| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 299100400 | Of hard material disintegrating machine | 20 |
| 20090008984 | Method For Regulating the Drive of a Shearing or Heading Machine - In a method for controlling the drive of a shearing or heading machine for cutting a round, as a function of manipulated variables such as the movement speed of the cantilever arm, the position of the cutting tools and/or the power consumption of the drive motors and the pressure in hydraulic actuating cylinders, a minimum and a maximum target value are determined for the movement speed of the cantilever arm, and at least two factors each having values of between 0 and 1 are calculated for the manipulated variables as a function of measurement values, the measurement values at least comprising cutting tool position data compared to set data corresponding with a set profile, motor load measurement data and cantilever arm movement speed measurement data, and the movement speed of the cantilever arm is controlled as a function of the product of the set speed and the respectively calculated factors. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20100109417 | Automated Excavation Machine - The present invention is directed to an excavator that is operable in manual and automatic modes and uses state machines to effect unit operations, rotationally offset swing actuators to rotate boom and cutter head, a fail safe hydraulic system to maintain gripper pressure in the event of a malfunction of the hydraulic system, differing position and pressure control functions in the hydraulic actuators, a kinematic module to effect pitch and roll adjustments, a cutting face profile generator to generate a profile of the excavation face, and an optimization module to realize a high degree of optimization of excavator operation. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20120038202 | Method for Controlling the Depth of Shears - A method for controlling the cutting depth of drums of shearers used as recovery equipment in underground coal mining. A cut of drums into country rock is detected by measured values, from which the drum cutting depth is adjusted by control signals. In particular, during a recovery or shearing operation, the current consumption of cutting motors that drive the drums, and the traveling speed of the shearer, are detected as measured values, from which, in a computer, the respective specific cutting energy is determined as a ratio of the current consumption to the traveling speed. For different mining conditions, a respective characteristic value for the specific cutting energy is determined as a function of the compactness of coal that is to be recovered and of an outcrop of country rock. When this characteristic value is exceeded, a cut from the country rock is assumed. Corresponding control signals for a correction of the cutting depth of the drum are generated. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120068523 | GUIDANCE SYSTEM FOR A MINING MACHINE - A guidance system for mining a seam of material includes a mining machine, a carriage, and a guide assembly. The mining machine includes a cutter head and defines a roll axis, a pitch axis, and a yaw axis. The carriage includes a first emitter, a second emitter, and a third emitter. The first emitter projects a first laser that is aligned with a seam plane. The second emitter projects a second laser, and the third emitter projects a third laser. The guide assembly includes a first indicator and a target. The first indicator is aligned with the second laser, and the target is aligned with the third laser. The relative positions of the first indicator with respect to the second laser and the target with respect to the third laser indicate the orientation of the roll axis, pitch axis, and yaw axis relative to the seam plane. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20130015696 | HYDRAULIC RESONANT BREAKING HAMMERAANM Tang; ZhongshengAACI Nanning CityAACO CNAAGP Tang; Zhongsheng Nanning City CN - The present invention discloses a hydraulic resonant breaking hammer, comprising a hydraulic driving system, a vibration exciter ( | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130033085 | STABILIZATION SYSTEM FOR A MINING MACHINE - A mining machine including a frame, a cutting head moveably coupled to the frame and pivotable about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a first mine surface, and a first actuator for stabilizing the frame relative to the first mine surface. The first actuator is coupled to the frame and includes a first end extendable in a first direction to engage the first mine surface. The extension of the first actuator is automatically controlled based on measurements of at least one indicator of the force between the first actuator and the first mine surface. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130033086 | AUTOMATED FIND-FACE OPERATION OF A MINING MACHINE - 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. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130082506 | Method and Apparatus for Increasing the Yield in a Deposit - A method is provided for increasing the yield in a deposit comprising a rock that includes a valuable mineral, which can be exposed by virtue of the rock being comminuted, and at least one further mineral, wherein the valuable mineral has a higher density than the at least one further mineral, which method includes: carrying out a drilling operation using a drilling tool prior to the rock being extracted, drillings being generated in the process; forming an aerosol comprising the drillings and a gas stream; transferring the aerosol from the drilling tool to at least one air separator; carrying out hydraulic classification, wherein at least two fractions comprising in each case equal-falling particles of the drillings are formed; and determining a property which belongs to at least one of the fractions and is used as a measure for setting an optimum degree of comminution of the rock. