Controlling crowd runaway of an industrial machine
AssigneeHarnischfeger Technologies, Inc.
InventorsNicholas R. Voelz, Michael Linstroth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for controlling the operation of an industrial machine during crowd runaway conditions. The system includes a controller that monitors and compares an actual crowd system state (e.g., an actual dipper position) with a requested crowd system state (e.g., a requested dipper position from the operator). If the controller determines that the crowd system is behaving contrary to requested crowd system behavior, the controller adjusts a crowd parameter, such as a crowd motor torque, to resolve the runaway condition.
Claims15
An industrial machine comprising:
- a dipper;
- a sensor operable to generate a first signal related to an actual crowd system state;
- a user interface operable to generate a second signal related to a requested crowd system state based on an operator input;
- a crowd motor having at least one operating parameter;
- and
- a controller configured to
- receive the first signal related to the actual crowd system state,
- receive the second signal related to the requested crowd system state,
- determine a requested dipper movement direction based on the second signal,
- determine an actual dipper movement direction based on the first signal,
- determine whether the requested dipper movement direction and the actual dipper movement direction are the same, and
- set the at least one operating parameter of the crowd motor to a value when the requested dipper movement direction is not the same as the actual dipper movement direction, the value being greater than a normal operating value for the operating parameter.
A method of controlling a motor of an industrial machine, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a processor, a first signal related to an actual crowd system state;
- receiving, at the processor, a second signal related to a requested crowd system state;
- determining, with the processor, a requested dipper movement direction based on the second signal;
- determining, with the processor, an actual dipper movement direction based on the first signal;
- determining, with the processor, whether the requested dipper movement direction and the actual dipper movement direction are the same;
- and
- setting, with the processor, the at least one operating parameter of the motor to a value when the requested dipper movement direction is not the same as the actual dipper movement direction, the value being greater than a normal operating value for the operating parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.