Virtual Hoist Stop For Mobile Drilling Machine
AssigneeCaterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC
InventorsCarl J. Moberg, Stephen M. Hancock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A virtual hoist stop system for a mobile drilling machine may include a sensor assembly configured to monitor a full/empty status of a plurality of pipe storage slots, a drill string status, and a height of a rotary head, an operator interface configured to receive hoisting input, and a control module. The control module may be configured to receive signals from the sensor assembly, determine a target height based on the signals, receive hoisting input from the operator interface, and automatically stop the rotary head from hoisting beyond the target height.
Claims20
A virtual hoist stop system for a mobile drilling machine, comprising:
- a sensor assembly configured to monitor a status of a plurality of pipe storage slots, a drill string status, and a height of a rotary head, wherein the drill string status indicates whether a pipe segment is being added or removed;
- an operator interface configured to receive hoisting input;
- and
- a control module configured to:
- receive signals from the sensor assembly,
- determine a target height for the rotary head based on the signals including the drill string status indication of whether the pipe segment is being added or removed,
- receive hoisting input from the operator interface, and
- automatically stop the rotary head from hoisting beyond the target height.
(canceled)
A mobile drilling machine, comprising:
- a frame;
- a mast mounted on the frame;
- a rotary head movably mounted on the mast;
- a drill string coupled to the rotary head and aligned within the mast;
- a plurality of pipe storage slots mounted on the mast;
- a sensor assembly configured to monitor a status of the plurality of pipe storage slots, a drill string status, and a height of the rotary head, wherein the drill string status indicates whether a pipe segment is being added or removed;
- an operator interface configured to receive hoisting input;
- and
- a control module configured to:
- receive signals from the sensor assembly,
- determine a target height for the rotary head based on the signals including the drill string status indication of whether the pipe segment is being added or removed,
- receive hoisting input from the operator interface, and
- automatically stop the rotary head from hoisting beyond the target height.
(canceled)
A method for providing a virtual hoist stop for a mobile drilling machine, comprising:
- receiving signals from a sensor assembly, the signals including a status of a plurality of pipe storage slots, a drill string status, and a height of a rotary head, wherein the drill string status indicates whether a pipe segment is being added or removed;
- determining a target height for the rotary head based on the signals including the drill string status indication of whether the pipe segment is being added or removed;
- receiving hoisting input from an operator interface;
- and
- automatically stopping the rotary head from hoisting beyond the target height.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.