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130200680 | EXCAVATION SYSTEM USING A WATER JET, AND EXCAVATION METHOD USING THE SAME - A tunnel excavation technique using a water jet. A water jet system includes a moving unit movable back and forth with respect to an area to be blasted for tunnel excavation, an articulated robot arm mounted on the moving unit, a water jet nozzle which ejects high-pressure water and an abrasive toward an area to be excavated, and a control unit which controls the moving unit, the articulated robot arm and the water jet nozzle. A free face having a predetermined depth is formed of the area to be excavated in the direction in which the tunnel is to be excavated using the water jet system. Since the blasting is performed after the free face is formed, blast vibration can be effectively restricted. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130341995 | GUIDANCE SYSTEM FOR A MINING MACHINE - A guidance system for mining a seam of material includes a mining machine, a carriage, and a guide assembly. The mining machine includes a cutter head and defines a roll axis extending the length of the machine, a pitch axis extending from one side of the machine to the other side, and a yaw axis extending from a top side of the machine to the bottom side. The carriage includes a first emitter, a second emitter, and a third emitter. The first emitter projects a first laser that is aligned with a seam plane. The second emitter projects a second laser, and the third emitter projects a third laser. The guide assembly includes a first indicator and a target. The first indicator is aligned with the second laser, and the target is aligned with the third laser. The relative positions of the first indicator with respect to the second laser and the target with respect to the third laser indicate the orientation of the roll axis, pitch axis, and yaw axis relative to the seam plane. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140077578 | CUTTER HEAD FOR MINING MACHINE - A cutter head includes a first member, a cutting bit, and a second member. The first member includes a first end and a second end and includes a first mass. The cutting bit is coupled to the first member proximate the second end. The cutting bit includes a cutting edge rotatable about the axis. The second member is rotatable about the axis and includes a second mass eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis. Rotation of the second mass causes the first member and the cutting bit to oscillate. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140139006 | ADVANCING LONGWALL SYSTEM FOR SURFACE MINING - A surface mining system for removing material from a mining face generally includes a conveyor extending substantially parallel to the mining face, a miner supported by and moveable along the conveyor, and a conveyor translation device associated with the conveyor and operable to move the conveyor and the miner toward the mining face. A method for advancing a surface mining longwall system generally includes moving the longwall shearer along a face conveyor, operating load translation devices to move the face conveyor and the longwall shearer toward the mining face, resetting a first group of load translation devices, and then resetting a second group of load translation devices. A load translation device generally includes an actuator, a ground drilling device coupled to and moveable with a portion of the actuator, and a frame coupled to and moveable with another portion of the actuator. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140232168 | DEVICE MACHINING MATERIALS BY MILLING OR DRILLING, AND METHOD THEREFOR - A method and device for machining materials includes a tool drum having tool shafts that support machining tools that can be driven in rotation. A drive element rotates the tool shafts and the tool drum relative to each other, and a drum carrier can be moved relative to the material by using a movement device. A control device varies the speed of the relative movement between the tool carrier and material and the rotational speed of the tool drum. To avoid critical operating points, one measuring sensor measures the natural translational vibration and/or another measuring sensor determines the rotational vibrations of the tool drum. The control device has a vibration analysis module, by which a vibration spectrum can be determined, and at least one controller module, by which drive parameters can be controlled as a function of the vibrations determined by the analysis module. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140252842 | MINING MACHINE WITH DRIVEN DISC CUTTERS - A mining machine includes a cutting mechanism with an arm, and a substantial weight of more than a thousand pounds attached to the arm. The mining machine also includes a first disc cutter adapted to engage the material to be mined and mounted on a first disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the first disc cutter, the first disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight. The mining machine also includes at least a second disc cutter spaced apart from the first disc cutter assembly and adapted to engage the material to be mined, and mounted on a second disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the second disc cutter, the second disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20150061350 | SHEARER ANTI-COLLISION - Systems and methods for operating a mining machine. One system includes a roof support system, a radar device, and at least one controller. The roof support system incorporates an anti-stealth device, and the radar device is configured to transmit a plurality of radio waves toward the roof support system and detect a plurality of reflections of the plurality of radio waves. The at least one controller is configured to obtain reflection data from the radar device representing timing information regarding the plurality of radio waves and the plurality of reflections, determine a position of the roof support system based on the reflection data, and perform at least one automatic action when the identified position of the roof support system satisfies a threshold. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150061351 | DETECTING SUMP DEPTH OF A MINER - Systems and methods for operating a mining machine. One system includes a controller, a stationary object, and a radar device. The radar device transmits radio waves toward the stationary object and detects reflections of the radio waves. The controller obtains timing information regarding the radio waves and the reflections. Based on the timing information, the controller is configured to determine a first distance between the radar device and the stationary object before sumping the mining machine into material and a second distance between the radar device and the stationary object after sumping the mining machine into the material. The controller is also configured to determine a sump depth of the mining machine based on the first distance and the second distance, compare the determined sump depth to a predetermined sump depth, and perform at least one automatic action when the determined sump depth does not satisfy the predetermined sump depth. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150097411 | GUIDANCE SYSTEM FOR A MINING MACHINE - A guidance system for mining a seam of material includes a mining machine, a carriage, and a guide assembly. The mining machine includes a cutter head and defines a roll axis extending the length of the machine, a pitch axis extending from one side of the machine to the other side, and a yaw axis extending from a top side of the machine to the bottom side. The carriage includes a first emitter, a second emitter, and a third emitter. The first emitter projects a first laser that is aligned with a seam plane. The second emitter projects a second laser, and the third emitter projects a third laser. The guide assembly includes a first indicator and a target. The first indicator is aligned with the second laser, and the target is aligned with the third laser. The relative positions of the first indicator with respect to the second laser and the target with respect to the third laser indicate the orientation of the roll axis, pitch axis, and yaw axis relative to the seam plane. | 04-09-2015 |
| 20160090839 | METHOD OF PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF COAL MINE MACHINE OPERATORS - A method of operating coal mine machinery that protects and maintains machine operators' health and well-being removes the machine operators to a clean, low-noise environment inside a refuge chamber. Inside, are controls, cameras, audio, and informational displays needed to run continuous mining machines nearby and communicate mine-wide with other personnel. Cameras fitted to the mining machines provide straight-ahead views, ground penetrating radars fitted to the cutting drums measure the coal depths in the ceilings above, the floors below, and the coal face ahead. Guidance data is presented on informational displays, and the data from the ceilings and floors is used to drive computer graphics special effects to graphically represent the coal ceilings and coal floors overlaying boundary rock. Audio pickups on the mining machine allow the operator to hear and feel how the machine is functioning, just as operators have always employed their other senses. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160102551 | DETECTING SUMP DEPTH OF A MINER - Systems and methods for operating a mining machine. One system includes a controller, a stationary object, and a radar device. The radar device transmits radio waves toward the stationary object and detects reflections of the radio waves. The controller obtains timing information regarding the radio waves and the reflections. Based on the timing information, the controller is configured to determine a first distance between the radar device and the stationary object before sumping the mining machine into material and a second distance between the radar device and the stationary object after sumping the mining machine into the material. The controller is also configured to determine a sump depth of the mining machine based on the first distance and the second distance, compare the determined sump depth to a predetermined sump depth, and perform at least one automatic action when the determined sump depth does not satisfy the predetermined sump depth. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20180023390 | Milling Depth Compensation System and Method | 01-25-2018 |
