Slope monitoring device
First Claim
1. A slope monitoring device for detecting movement of a sloped wall, said device comprising in combination:
- a. a cable having first and second opposing ends;
b. anchor means for securing the first end of the cable to the sloped wall that is to be monitored;
c. detector means operatively engaged with said cable at a point disposed between the first and second ends of said cable for detecting movement of said cable; and
d. clutch means engaged with said cable between the first and second ends of said cable, said clutch means applying a frictional force to said cable for generally inhibiting free relative movement of said cable past said clutch means, said clutch means permitting the length of said cable extending between the first end of said cable and said clutch means to be increased as tension in said cable increases beyond a selected tensional force due to movement of the sloped wall.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A slope monitoring device includes a cable anchored at one end to the sloped wall of an open pit mine, dump, or the like. The cable extends over an idler pulley at the top of the sloped wall and passes around a further pulley coupled to an optical shaft encoder which generates a digital signal corresponding to the angular position of the pulley. The cable is engaged by a clutch and is wound about a play-off reel, each secured to a weighted sleeve slidingly extending about a vertical post. The weighted sleeve maintains tension upon the cable, while the clutch allows additional cable to be played off of the reel when tension is increased due to movement of the wall. The shaft encoder information, along with the temperature, battery condition, and cable condition, are transmitted by radio to a remote location for processing.
19 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A slope monitoring device for detecting movement of a sloped wall, said device comprising in combination:
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a. a cable having first and second opposing ends; b. anchor means for securing the first end of the cable to the sloped wall that is to be monitored; c. detector means operatively engaged with said cable at a point disposed between the first and second ends of said cable for detecting movement of said cable; and d. clutch means engaged with said cable between the first and second ends of said cable, said clutch means applying a frictional force to said cable for generally inhibiting free relative movement of said cable past said clutch means, said clutch means permitting the length of said cable extending between the first end of said cable and said clutch means to be increased as tension in said cable increases beyond a selected tensional force due to movement of the sloped wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification