Back to results
US 12,698,711 B2Granted
Method of operating a mining hoist
AssigneeABB Schweiz AG
InventorsTim Gartner, Jerzy Katolik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An underground mine hoist and method of operating the mine hoist is provided. Unlike conventional underground mine hoists, the hoist may be operated at a production rate less than the designed maximum production rate at least part of the time to improve the life of the hoist and efficiency of operation. In order to vary the hoist production rate, an input rate and/or output rate of mined material is monitored, and the hoist production rate is varied based on such monitoring.
Claims20
A method of operating an underground mine hoist, comprising:
- monitoring, by a sensor, an underground input rate and/or an aboveground output rate of mined material;
- filling a hoist container underground with the mined material, the hoist container connected to a drive mechanism extending in an underground shaft from a surface of the earth to a mining area under the surface;
- operating a motor operably coupled to the drive mechanism to raise the hoist container in the underground shaft toward the surface of the earth;
- emptying the mined material from the hoist container;
- and
- varying, by a controller operably coupled to the sensor, a rate of the mined material filled, raised and emptied with the hoist container in response to a signal of the sensor indicative of the underground input rate and/or the aboveground output rate.
3 more elements
An underground mine hoist, comprising:
- an underground shaft extending from a surface of the earth to a mining area under the surface;
- a drive mechanism extending within the underground shaft;
- a hoist container connected to the drive mechanism;
- a motor operable to drive the drive mechanism to raise and lower the hoist container within the underground shaft between the mining area and the surface of the earth;
- a sensor to monitor an underground input rate and/or an aboveground output rate of mined material, the sensor providing a sensor signal;
- and
- a controller configured to vary a rate of the mined material filled, raised and emptied with the hoist container in response to the sensor signal, which sensor signal is indicative of the underground input rate and/or the aboveground output rate.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.