| 20090008984 | Method For Regulating the Drive of a Shearing or Heading Machine - In a method for controlling the drive of a shearing or heading machine for cutting a round, as a function of manipulated variables such as the movement speed of the cantilever arm, the position of the cutting tools and/or the power consumption of the drive motors and the pressure in hydraulic actuating cylinders, a minimum and a maximum target value are determined for the movement speed of the cantilever arm, and at least two factors each having values of between 0 and 1 are calculated for the manipulated variables as a function of measurement values, the measurement values at least comprising cutting tool position data compared to set data corresponding with a set profile, motor load measurement data and cantilever arm movement speed measurement data, and the movement speed of the cantilever arm is controlled as a function of the product of the set speed and the respectively calculated factors. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20100109417 | Automated Excavation Machine - The present invention is directed to an excavator that is operable in manual and automatic modes and uses state machines to effect unit operations, rotationally offset swing actuators to rotate boom and cutter head, a fail safe hydraulic system to maintain gripper pressure in the event of a malfunction of the hydraulic system, differing position and pressure control functions in the hydraulic actuators, a kinematic module to effect pitch and roll adjustments, a cutting face profile generator to generate a profile of the excavation face, and an optimization module to realize a high degree of optimization of excavator operation. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20120038202 | Method for Controlling the Depth of Shears - A method for controlling the cutting depth of drums of shearers used as recovery equipment in underground coal mining. A cut of drums into country rock is detected by measured values, from which the drum cutting depth is adjusted by control signals. In particular, during a recovery or shearing operation, the current consumption of cutting motors that drive the drums, and the traveling speed of the shearer, are detected as measured values, from which, in a computer, the respective specific cutting energy is determined as a ratio of the current consumption to the traveling speed. For different mining conditions, a respective characteristic value for the specific cutting energy is determined as a function of the compactness of coal that is to be recovered and of an outcrop of country rock. When this characteristic value is exceeded, a cut from the country rock is assumed. Corresponding control signals for a correction of the cutting depth of the drum are generated. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120068523 | GUIDANCE SYSTEM FOR A MINING MACHINE - A guidance system for mining a seam of material includes a mining machine, a carriage, and a guide assembly. The mining machine includes a cutter head and defines a roll axis, a pitch axis, and a yaw axis. The carriage includes a first emitter, a second emitter, and a third emitter. The first emitter projects a first laser that is aligned with a seam plane. The second emitter projects a second laser, and the third emitter projects a third laser. The guide assembly includes a first indicator and a target. The first indicator is aligned with the second laser, and the target is aligned with the third laser. The relative positions of the first indicator with respect to the second laser and the target with respect to the third laser indicate the orientation of the roll axis, pitch axis, and yaw axis relative to the seam plane. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20130015696 | HYDRAULIC RESONANT BREAKING HAMMERAANM Tang; ZhongshengAACI Nanning CityAACO CNAAGP Tang; Zhongsheng Nanning City CN - The present invention discloses a hydraulic resonant breaking hammer, comprising a hydraulic driving system, a vibration exciter ( | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130033085 | STABILIZATION SYSTEM FOR A MINING MACHINE - A mining machine including a frame, a cutting head moveably coupled to the frame and pivotable about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a first mine surface, and a first actuator for stabilizing the frame relative to the first mine surface. The first actuator is coupled to the frame and includes a first end extendable in a first direction to engage the first mine surface. The extension of the first actuator is automatically controlled based on measurements of at least one indicator of the force between the first actuator and the first mine surface. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130033086 | AUTOMATED FIND-FACE OPERATION OF A MINING MACHINE - 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. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130082506 | Method and Apparatus for Increasing the Yield in a Deposit - A method is provided for increasing the yield in a deposit comprising a rock that includes a valuable mineral, which can be exposed by virtue of the rock being comminuted, and at least one further mineral, wherein the valuable mineral has a higher density than the at least one further mineral, which method includes: carrying out a drilling operation using a drilling tool prior to the rock being extracted, drillings being generated in the process; forming an aerosol comprising the drillings and a gas stream; transferring the aerosol from the drilling tool to at least one air separator; carrying out hydraulic classification, wherein at least two fractions comprising in each case equal-falling particles of the drillings are formed; and determining a property which belongs to at least one of the fractions and is used as a measure for setting an optimum degree of comminution of the rock. