Systems, methods, and devices for controlling the operation of an industrial machine based on a pipe attribute
AssigneeJoy Global Surface Mining Inc
InventorSamuel Haworth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices are provided for controlling the operation of an industrial machine (e.g., a drill) based on a determined attribute of a pipe. A sensor is configured to generate an output signal related to a characteristic of the pipe. The characteristic of the pipe can be the presence or absence of a pipe, a weight of the pipe, etc. A controller receives the output signal from the sensor and determines an attribute of the pipe based on the output signal from the sensor. The controller is then configured to control the industrial machine or take a control action based on the attribute of the pipe.
Claims18
An industrial mining drill comprising:
- a drill mast;
- a pipe configured to be rotationally driven to perform a drilling operation;
- a drive control actuator configured to rotationally drive the pipe during the drilling operation;
- a sensor configured to output a signal proportional to a width of the pipe;
- an electronic controller coupled to the sensor and including a processor and a memory, the electronic controller configured to:
- receive an output signal from the sensor,
- determine a current width of the pipe based on the received output signal,
- compare the current width of the pipe to an initial width, the initial width representing one of a starting width and a previously stored width of the pipe,
- determine a modified width by calculating the current width with an offset when the drill mast is offset from a vertical position, and
- send an output signal indicating a difference between the modified width of the pipe, the current width of the pipe and the initial width of the pipe to a pipe control drive.
A system for sensing a condition of a pipe of an industrial drill including a drive control actuator configured to rotationally drive a pipe during a drilling operation, the system comprising:
- a drill mast;
- a pipe configured to be rotationally driven to perform the drilling operation;
- a sensor configured to output a signal proportional to a width of the pipe;
- an electronic controller coupled to the sensor and including a processor and a memory, the electronic controller configured to:
- receive an output signal from the sensor,
- determine a current width of the pipe based on the received output signal,
- compare the current width of the pipe to an initial width, the initial width representing one of a starting width and a previously stored width of the pipe,
- determine a modified width by calculating the current width with an offset when the drill mast is offset from a vertical position, and
- send an output signal indicating a difference between the modified width of the pipe, the current width of the pipe and the initial width of the pipe to a pipe control drive.
A method of sensing a condition of a pipe of an industrial drill having a drill mast, the drill configured to selectively drive a pipe to perform a drilling operation, and a drive control actuator configured to rotationally drive the pipe during the drilling operation, the method comprising:
- monitoring, with a sensor, a width of a pipe;
- receiving, with an electronic controller, an output signal from the sensor;
- determining, with the electronic controller, a current width of the pipe based on the received output signal;
- comparing, with the electronic controller, the current width of the pipe to an initial width, the initial width representing one of a starting width or a previously stored width associated with the pipe;
- determining a modified width by calculating the current width with an offset when the drill mast is offset from a vertical position, and
- sending an output signal indicating a difference between the modified width of the pipe, the current width of the pipe and the initial width of the pipe to a pipe control drive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.