US 9,810,066 B2 · Control method for longwall shearer

Abstract

A method of controlling a shearer is disclosed. The shearer may be configured to travel along a longwall face to extract material with a first cutting drum and a second cutting drum. The method may include setting a first cutting profile including a plurality of desired positions (Di) to be approached by the first cutting drum in a first travel direction (E). Further, the method may include determining a plurality of actual advancing vectors (vi) indicating a change of a position of the shearer resulting from advancing the shearer towards the longwall face. The method may also include determining a plurality of shearer orientations (Oi) along the longwall face. In addition, the method may include generating a second cutting profile to be approached by at least one of the first cutting drum and the second cutting drum in a second travel direction (F) of the shearer.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for controlling a shearer configured to travel along a longwall face in an underground mine in a first travel direction (E) and a second travel direction (F) to extract material with a first cutting drum and a second cutting drum, the method comprising steps of:

setting a first cutting profile including a plurality of desired positions (Di) to be approached by the first cutting drum in the first travel direction (E);
advancing the shearer toward the longwall face;
determining a plurality of actual advancing vectors (vi) along the longwall face, each actual advancing vector (vi) indicating a change of a position of the shearer resulting from advancing the shearer;
determining a plurality of shearer orientations (Oi) along the longwall face resulting from advancing the shearer;
and
generating a second cutting profile including a plurality of desired positions (Ri) to be approached by at least one of the first cutting drum and the second cutting drum in the second travel direction (F) of the shearer based on the first cutting profile, the plurality of actual advancing vectors (vi), and the plurality of shearer orientations (Oi),
the second travel direction (F) being opposite the first travel direction (E).

4 more elements

A shearer configured to be carried by a face conveyor extending along a longwall face in an underground mine, the shearer comprising:

a main body having a first end and a second end opposing the first end;
a first cutting drum pivotably mounted to the first end of the main body to vary a cutting drum height of the first cutting drum;
a second cutting drum pivotably mounted to the second end of the main body to vary a cutting drum height of the second cutting drum;
a device configured to measure a position and an orientation of the shearer;
and
a control unit configured to:
set a first cutting profile including a plurality of desired positions (Di) to be approached by the first cutting drum in a first travel direction (E);
advance the shearer toward the longwall face;
generate a second cutting profile based on information received from the device the second cutting profile to be approached by the first cutting drum and the second cutting drum in a second travel direction (F) along the longwall face, the second travel direction (F) being opposite the first travel direction (E);
control the cutting drum height of the first cutting drum based on the second cutting profile;
and
control the cutting drum height of the second cutting drum based on the second cutting profile.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Control method for longwall shearer

Life of this patent

Control method for longwall shearer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19