Systems and methods for monitoring extraction height and volume of material extracted for a mining machine

1. A method for monitoring a mining machine including an electronic controller, the method comprising:

operating the mining machine to cut into a mine face using a shearing motion at a plurality of cut locations;

for each of the plurality of cut locations;

generating, using a boom height sensor mounted on a boom of the mining machine, boom height data;

generating, using a power sensor, power consumption data;

determining, with the electronic controller, a cut start time based on a conveyor motor start time;

determining a conveyor motor stop time;

determining whether a relocation has occurred; and

when the relocation has occurred;

determining a cut end time based on conveyor motor stop time and the relocation;

storing, in a memory coupled to the electronic processor, the cut start time, the cut end time, the boom height data, and the power consumption data; and

adjusting the operation of the mining machine based on the cut start time, the cut end time, the boom height data, and the power consumption data for at least one of the plurality of cut locations.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether a relocation has occurred includes determining whether a conveyor motor is off; and

when the conveyor motor is off

determining whether or not a relocation threshold has been met; and

when the relocation threshold has been met;

determining whether a conveyor time threshold has been met; and

when the relocation threshold has not been met;

determining whether the mining machine has been turning for a pre-determined time; and

when the mining machine has been turning for a pre-determined time determining whether a conveyor time threshold has been met.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the relocation threshold is one of a relocation threshold time and a relocation tram check time.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

for each of the plurality of cut locations;

sorting the boom height data and the power consumption data into a plurality of bins;

determining a plurality of extraction heights, each of the plurality of extraction heights based on one of the plurality of bins;

determining a subset of extraction heights based on the plurality of extraction heights and an extraction height threshold;

determining an average extraction height for the cut location based on the subset of extraction heights; and

storing, in the memory, the average extraction height.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

determining a mining location set point;

adjusting the operation of the mining machine based on the average extraction height for at least one of the plurality of cut locations and the mining location set point.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein determining a mining location set point includes determining a material seam height and at least one mining condition.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein adjusting the operation of the mining machine includes adjusting the shearing motion.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

generating a graphical representation based on the average extraction height for each of the plurality of cut locations, the graphical representation including a plurality of parallel columns each providing an indication of the average extraction height for one of the plurality of cut locations, and

displaying the graphical representation on a graphical user interface.

9. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

determining a material volume based on the average extraction height and the cut location.

10. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining the plurality of extraction heights includes, for each of the plurality of bins,

when the power consumption data meets a threshold;

determining a maximum boom height value;

determining a minimum boom height value; and

subtracting the minimum boom height value from the maximum boom height value; and

adding a cutting drum diameter.

11. A mining machine comprising:

a boom including a cutting drum;

a boom height sensor mounted on the boom;

a power sensor;

a memory;

an electronic controller coupled to the boom height sensor, the power sensor, and the memory, and configured to;

operate the mining machine to cut into a mine face with the cutting drum in a shearing motion at a plurality of cut locations;

for each of the plurality of cut locations;

generate, using the boom height sensor, boom height data;

generate, using the power sensor, power consumption data;

determine a cut start time based on a conveyor motor start time;

determine a conveyor motor stop time;

determine whether a relocation has occurred; and

when the relocation has occurred;

determine a cut end time based on conveyor motor stop time and the relocation;

store, in a memory coupled to the electronic processor, the cut start time, the cut end time, the boom height data, and the power consumption data; and

adjust the operation of the mining machine based on the cut start time, the cut end time, the boom height data, and the power consumption data for at least one of the plurality of cut locations.

12. The mining machine of claim 11 , further comprising:

a conveyor motor coupled to the electronic controller;

wherein the electronic controller is configured to

determine whether the conveyor motor is off; and

when the conveyor motor is off

determine whether or not a relocation threshold has been met; and

when the relocation threshold has been met;

determine whether a conveyor time threshold has been met; and

when the relocation threshold has not been met;

determine whether the mining machine has been turning for a pre-determined time; and

when the mining machine has been turning for a pre-determined time determine whether a conveyor time threshold has been met.

13. The mining machine of claim 12 , wherein the relocation threshold is one of a relocation threshold time and a relocation tram check time.

14. The mining machine of claim 11 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to for each of the plurality of cut locations;

sort the boom height data and the power consumption data into a plurality of bins;

determine a plurality of extraction heights, each of the plurality of extraction heights based on one of the plurality of bins;

determine a subset of extraction heights based on the plurality of extraction heights and an extraction height threshold;

determine an average extraction height for the cut location based on the subset of extraction heights; and

store, in the memory, the average extraction height.

15. The mining machine of claim 14 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to

determine a mining location set point;

adjust the operation of the mining machine based on the average extraction height for at least one of the plurality of cut locations and the mining location set point.

16. The mining machine of claim 15 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to

determine a material seam height;

determine at least one mining condition; and

determine the mining location set point based on the material seam height and the at least one mining condition.

17. The mining machine of claim 15 , wherein adjusting the operation of the mining machine includes adjusting a shearing operation.

18. The mining machine of claim 14 , further comprising:

a display computer including a graphical user interface;

wherein the electronic controller is configured to

generate a graphical representation based on the average extraction height for each of the plurality of cut locations, the graphical representation including a plurality of parallel columns each providing an indication of the average extraction height for one of the plurality of cut locations, and

display the graphical representation on the graphical user interface.

19. The mining machine of claim 14 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to determine a material volume based on the average extraction height and the cut location.

20. The mining machine of claim 14 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to, for each of the plurality of bins,

when the power consumption data meets a threshold;

determine a maximum boom height value;

determine a minimum boom height value; and

subtract the minimum boom height value from the maximum boom height value; and

add a cutting drum diameter.