Method and system for monitoring location of mining vehicle

• US 20060190165A1
• Filed: 06/28/2004
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sandvik Mining and Construction OY (Sandvik AB)
• Original Assignee: Sandvik Mining and Construction OY (Sandvik AB)
• Inventors: Soikkeli, Timo, Pulli, Riku, Makela, Hannu
• Granted Patent: US 7,853,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/024 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/027 comprising intertial navigation means, e.g. azimuth detector inertial navigation G01C21/16; inertial navigation combined with non-inertial navigation instruments G01C21/165
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/028 using a RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0285 using signals transmitted via a public communication network, e.g. GSM network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

A method and a system for monitoring the location of a mining vehicle in a mine. The first mine section (18) is provided with a wireless network (10) for data transmission between the mining vehicle (1, 1a, 1b) and the mine control system (11). In addition, the network is used for positioning. In the second mine section (21), the location is determined by means of measuring devices provided in the mining vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring the location of a mining vehicle in a mine, the method comprising:

determining data on the location of at least one mining vehicle in the mine;

transmitting the location data to a mine control system;

employing the obtained location data in the mine control system for monitoring the operation of the mining vehicle;

forming at least one first section and at least one second section in the mine;

creating at least one wireless network for the first mine section which communicates with the mine control system and includes at least one base station for establishing a data communication connection between the mining vehicle and the wireless network, the mining vehicle being in the coverage area of at least one base station in the first mine section;

arranging at least one base station in the second mine section for establishing a data communication connection between the mining vehicle and the wireless network;

determining the location of the mining vehicle in the first mine section by means of positioning performed in the wireless network;

and determining the location of the mining vehicle in the second mine section by at least one measuring device provided in the mining vehicle and transmitting the location data to the mine control system over the wireless network.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

determining the location of the mining vehicle in the second mine section by calculating the distance travelled and determining the direction of travel.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

monitoring the location of a manned mining vehicle in the mine,

and transmitting instructions to the operator of the mining vehicle on the basis of the monitoring carried out.

4. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

forming the first mine section in a connecting tunnel,

and forming the second mine section in a production tunnel.

5. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

determining the location of the mining vehicle continuously by at least one measuring device provided in the mining vehicle,

comparing the location determined by the measuring device with the location determined by the wireless network when in the first mine section,

and updating the location of the mining vehicle to correspond to the location determined by the wireless network.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

placing additional base stations belonging to the wireless network in predetermined critical locations in the mine,

and registering the visits of the mining vehicle to the coverage area of the additional base stations in the mine control system.

7. A system for monitoring the location of a mining vehicle in a mine, the system comprising:

means for determining the location of the mining vehicle;

a mine control system;

at least one control unit arranged in the mining vehicle;

at least one wireless network for data transmission between the control unit of the mining vehicle and the mine control system;

at least one base station for creating a wireless network,

and wherein,

the mine comprises at least one first section provided with at least one wireless network, the mining vehicle being in the coverage area of at least one base station in the first mine section;

the mine comprises at least one second section provided with at least one base station for establishing a data communication connection between the control unit of the mining vehicle and the mine control system;

the location of the mining vehicle in the first mine portion is arranged to be determined using positioning performed in the wireless network;

the location of the mining vehicle in the second mine portion is arranged to be determined by at least one measuring device provided in the mining vehicle,

and wherein location data are arranged to be transmitted in the second mine section over the wireless network from the mining vehicle to the mine control system.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein

the wireless network is a radio telephone network.

9. A system according to claim 7 wherein

the mining vehicle comprises at least one measuring device for determining the distance travelled and at least one measuring device for determining the direction.

10. A system according to claim 7, wherein

the first mine section is provided with at least one predetermined critical location,

and at least one additional base station is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the critical location.

11. A system according to claim 7, wherein

the positioning to be performed in the wireless network is arranged to be carried out on the basis of the location of the base station.