Systems and methods for tensioning a conveyor in a mining system
A tensioning system for a conveyor element of a conveyor. The tensioning system including a hydraulic apparatus, a locking plate, and a take-up bar. The hydraulic apparatus includes a cylinder having an extendible piston. The take-up bar is coupled to the cylinder and coupled to a shaft of the conveyor. The take-up bar moves the shaft of the conveyor in a forward direction away from the centerline of the conveyor when overcoming a locking force from the locking plate.
1. A method of tensioning a conveyor element of a conveyor, the method comprising:
generating, with a proximity sensor, an output signal indicative of the conveyor element being under-tensioned;
receiving, with an electronic processor, the output signal from the proximity sensor;
activating, with the electronic processor, a hydraulic apparatus including a cylinder having an extendible piston;
pushing, with the cylinder, a take-up bar coupled to the cylinder and to a shaft of the conveyor;
imparting, via a locking plate, a locking force on the take-up bar;
overcoming the locking force from the locking plate; and
moving the shaft of the conveyor away from a centerline of the conveyor with the take-up bar when the cylinder is driven and the locking force is overcome.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
activating a manual valve with an actuator, the manual valve coupled between a pump and the cylinder of the hydraulic apparatus; and
driving, with the pump, the extendible piston of the cylinder in response to activating the manual valve.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the output signal includes detecting that the conveyor element is within a detection range of the proximity sensor, and generating the output signal in response to detecting the conveyor element within the detection range.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, with the electronic processor, an activation signal from an actuator;
activating, with the electronic processor, the hydraulic apparatus for a predetermined period of time in response to receiving the activation signal.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
receiving, with the electronic processor, an indication of a state of a mode selector;
activating, with the electronic processor, the hydraulic apparatus in response to the output signal from the proximity sensor when the mode selector is in a first state; and
activating, with the electronic processor, the hydraulic apparatus in response to the activation signal from the actuator when the mode selector is in a second state.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising biasing, with a spring, the locking plate to a lock position in which a first portion of the ratcheting mechanism is engaged with a second portion of the ratcheting mechanism.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor is a first proximity sensor and the output signal is a first output signal, and further comprising generating, with a second proximity sensor, a second output signal indicative of the conveyor element; and activating the solenoid-controlled valve based on the first output signal and the second output signal.