US 2020/0049533 A1 · System and Method for Monitoring Fault Conditions in a Pan Line of a Longwall Mining System

Abstract

A system for monitoring a condition of a pan line associated with a longwall mining system includes multiple pan segments arranged in a successive manner. Adjacently located pan segments are moveably coupled by an interconnecting joint. An underside of each pan segment defines an opening whose axis is parallel to a plane of the associated pan segment. The system also includes a fiber optic shape sensing system that has a fiber optic cable disposed along the multiple pan segments and located within the opening of each pan segment. A controller coupled to the fiber optic cable detects a shape of the fiber optic cable, identifies a position of each pan segment based on the detected shape of the fiber optic cable, and determines if a fault exists in the interconnecting joints between adjacently located pan segments based on the identified positions of respective ones of the adjacently located pan segments.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for monitoring a condition of a pan line associated with a longwall mining system, the system comprising:

a plurality of pan segments arranged in a successive manner such that adjacently located pan segments are moveably coupled by an interconnecting joint;
an underside of each pan segment configured to define an opening therein, the opening having an axis generally parallel to a plane of the associated pan segment;
a fiber optic shape sensing system having:
a fiber optic cable disposed along the plurality of pan segments and located within the opening of each pan segment;
and
a controller communicably coupled to the fiber optic cable, the controller configured to:
detect a shape of the fiber optic cable;
identify a position of each pan segment based on the detected shape of the fiber optic cable;
and
determine if a fault exists in the interconnecting joint between the adjacently located pan segments based on the identified positions of respective ones of the adjacently located pan segments.

7 more elements

A method for monitoring a condition of a pan line associated with a longwall mining system, the method comprising:

arranging a plurality of pan segments in a successive manner,
coupling adjacently located pan segments with an interconnecting joint,
defining an opening on an underside of each pan segment such that the opening has an axis generally parallel to a plane of the associated pan segment;
providing a fiber optic cable disposed along the plurality of pan segments and locating the fiber optic cable within the opening of each pan segment,
coupling a controller, in communication, to the fiber optic cable,
detecting, by means of the controller, a shape of the fiber optic cable;
identifying, by means of the controller, a position of each pan segment based on the detected shape of the fiber optic cable;
and
determining, by means of the controller, if a fault exists in the interconnecting joint between the adjacently located pan segments based on the identified positions of respective ones of the adjacently located pan segments.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and Method for Monitoring Fault Conditions in a Pan Line of a Longwall Mining System

Life of this patent

System and Method for Monitoring Fault Conditions in a Pan Line of a Longwall Mining System

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20