Automated find-face operation of a mining machine
AssigneeJoy MM Delaware, Inc.
InventorPersistence Jokonya
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for automatically operating a continuous mining machine. One method includes automatically operating at least one actuator to position a platform supporting a cutterhead at a predetermined starting position and automatically operating the at least one actuator to advance the platform toward a cutting face until the cutterhead contacts the cutting face and at least one indicator of a physical force between the cutterhead and the cutting face exceeds a predetermined value. The method also includes automatically saving at least one coordinate of the cutting face to a computer-readable medium, the at least one coordinate based on a parameter of the at least one actuator when the indicator exceeds the predetermined value.
Claims39
A method for automatically operating a continuous mining machine, the method comprising:
- automatically operating at least one actuator to position a platform supporting a cutterhead at a predetermined starting position;
- automatically operating the at least one actuator to advance the platform toward a cutting face until the cutterhead contacts the cutting face and at least one indicator of a physical force between the cutterhead and the cutting face exceeds a predetermined value;
- and
- automatically saving at least one coordinate of the cutting face to a computer-readable medium, the at least one coordinate based on a parameter of the at least one actuator when the indicator exceeds the predetermined value.
A system for automatically operating a continuous mining machine, the system comprising:
- a platform supporting a cutterhead;
- at least one actuator for moving the platform linearly;
- and
- a control system configured to perform an automated find-face operation without requiring manual interaction by
- (i) operating the at least one actuator to position the platform at a predetermined starting position,
- (ii) operating the at least one actuator to advance the platform toward a cutting face until the cutterhead contacts the cutting face and at least one indicator of a physical force between the cutterhead and the cutting face exceeds a predetermined value, and
- (iii) saving at least one coordinate of the cutting face to a computer-readable medium, the at least one coordinate based on a parameter of the at least one actuator when the indicator exceeds the predetermined value.
A system for automatically operating a continuous mining machine, the system comprising:
- a platform;
- an arm coupled to the platform and including a cutterhead;
- a first actuator configured to move the platform linearly;
- a second actuator configured to swing the arm horizontally;
- a third actuator configured to tilt the arm vertically;
- and
- a control system configured to
- (i) automatically operate the first actuator to position the platform at a predetermined advance starting position,
- (ii) automatically operate the second actuator to position the arm at a predetermined swing starting position,
- (iii) automatically operate the third actuator to position the arm at a predetermined tilt starting position,
- (iv) automatically operate the first actuator to move the platform from the predetermined starting position toward a cutting face until the cutterhead contacts the cutting face and the first actuator is pressurized to a predetermined pressure value,
- (v) automatically save a first coordinate of the cutting face based on a position of the first actuator when the first actuator is pressurized to the predetermined pressure value,
- (vi) automatically save a second coordinate of the cutting face based on a position of the second actuator when the first actuator is pressurized to the predetermined pressure value, and
- (vii) automatically save a third coordinate of the cutting face based on a position of the third actuator when the first actuator is pressurized to the predetermined pressure value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.