Extended reach crowd control for a shovel

• US 8,972,120 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joy Global Surface Mining Inc. (Mitsui & Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Harnischfeger Technologies Inc. (Mitsui & Company Limited)
• Inventors: Linstroth, Michael, Colwell, Joseph J., Lee, Mooyoung, Loew, Matthew I., Knuth, Jason, Gizewski, Peter Jr., Zunker, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAIGE, TYLER D
• Application Number:
  US13/842,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20130261904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 373/98
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/304 with the dipper-arm slidably mounted on the boom E02F3/305 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/308 working outwardly
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/38 Cantilever beams , i.e. booms;, e.g. manufacturing processes, forms, geometry or materials used for booms for booms with cable suspension arrangements E02F9/14 takes precedence; Dipper-arms , e.g. manufacturing processes, forms, geometry or materials used for dipper-arms; Bucket-arms E02F3/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/382 Connections to the frame; Supports for booms or arms devices to connect booms or arms to tractors or similar machines E02F3/627; pivot joint assemblies in particular E02F9/006
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/427 with mechanical drives by cables or hoisting ropes E02F3/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/46 with reciprocating digging or scraping elements moved by cables or hoisting ropes ; Drives or control devices therefor E02F3/205, E02F3/905 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/202 Mechanical transmission, e.g. clutches, gears clutches per se F16D, gears per se F16H
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2033 Limiting the movement of frames or implements, e.g. to avoid collision between implements and the cabin sub-groups of E02F3/431 of E02F3/435 take precedence; for turntables E02F9/123
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/265 with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 19/04 comprising a rack
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2019/046 Facilitating the engagement or stopping of racks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

Abstract

An industrial machine and a method of controlling an industrial machine, the industrial machine including a dipper supported by a dipper handle. The method may include determining an operating phase of the industrial machine, in a first operating phase of the industrial machine, limiting, with at least one controller, a reach of the dipper handle, and in a second operating phase of the industrial machine, enabling, with the at least one controller, an extended reach of the dipper handle greater than the reach in the first operating phase. The industrial machine may include at least one controller configured to determine an operating phase of the industrial machine, in a first operating phase of the industrial machine, limit a reach of the dipper handle, and, in a second operating phase of the industrial machine, enable an extended reach of the dipper handle greater than the reach in the first operating phase.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an industrial machine, the industrial machine including a dipper supported by a dipper handle, the method comprising:

determining an operating phase of the industrial machine;

in a first operating phase of the industrial machine, limiting, with at least one controller, a reach of the dipper handle; and

in a second operating phase of the industrial machine, enabling, with the at least one controller, an extended reach of the dipper handle greater than the reach in the first operating phase.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an operating phase includes determining a loading phase of the industrial machine, the loading phase being the second operating phase of the industrial machine.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining an operating phase includes determining a digging phase of the industrial machine, the digging phase being the first operating phase of the industrial machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an operating phase includes determining a speed of a swing motor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining a speed includes determining whether a determined swing speed is below a threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining an operating phase includes determining whether a swing movement is being decelerated.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining an operating phase includes determining a dipper load.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining a dipper load includes determining a hoist load.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining an operating phase includes determining when a swing speed approaches a minimal level.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an operating phase includes determining a swing state of the industrial machine.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an operating phase includes determining a position of the dipper relative to location for dumping material.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein limiting a reach of the dipper handle includes limiting the reach to a first portion of a length of the dipper handle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein enabling an extended reach of the dipper handle includes enabling the reach to a second portion of the length of the dipper handle beyond the first portion.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in the second operating phase, limiting a bail pull below a standard bail pull.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in the second operating phase, notifying an operator of an extended reach condition.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the industrial machine is in the second operating phase, determining when the industrial machine is no longer in the second operating phase.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, when the industrial machine is no longer in a second operating phase of the industrial machine, disabling the extended reach of the dipper handle.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the industrial machine includes a shovel.

19. A shovel comprising:

a dipper handle;

a dipper supported by the dipper handle; and

at least one controller configured to

determine an operating phase of the shovel,

in a first operating phase of the shovel limit, a reach of the dipper handle, and

in a second operating phase of the shovel, enable an extended reach of the dipper handle greater than the reach in the first operating phase.

20. The shovel of claim 19, wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a loading phase of the shovel, the loading phase being the second operating phase of the shovel.

21. The shovel of claim 20, wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a digging phase of the shovel, the digging phase being the first operating phase of the shovel.

22. The shovel of claim 19, wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a speed of a swing motor.

23. The shovel of claim 22, wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a determined swing speed is below a threshold.

24. The shovel of claim 23, wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining whether a swing movement is being decelerated.

25. The shovel of claim 24, wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a dipper load.

26. The shovel of claim 25, wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a hoist load.

27. The shovel of claim 24, wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining when a swing speed approaches a minimal level.

28. The shovel of claim 19, wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a swing state of the shovel.

29. The shovel of claim 19, wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine an operating phase by determining a position of the dipper relative to location for dumping material.

30. The shovel of claim 19, wherein the at least one controller is configured to limit the reach to a first portion of a length of the dipper handle.

31. The shovel of claim 30, wherein the at least one controller is configured to enable the reach to a second portion of the length of the dipper handle beyond the first portion.

32. The shovel of claim 19, wherein the at least one controller, in the second operating phase, is configured to limit a bail pull below a standard bail pull.

33. The shovel of claim 19, wherein the at least one controller, in the second operating phase, is configured to notify an operator of an extended reach condition.

34. The shovel of claim 19, wherein the at least one controller, after the shovel is in the second operating phase, is configured to determine when the shovel is no longer in the second operating phase.

35. The shovel of claim 19, wherein the at least one controller, when the shovel is no longer in a second operating phase of the shovel, is configured to disable the extended reach of the dipper handle.