Mine transportation management system and method using separate ore vessels and transport vehicles managed via communication signals

• US 6,988,591 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2003
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Nagai, Takao, Ogawa, Satoshi, Okamoto, Koichi, Uranaka, Kyouji
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US10/635,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20040040792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 187/247, 187/382, 318/562, 318/567, 318/565, 318/580, 318/568.12, 318/581, 318/587, 340988-994, 340/436, 340/995.24, 340/995.27, 348/118, 348/119, 342/457, 701/1, 701/2, 701/23, 701/24, 701/36, 701/50, 701/200, 701/301
• US Class Current: 187/247
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 41/26 Methods of surface mining machines for obtaining, or the removal of, materials in open-pit mines E21C47/00; Layouts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 13/00 Transport specially adapted to underground conditions mine cars B61D; transport in general, loading unless specially adapted to underground conditions B65G

Abstract

A mine transportation management system capable of reducing cost by reducing the number of transportation vehicles is provided. For this purpose, the system includes a plurality of self-propelled vehicles and a plurality of vessels each having a communication section, and each being identifiable, which are connectable to and separable from each other. A loading machine having a communication section, which loads an object into at least one of the vessels. A management center, which has a communication section, selects a vessel to be transported and selects a self-propelled vehicle for transporting the selected vessel based on a transportation demand signal from a processing facility, and transmits a transportation command signal to the selected self-propelled vehicle to connect to the selected vessel and to travel to the processing facility.

Claims

1. A mine transportation management system, comprising:

a plurality of individually identifiable self-propelled vehicles each including a communication section;

a plurality of individually identifiable vessels each including a communication section;

at least one loading machine which includes a communication section and which loads an object into at least one vessel of said plurality of vessels;

a processing facility; and

a management center including a communication section;

wherein each of said plurality of self-propelled vehicles is connectable to and separable from each of said plurality of vessels; and

wherein said management center selects a vessel to be transported and selects a self-propelled vehicle for transporting said selected vessel, based on a transportation demand signal from said processing facility, and transmits a transportation command signal to said selected self-propelled vehicle, such that said selected self-propelled vehicle connects to said selected vessel and travels to said processing facility.

2. The mine transportation management system according to claim 1, wherein said management center transmits a travel command signal to said selected self-propelled vehicle after said selected self-propelled vehicle discharges the loaded object in the selected vessel to said processing facility, to cause said selected self-propelled vehicle to travel to a designated position and separate said selected vessel therefrom.

3. A mine transportation management method, wherein a management center having a communication section receives;

(i) signals from a plurality of individually identifiable self-propelled vehicles, each of which includes a communication section, (ii) signals from a plurality of individually identifiable vessels, each of which includes a communication and is connectable to and separable from each of said plurality of self-propelled vehicles, and (iii) a signal from at least one loading machine which includes a communication section and which loads an object into at least one vessel of said plurality of vessels;

selecting a vessel to be transported from said plurality of vessels based on a transportation demand signal from a processing facility to which the loaded object is to be discharged;

selecting a self-propelled vehicle for transporting said selected vessel from said plurality of self-propelled vehicles; and

transmitting a transportation command signal from said management center to said selected self-propelled vehicle to cause said selected self-propelled vehicle to connect to said selected vessel and to travel to said processing facility.