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130200680 | EXCAVATION SYSTEM USING A WATER JET, AND EXCAVATION METHOD USING THE SAME - A tunnel excavation technique using a water jet. A water jet system includes a moving unit movable back and forth with respect to an area to be blasted for tunnel excavation, an articulated robot arm mounted on the moving unit, a water jet nozzle which ejects high-pressure water and an abrasive toward an area to be excavated, and a control unit which controls the moving unit, the articulated robot arm and the water jet nozzle. A free face having a predetermined depth is formed of the area to be excavated in the direction in which the tunnel is to be excavated using the water jet system. Since the blasting is performed after the free face is formed, blast vibration can be effectively restricted. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130341995 | GUIDANCE SYSTEM FOR A MINING MACHINE - A guidance system for mining a seam of material includes a mining machine, a carriage, and a guide assembly. The mining machine includes a cutter head and defines a roll axis extending the length of the machine, a pitch axis extending from one side of the machine to the other side, and a yaw axis extending from a top side of the machine to the bottom side. The carriage includes a first emitter, a second emitter, and a third emitter. The first emitter projects a first laser that is aligned with a seam plane. The second emitter projects a second laser, and the third emitter projects a third laser. The guide assembly includes a first indicator and a target. The first indicator is aligned with the second laser, and the target is aligned with the third laser. The relative positions of the first indicator with respect to the second laser and the target with respect to the third laser indicate the orientation of the roll axis, pitch axis, and yaw axis relative to the seam plane. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140077578 | CUTTER HEAD FOR MINING MACHINE - A cutter head includes a first member, a cutting bit, and a second member. The first member includes a first end and a second end and includes a first mass. The cutting bit is coupled to the first member proximate the second end. The cutting bit includes a cutting edge rotatable about the axis. The second member is rotatable about the axis and includes a second mass eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis. Rotation of the second mass causes the first member and the cutting bit to oscillate. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140139006 | ADVANCING LONGWALL SYSTEM FOR SURFACE MINING - A surface mining system for removing material from a mining face generally includes a conveyor extending substantially parallel to the mining face, a miner supported by and moveable along the conveyor, and a conveyor translation device associated with the conveyor and operable to move the conveyor and the miner toward the mining face. A method for advancing a surface mining longwall system generally includes moving the longwall shearer along a face conveyor, operating load translation devices to move the face conveyor and the longwall shearer toward the mining face, resetting a first group of load translation devices, and then resetting a second group of load translation devices. A load translation device generally includes an actuator, a ground drilling device coupled to and moveable with a portion of the actuator, and a frame coupled to and moveable with another portion of the actuator. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140232168 | DEVICE MACHINING MATERIALS BY MILLING OR DRILLING, AND METHOD THEREFOR - A method and device for machining materials includes a tool drum having tool shafts that support machining tools that can be driven in rotation. A drive element rotates the tool shafts and the tool drum relative to each other, and a drum carrier can be moved relative to the material by using a movement device. A control device varies the speed of the relative movement between the tool carrier and material and the rotational speed of the tool drum. To avoid critical operating points, one measuring sensor measures the natural translational vibration and/or another measuring sensor determines the rotational vibrations of the tool drum. The control device has a vibration analysis module, by which a vibration spectrum can be determined, and at least one controller module, by which drive parameters can be controlled as a function of the vibrations determined by the analysis module. