IP Library Granted Patent US 11,149,546
Granted Patent B2
US 11,149,546 · App. 16/515,687 · Granted Oct 19, 2021

Cable handling system for longwall mining machines

Inventors: Euan Russell Kirkhope (Waratah, AU); Bradley Stanaway (Walkerston, AU)
Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH
E21C35/046E21C27/02E21C29/02E21C35/12E21C35/24F16L3/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,149,546
App. No.
16/515,687
Granted
Oct 19, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cable handling system for a longwall mining machine is disclosed. The longwall mining machine includes a shearer configured to move along a pan line to mine material along a mine face. The cable handling system includes a service line configured to carry one or more supply lines to the shearer for facilitating shearer operation. Further, a plurality of interconnected trays accommodates the service line. Moreover, a controller is configured to determine a profile of the pan line; detect one or more parameters associated with the service line in relation to the profile of the pan line; and determine a likelihood of at least a portion of the service line dislodging from the plurality of interconnected trays based on the one or more parameters exceeding a predefined threshold.

Claims (47)

1. A cable handling system for a longwall mining machine, the longwall mining machine including a shearer configured to move along a pan line to mine material along a mine face, the cable handling system comprising:

a service line configured to carry one or more supply lines to the shearer for facilitating shearer operation;

a plurality of interconnected trays to accommodate the service line; and

a controller configured to:

determine a profile of the pan line;

detect one or more parameters associated with the service line in relation to the profile of the pan line; and

determine a likelihood of at least a portion of the service line dislodging from the plurality of interconnected trays based on one or more value(s) by which the one or more parameters exceed(s) a predefined threshold.

2. The cable handling system of claim 1 , wherein the profile of the pan line is determined based on a position and a movement of the shearer along the pan line.

3. The cable handling system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more parameters include a variation in a span of the service line relative to a corresponding part of the pan line.

4. The cable handling system of claim 3 further including a strain sensor to detect a strain exerted on the service line during shearer movement,

wherein the controller is configured to detect the variation by determining the strain exerted on the service line.

5. The cable handling system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more parameters include an angle of twist of the service line relative to the profile of the pan line.

6. The cable handling system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to detect the angle of twist by determining an angle of roll of the shearer relative to the pan line,

wherein the angle of roll of the shearer relative to the pan line is indicative of a twisted variation of the service line relative to the plurality of interconnected trays.

7. The cable handling system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more parameters include a value of skew of the service line relative to the profile of the pan line.

8. The cable handling system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to calculate the value of skew by determining an angle of yaw of the shearer relative to the pan line,

wherein the angle of yaw of the shearer relative to the pan line is indicative of a skewed variation of the service line relative to the plurality of interconnected trays.

9. The cable handling system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more parameters include an elevation of the service line relative to the profile of the pan line.

10. The cable handling system of claim 9 further including a strain sensor to detect a strain exerted on the service line during shearer movement,

wherein the controller is configured to detect the elevation by determining the strain exerted on the service line.

11. The cable handling system of claim 9 further including a counter to detect a number of layers formed by a stack of the service line during shearer movement for mining the material along the mine face,

wherein the controller is configured to detect the elevation by determining the number of layers formed.

12. A longwall mining machine, comprising:

a pan line;

a shearer configured to move along the pan line to mine material along a mine face;

a service line configured to carry one or more supply lines to the shearer for facilitating shearer operation;

a plurality of interconnected trays to accommodate the service line; and

a controller configured to:

determine a profile of the pan line;

detect one or more parameters associated with the service line in relation to the profile of the pan line; and

determine a likelihood of at least a portion of the service line dislodging from the plurality of interconnected trays based on one or more value(s) by which the one or more parameters exceed(s) a predefined threshold.

13. The longwall mining machine of claim 12 , wherein the one or more parameters include a variation in a span of the service line relative to a corresponding part of the pan line.

14. The longwall mining machine of claim 13 further including a strain sensor to detect a strain exerted on the service line during shearer movement,

wherein the controller is configured to detect the variation by determining the strain exerted on the service line.

15. The longwall mining machine of claim 12 , wherein the one or more parameters include an angle of twist of the service line relative to the profile of the pan line,

wherein the controller is configured to detect the angle of twist by determining an angle of roll of the shearer relative to the pan line.

16. The longwall mining machine of claim 12 , wherein the one or more parameters include a value of skew of the service line relative to the profile of the pan line,

wherein the controller is configured to calculate the value of skew by determining an angle of yaw of the shearer relative to the pan line.

17. The longwall mining machine of claim 12 , wherein the one or more parameters include an elevation of the service line relative to the profile of the pan line.

18. The longwall mining machine of claim 17 further including a tow bracket disposed between the shearer and the service line, and a strain sensor mounted to the tow bracket, the strain sensor configured to detect a strain exerted on the service line during shearer movement,

wherein the controller is configured to detect the elevation by determining the strain exerted on the service line.

19. The longwall mining machine of claim 17 further including a counter to detect a number of layers formed by a stack of the service line during shearer movement for mining the material along the mine face,

wherein the controller is configured to detect the elevation by determining the number of layers formed.

20. A method for operating a cable handling system of a longwall mining machine having a shearer movable along a pan line to mine material along a mine face, the cable handling system including a service line configured to carry one or more supply lines to the shearer for facilitating shearer operation, and a plurality of interconnected trays to accommodate the service line, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller, a profile of the pan line based on a position and a movement of the shearer along the pan line;

detecting, by the controller, one or more parameters associated with the service line in relation to the profile of the pan line; and

determining, by the controller, a likelihood of at least a portion of the service line dislodging from the plurality of interconnected trays based on one or more value(s) by which the one or more parameters exceed(s) a predefined threshold.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2022
From: CATERPILLAR GLOBAL MINING EUROPE GMBH
To: CATERPILLAR INC.
Reel/Frame 062024/0906 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2019
From: KIRKHOPE, EUAN RUSSELL; STANAWAY, BRADLEY MICHAEL
To: CATERPILLAR GLOBAL MINING EUROPE GMBH
Reel/Frame 049793/0356 →
Priority Claims (1)
GB 1811959 · Jul 23, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200024943A1 · Jan 23, 2020