Crusher control system

A control system for a rock crusher operating in a rock crushing plant, comprising:

• the plant having a feeder, and first conveyor means for conveying rock from the feeder to a mouth of a crusher;
• the crusher having a motor for driving the crusher;
• a horsepower sensor for sensing the horsepower output of the motor driving the crusher;
• a programmable logic controller having means for controlling the output of the feeder;
• a level sensor mounted in the crusher for sensing the level of rock within a crusher bowl of the crusher;
• second conveyor means for receiving rock discharged from the crusher and for returning the discharged rock to the first conveyor means;
• a bypass chute means component located between said first conveyor means and the mouth of the crusher for diverting a selectable portion of the flow of rock intended to be delivered to the mouth of the crusher from said first conveyor means and for delivering said diverted rock onto said second conveyor means;
• said programmable logic controller further having means for controlling the amount of rock diverted from the flow of rock intended to be delivered leaving said first conveyor means and intending to be delivered into the mouth of the crusher;
• and
• said programmable logic controller having means for receiving the sensed horsepower signal and level signal from the horsepower sensor and the level control device respectively, and commanding the feeder and bypass chute component respectively to correspondingly increase or decrease the feed rate of rock entering the mouth of the crusher.