# US 8,540,176 B2 · Crushing plant and method for controlling the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,176 B2 - Document ID: US8540176B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/664,299 - Filed: 2008-05-05 - Published: 2010-07-22 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-15 - Assignees: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB - Applicants: Jonny Wallin; Christer Dagh; Olle Hedin; Tommy Renberg - Inventors: Jonny Wallin; Christer Dagh; Olle Hedin; Tommy Renberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540176B2 ## CPC - B02C 2/007: {Feeding devices} - B02C 1/02: Jaw crushers or pulverisers - B02C 23/02: Feeding devices ({for grain mills B02C11/04; for roller mills B02C4/286}; transport devices in general B65G) - B02C 25/00: Control arrangements specially adapted for crushing or disintegrating - B02C: CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN ({household tools and machines for pulverising foodstuffs, e.g. coffee and spice mills A47J42/00; pharmaceutical mortars A61J3/02; mechanical processing of refuse and garbage B03B9/06; dressing mould materials by grinding B22C5/04}; obtaining metallic powder by crushing, grinding or milling B22F9/04; {recovery of plastics by disintegrating B29B17/00; crushing raw materials in starch making C08B30/02; beaters for papermaking D21D1/02; crushing devices specially for transport in mines E21F13/002; slag crushing devices F23J1/00; fuel milling devices in combustion apparatus F23K1/00; household devices for crushing coal F24B15/02; ice disintegrating devices F25C5/02}) ## Abstract There is described a crushing plant and a method for controlling the same. The crushing plant includes a crusher (1) and a feeding arrangement (3), and is driven by a diesel engine (13). A load value related to the diesel engine is retrieved e.g. by means of a J1939 interface. If the retrieved value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the control loop of the feeding arrangement (3) is altered. Thereby it can be avoided that the diesel engine (13) stalls, such that continuous operation of the crushing plant may be ensured. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A crushing plant comprising a crusher; a drive unit which drives the crusher, and a feeding arrangement which feeds raw material to the crusher, the feeding arrangement comprising means for regulating a raw material level in connection with the crusher, wherein the drive unit being a diesel engine, wherein the crushing plant further comprises: means for retrieving a parameter value which is correlated to the load of the diesel engine, means for comparing the retrieved value with a threshold value, and means for decreasing the feeding arrangement speed if the retrieved value exceeds the threshold value, and wherein a hydraulic coupling is arranged on a shaft between the diesel engine and the crusher, the crushing plant comprises means for retrieving first and second speed values relating to the in- and outgoing shafts of the hydraulic coupling, and means for providing the load parameter value based on the difference between the first and second speed values. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A crushing plant according to claim 1, further comprising means for temporarily stopping the feeding arrangement if the retrieved value exceeds the threshold value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A crushing plant according to claim 1, further comprising means for generating a warning if the retrieved value exceeds the threshold value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A crushing plant according to claim 1, wherein the feeding arrangement speed is reduced by reducing a maximum output from a regulator controlling the feeding arrangement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A crushing plant according to claim 1, wherein the feeding arrangement speed is reduced by reducing a proportionality constant of a regulator controlling the feeding arrangement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A crushing plant according to claim 1, wherein the load parameter value is retrieved via a J1939 interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A crushing plant according to claim 1, wherein the crusher is a gyratory crusher, comprising a hopper mounted in connection with the crusher for providing raw material to the crusher, the raw material level being a level in the hopper, and the feeding arrangement is a conveyor belt. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A crushing plant according claim 1, wherein the crusher is a jaw crusher, comprising a vibration hopper mounted in connection with the crusher for providing raw material to the crusher, the raw material level being a level between the jaws of the crusher, and the feeding arrangement comprising a motor connected to the vibration hopper for providing a vibrating motion. ### Claim 9 A method for controlling a crushing plant comprising a crusher, a drive unit which drives the crusher, and a feeding arrangement which feeds raw material to the crusher, the feeding arrangement comprising means for regulating a raw material level in connection with the crusher, the method comprising: retrieving a parameter value which is correlated to the load of the drive unit, wherein the drive unit is a diesel engine, a hydraulic coupling being arranged on a shaft between the diesel engine and the crusher, comparing the retrieved value with a threshold value, and decreasing the feeding arrangement speed if the retrieved value exceeds the threshold value, wherein retrieving the parameter value includes retrieving first and second speed values relating to the in- and outgoing shafts of the hydraulic coupling, and providing the load parameter value based on the difference between the first and second speed values. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein a warning is generated if the retrieved value exceeds the threshold value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein the feeding arrangement is temporarily stopped if the retrieved value exceeds the threshold value.