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140252842 | MINING MACHINE WITH DRIVEN DISC CUTTERS - A mining machine includes a cutting mechanism with an arm, and a substantial weight of more than a thousand pounds attached to the arm. The mining machine also includes a first disc cutter adapted to engage the material to be mined and mounted on a first disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the first disc cutter, the first disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight. The mining machine also includes at least a second disc cutter spaced apart from the first disc cutter assembly and adapted to engage the material to be mined, and mounted on a second disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the second disc cutter, the second disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20150061350 | SHEARER ANTI-COLLISION - Systems and methods for operating a mining machine. One system includes a roof support system, a radar device, and at least one controller. The roof support system incorporates an anti-stealth device, and the radar device is configured to transmit a plurality of radio waves toward the roof support system and detect a plurality of reflections of the plurality of radio waves. The at least one controller is configured to obtain reflection data from the radar device representing timing information regarding the plurality of radio waves and the plurality of reflections, determine a position of the roof support system based on the reflection data, and perform at least one automatic action when the identified position of the roof support system satisfies a threshold. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150061351 | DETECTING SUMP DEPTH OF A MINER - Systems and methods for operating a mining machine. One system includes a controller, a stationary object, and a radar device. The radar device transmits radio waves toward the stationary object and detects reflections of the radio waves. The controller obtains timing information regarding the radio waves and the reflections. Based on the timing information, the controller is configured to determine a first distance between the radar device and the stationary object before sumping the mining machine into material and a second distance between the radar device and the stationary object after sumping the mining machine into the material. The controller is also configured to determine a sump depth of the mining machine based on the first distance and the second distance, compare the determined sump depth to a predetermined sump depth, and perform at least one automatic action when the determined sump depth does not satisfy the predetermined sump depth. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150097411 | GUIDANCE SYSTEM FOR A MINING MACHINE - A guidance system for mining a seam of material includes a mining machine, a carriage, and a guide assembly. The mining machine includes a cutter head and defines a roll axis extending the length of the machine, a pitch axis extending from one side of the machine to the other side, and a yaw axis extending from a top side of the machine to the bottom side. The carriage includes a first emitter, a second emitter, and a third emitter. The first emitter projects a first laser that is aligned with a seam plane. The second emitter projects a second laser, and the third emitter projects a third laser. The guide assembly includes a first indicator and a target. The first indicator is aligned with the second laser, and the target is aligned with the third laser. The relative positions of the first indicator with respect to the second laser and the target with respect to the third laser indicate the orientation of the roll axis, pitch axis, and yaw axis relative to the seam plane. | 04-09-2015 |
| 20160090839 | METHOD OF PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF COAL MINE MACHINE OPERATORS - A method of operating coal mine machinery that protects and maintains machine operators' health and well-being removes the machine operators to a clean, low-noise environment inside a refuge chamber. Inside, are controls, cameras, audio, and informational displays needed to run continuous mining machines nearby and communicate mine-wide with other personnel. Cameras fitted to the mining machines provide straight-ahead views, ground penetrating radars fitted to the cutting drums measure the coal depths in the ceilings above, the floors below, and the coal face ahead. Guidance data is presented on informational displays, and the data from the ceilings and floors is used to drive computer graphics special effects to graphically represent the coal ceilings and coal floors overlaying boundary rock. Audio pickups on the mining machine allow the operator to hear and feel how the machine is functioning, just as operators have always employed their other senses. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160102551 | DETECTING SUMP DEPTH OF A MINER - Systems and methods for operating a mining machine. One system includes a controller, a stationary object, and a radar device. The radar device transmits radio waves toward the stationary object and detects reflections of the radio waves. The controller obtains timing information regarding the radio waves and the reflections. Based on the timing information, the controller is configured to determine a first distance between the radar device and the stationary object before sumping the mining machine into material and a second distance between the radar device and the stationary object after sumping the mining machine into the material. The controller is also configured to determine a sump depth of the mining machine based on the first distance and the second distance, compare the determined sump depth to a predetermined sump depth, and perform at least one automatic action when the determined sump depth does not satisfy the predetermined sump depth. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20180023390 | Milling Depth Compensation System and Method | 01-25-2018 |
