Light grid system for rope machinery

• US 9,194,100 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fix, Russell A., Onsager, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer, Dean
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAGEMAN, MARK C
• Application Number:
  US13/709,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20140157634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 2424133-4138, 254/272, 254/274, 254/275
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/50 for maintaining predetermined rope, cable, or chain tension, e.g. in ropes or cables for towing craft, in chains for anchors; Warping or mooring winch-cable tension control
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/48 Drag-lines
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2016 Winches winches per se B66D
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/264 Sensors and their calibration for indicating the position of the work tool
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/268 with failure correction follow-up actions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A light grid system for rope machinery is provided. The light grid system includes one or more light grid assemblies, including one or more sensor frames configured to be coupled to one or more post assemblies and configured to mount adjacent to one or more rope drums. The light grid assemblies also include one or more sensors coupled to the sensor frames, at least a first sensor configured to emit one or more light beams, at least a second sensor configured to receive the light beams. The light beams are positionable a predetermined distance away from the ropes, and the light grid assemblies are configured to transmit a signal to a control module when the light beams are obstructed.

Claims

1. A light grid system for rope machinery, the rope machinery including a rope drum having a center line, and a rope wrapped around the rope drum, the rope configured to maneuver a machinery component, the light grid system comprising:

one or more light grid assemblies, comprising;

sensor frames coupled substantially perpendicularly to one or more vertical post assemblies, wherein the sensor frames are configured to mount substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rope drum and extending along the length of the rope drum; and

sensors coupled to and positioned along the length of the sensor frames, the sensor frames including at least a first sensor frame having sensors configured to emit one or more light beams, and at least a second sensor frame having sensors configured to receive the one or more light beams, such that the one or more light beams are configured to extend across the width of the rope drum and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rope drum, and wherein the sensors are adjustable relative to the sensor frames to move the one or more light beams horizontally relative to the rope drum and in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rope drum;

wherein the one or more light beams are positionable a predetermined distance away from the rope; and

wherein the one or more light grid assemblies are configured to transmit a signal to a control module associated with the rope machinery when at least one of the one or more light beams is obstructed.

2. The light grid system of claim 1, the one or more vertical post assemblies each further comprising a top post coupled to a bottom post, the top post configured to move up or down relative to the bottom post, raising and lowering the height of the sensors.

3. The light grid system of claim 2, further comprising one or more vertical adjustment points located on the top post and configured to align with one or more vertical mating holes located on the bottom post, and locking hardware configured to mate with the one or more vertical adjustment points and the one or more vertical mating holes, locking the top post relative to the bottom post.

4. The light grid system of claim 1, the one or more light grid assemblies further comprising sensor brackets coupling the sensors to the sensor frames and configured to translate left or right along the sensor frames, adjusting the sensors horizontally and in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rope drum.

5. The light grid system of claim 4, further comprising one or more horizontal mating holes located on the sensor brackets and configured to align with one or more horizontal adjustment points located on the sensor frames, and locking hardware configured to mate with the one or more horizontal adjustment points and the one or more horizontal mating holes, locking the sensor brackets relative to the sensor frames.

6. The light grid system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is twice the diameter of the rope, and wherein the one or more light grid assemblies are vertically adjustable to move the one or more light beams to the predetermined distance based on the diameter of the rope.

7. The light grid system of claim 1, wherein the sensor frames are configured to rotate relative to the one or more vertical post assemblies and away from the rope drum, in a plane perpendicular to the one or more vertical post assemblies.

8. The light grid system of claim 7, further comprising one or more removable pins configured to couple each of the sensor frames and the one or more vertical post assemblies, preventing the sensor frames from rotating relative to the one or more vertical post assemblies.

9. The light grid system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to transmit an operator alert upon receiving the signal.

10. The light grid system of claim 1, wherein the control module reduces power to the rope machinery when the signal is received.

11. A dragline excavator, comprising:

a bucket assembly;

a rope drum having a center line;

a rope wrapped around the rope drum, the rope configured to maneuver the bucket assembly; and

one or more light grid assemblies, comprising;

sensor frames coupled substantially perpendicularly to one or more vertical post assemblies, the sensor frames mounted substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rope drum and extending along the length of the rope drum; and

sensors coupled to and positioned along the length of the sensor frames, the sensor frames including at least a first sensor frame having sensors configured to emit one or more light beams, and at least a second sensor frame having sensors configured to receive the one or more light beams, such that the one or more light beams are configured to extend across the width of the rope drum and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rope drum, and wherein the sensors are adjustable relative to the sensor frames to move the one or more light beams horizontally relative to the rope drum and in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rope drum;

wherein the one or more light beams are positionable a predetermined distance away from the rope; and

wherein the one or more light grid assemblies are configured to transmit a signal to a control module associated with the dragline excavator when at least one of the one or more light beams is obstructed.

12. The dragline excavator of claim 11, the one or more vertical post assemblies each further comprising a top post coupled to a bottom post, the top post configured to move up or down relative to the bottom post, raising and lowering the height of the sensors.

13. The dragline excavator of claim 12, further comprising one or more vertical adjustment points located on the top post and configured to align with one or more vertical mating holes located on the bottom post, and locking hardware configured to mate with the one or more vertical adjustment points and the one or more vertical mating holes, locking the top post relative to the bottom post.

14. The dragline excavator of claim 11, the one or more light grid assemblies further comprising sensor brackets coupling the sensors to the sensor frames and configured to translate left or right along the sensor frames, adjusting the sensors horizontally and in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rope drum.

15. The dragline excavator of claim 14, further comprising one or more horizontal mating holes located on the sensor brackets and configured to align with one or more horizontal adjustment points located on the sensor frames, and locking hardware configured to mate with the one or more horizontal adjustment points and the one or more horizontal mating holes, locking the sensor brackets relative to the sensor frames.

16. The dragline excavator of claim 11, wherein the sensor frames are configured to rotate relative to the one or more vertical post assemblies and away from the rope drum, in a plane perpendicular to the one or more vertical post assemblies.

17. The dragline excavator of claim 16, further comprising one or more removable pins configured to couple the sensor frames and the one or more vertical post assemblies, preventing the sensor frames from rotating relative to the one or more vertical post assemblies.

18. The dragline excavator of claim 11, wherein the control module is configured to transmit an operator alert upon receiving the signal.

19. A method for installing a light grid system for rope machinery, the method comprising:

providing a first light grid assembly having sensors configured to emit a plurality of light beams;

providing a second light grid assembly having sensors configured to receive the plurality of light beams from the sensors of the first light grid assembly;

positioning the first light grid assembly and the second light grid assembly to provide a light grid at a predetermined distance in relation to a rope drum, wherein each of the light grid assemblies includes a sensor frame coupled substantially perpendicularly to a substantially vertical post assembly, positioned substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rope drum, and extending along the length of the rope drum, wherein the light grid extends across the width of the rope drum and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rope drum, and wherein the sensors are adjustable relative to the sensor frames to move the light grid horizontally relative to the rope drum and in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rope drum; and

providing a control module configured to initiate a response when one or more of the plurality of light beams are obstructed.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising alerting an operator upon receiving a signal from the control module.