, comprising:
-
gauging the depth of the cutter in the seam of the desired material as the cutter cuts down into the seam; operating a first signal constituting a slow-down signal when the cutter has cut down into the seam of the desired material to a depth which is generally a predetermined distance from the interface between the seam of the desired material and the underlying stratum; slowing down the cutting rate of the cutter in response to said slow-down signal while continuing the gauging of the depth of the cutter in said seam of the desired material; operating a second signal constituting a stop signal when the cutter has cut down through the entire depth of the seam of the desired material to the interface; and stopping the cutting operation in response to said stop signal, thereby to avoid mining the undesired bottom material with the desired material. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. Apparatus for controlling the mining by a mining machine of a seam of desired material, such as coal, underlying a stratum of undesired material to reduce the quantity of the undesired material mined with the desired material, said machine comprising a carriage, a cutter boom mounted on the carriage for up-and-down movement relative to the carriage, and a cutter carried by the boom adapted to cut upwardly into a seam on raising the boom, said apparatus comprising:
-
first electrical signal means constituting a slow-down signal means for signalling when the cutter has cut upwardly into a seam generally to a predetermined distance short of the interface between the seam and the overlying stratum for slowing down the cutting rate as the cutter approaches the interface; second electrical signal means constituting a stop signal means for signalling when the cutter has cut upwardly through the seam to the interface for stopping the cutting operation, thereby to avoid mining undesired material with the desired material; a cable adapted for connection to the boom; means guiding the cable for movement lengthwise of the cable; the cable being movable in one direction by the boom on movement of the boom in one direction and the apparatus having means for moving the cable in the opposite direction on movement of the boom in the opposite direction; said first signal means comprising a first switch for generating the first signal; said second signal means comprising a second switch for generating the second signal; each switch having an actuator; switch-operating means on the cable engageable with the switch actuators for actuating the first switch to generate the first signal when the cutter has cut upwardly into the seam generally to said predetermined distance and for subsequently actuating the second switch to generate the second signal when the cutter has cut upwardly through the seam to the interface; means mounting the switches adjacent the cable with their actuators positioned for the successive actuation of the switches; and means for adjusting said switch-mounting means to adjust the position of the switch actuators relative to the switch-operating means on the cable to adjust the apparatus for different seam conditions. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
-
Specification