System for detecting angle of articulation on an articulating mining machine
A system for detecting the angle of articulation at an articulating point between a first section and a second section of an articulating machine is provided. The system includes a controller positioned on the articulating machine for generating a uniquely encoded signal. A plurality of drivers are positioned on the second section of the articulating machine such that they are in communication with the controller for transmitting the uniquely encoded signal. A machine mounted locator is positioned on the first section of the articulating machine such that it is in communication with the drivers. An algorithm based on the uniquely encoded signal and a radio frequency signal generated by the machine mounted locator is performed at the controller to generate the uniquely encoded signal.
1. A system for detecting the angle of articulation at an articulating point between a first section and a second section of an articulating machine comprising:
a controller positioned on the articulating machine for generating a uniquely encoded signal;
a plurality of drivers positioned on the second section of the articulating machine, said drivers being in communication with said controller for transmitting said uniquely encoded signal;
a machine mounted locator positioned on the first section of the articulating machine, said machine mounted locator being in communication with said drivers; and
means for determining the angle of articulation between the first section and second section of the articulating machine at the articulating point, and based on the determined angle, outputting the determined angle for the articulating machine;
wherein said means for determining the angle of articulation includes an algorithm performed at the controller based on the uniquely encoded signal and a radio frequency signal generated by the machine mounted locator.
2. The system for detecting the angle of articulation of claim 1 , further comprising one or more drivers positioned on the first section of the articulating machine, said drivers being in communication with said controller for transmitting said uniquely encoded signal.
3. The system for detecting the angle of articulation of claim 1 further comprising means for defining one or more safety zones around the articulating machine.
4. The system for detecting the angle of articulation of claim 3 wherein said one or more safety zones comprise a first warning boundary zone and a second operation limiting boundary zone.
5. The system for detecting the angle of articulation of claim 3 further comprising means for dynamically altering said one or more safety zones.
6. The system for detecting the angle of articulation of claim 5 wherein said one or more safety zones are dynamically altered depending upon the articulation angle.
7. The system for detecting the angle of articulation of claim 1 wherein the uniquely encoded signal is a magnetic signal.
8. The system for detecting the angle of articulation of claim 1 further including a digital radio transceiver located in the controller, and wherein the controller also generates a driver radio frequency signal and the digital radio transceiver transmits said driver radio frequency signal.
9. The system for detecting the angle of articulation of claim 8 wherein the encoded signal is a uniquely encoded magnetic signal and the machine mounted locator comprises:
a locator microcontroller for processing data and controlling locator functions;
one or more magnetic proximity signal receiving coils in communication with the locator microprocessor for receiving the uniquely encoded magnetic signal;
a digital radio transceiver in communication with the locator microcontroller for receiving said driver magnetic frequency signal and transmitting a locator radio frequency signal.
10. The system for detecting the angle of articulation of claim 9 , wherein the one or more magnetic proximity receiving coils comprises:
a first magnetic proximity signal receiving coil;
a second magnetic proximity signal receiving coil oriented orthogonally to the first magnetic proximity signal receiving coil; and
a third magnetic proximity signal receiving coil oriented orthogonally to the first magnetic proximity signal receiving coil and to the second magnetic proximity signal receiving coil.