Cable guide having a signaling instrument

• US 20090266664A1
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Koch, Roger Dale, Everett, Bryan James
• Granted Patent: US 7,958,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 191/12.C
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 automatically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/007 providing information about the distance to an obstacle, e.g. varying sound
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/00 Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 9/02 laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile

Abstract

A cable guide for a mobile machine is disclosed. The cable guide includes a supporting body, a guide member, and an electronic signaling instrument. The supporting body is configured to engage a worksite. The guide member is mounted on the supporting body and is configured to direct the cable in a fixed travel path in response to movement by the mobile machine. The electronic signaling instrument is engaged with the guide member and is configured to transmit an electronic signal indicative of a location of the cable guide.

Claims

1. A cable guide configured to guide a cable of a mobile machine along a worksite during operation, the cable guide comprising:

a supporting body configured to engage the worksite;

a guide member mounted on the supporting body, the guide member configured to direct the cable in a fixed travel path in response to movement by the mobile machine; and

an electronic signaling instrument engaged with the guide member and configured to transmit an electronic signal indicative of a location of the cable guide.

2. The cable guide of claim 1, wherein the mobile machine is an electric mining shovel and the cable is configured to deliver electric power to the shovel.

3. The cable guide of claim 1, wherein the electronic signal is sensed by least one vehicle located within the worksite.

4. The cable guide of claim 3, wherein the electronic signal is converted to a warning signal as the at least one vehicle approaches the cable guide.

5. The cable guide of claim 4, wherein the warning signal is activated to avoid a traveling path of the at least one vehicle proximal to the cable guide.

6. The cable guide of claim 4, wherein the warning signal diminishes as the at least one vehicle travels distally from the cable guide.

7. The cable guide of claim 1, wherein the guide member includes at least one pulley rotatably mounted on top of the supporting body.

8. A method for avoiding a cable tethered from a mobile machine along a worksite via a cable guide, the cable guide including a supporting body, a guide member mounted on the supporting body, and an electronic signaling instrument associated with the guide member, the method comprising:

engaging the supporting body with the worksite;

engaging the cable with the guide member;

directing the cable in a fixed travel path in response to movement by the mobile machine; and

transmitting an electronic signal based on a location of the cable guide.

9. The method of claim 8, further including sensing the electronic signal by at least one vehicle located within the worksite.

10. The method of claim 9, further including converting the electronic signal to a warning signal as the at least one vehicle approaches the cable guide.

11. The method of claim 8, further including activating the warning signal to avoid a traveling path of the at least one vehicle proximal to the cable guide.

12. The method of claim 8, further including diminishing the warning signal as the at least one vehicle travels distally from the cable guide.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein directing the cable in the fixed travel path further includes providing tension to the cable along the guide member.

14. A mobile machine system, comprising:

a set of cables engaged with and tethered from a mobile machine;

a plurality of cable guides configured to guide the set of cables along a worksite during operation of the mobile machine, each cable guide comprising;

a supporting body configured to engage the worksite;

a guide member mounted on the supporting body, the guide member configured to direct the cable in a fixed travel path in response to movement by the mobile machine; and

an electronic signaling instrument engaged with the guide member and configured to transmit an electronic signal based on a location of the cable guide; and

at least one vehicle configured to travel in and out of the worksite.

15. The mobile machine system of claim 14, wherein the mobile machine is an electric mining shovel and the set of cables is configured to deliver electric power to the shovel.

16. The mobile machine system of claim 14, wherein the electronic signal is sensed by the least one vehicle within the worksite.

17. The mobile machine system of claim 16, wherein the electronic signal is converted to a warning signal as the at least one vehicle approaches the cable guide.

18. The mobile machine system of claim 17, wherein the warning signal is activated to avoid a traveling path of the at least one vehicle proximal to the cable guide.

19. The mobile machine system of claim 17, wherein the warning signal diminishes as the at least one vehicle travels distally from the cable guide.

20. The mobile machine system of claim 14, wherein the guide member includes at least one pulley rotatably mounted on top of the supporting body.