UDD dragline bucket machine and control system

Abstract

A UDD mining machine provided with a control system directs the movement of the bucket within a prescribed carry envelope to limit unequal wearing of the hoist lines. In one construction, the control system directs the bucket within a range of motion where the loads on the hoist lines are kept within a prescribed variance of each other during the carry phase or most of the carry phase of a digging cycle. Movement of the bucket will be controlled by the mining machine with the inventive control system so that, in the carry phase, the loads applied to the front hoist line are within, for example, 5%, 10% or 15% of the loads applied to the rear hoist lines. This general equaling of the loads in the hoist lines results in longer wear life for the front hoist lines, and generally equal wearing of the front and rear hoist lines to enable simultaneous replacement.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention pertains to a machine with a unique control system for a universal dig and dump mining operation.BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION[0002]Universal dig and dump (UDD) mining operations involve the use of dragline buckets that are controlled by UDD mining machines having front hoist lines, rear hoist lines and drag lines, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,705,031 and 6,826,466. While these operations have provided benefits, they have been particularly hard on the front hoist lines; i.e., the front hoist lines tend be damaged or to wear much faster than the rear hoist lines. Such wearing requires frequent replacement of the front hoist lines, which results in the use of more hoist line and in frequent downtime of the equipment. Moreover, the front hoist lines frequently wear at unequal intervals from the rear hoist lines resulting in even increased equipment downtime as the hoist lines are replaced separately. The front hoist motor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]In one aspect of the present invention, the bucket is moved through a carry envelope for an improved UDD mining operation that reduces the loading on the front hoist line and enhances the efficiency of the mine.

[0005]In one aspect of the invention, a control system for a UDD mining machine directs the movement of a loaded bucket within a prescribed carry envelope to limit unequal loading of the hoist lines. The control system directs the operator to move the UDD bucket within the prescribed carry envelope or, alternatively, move it directly under computer control. In one preferred construction, the control system directs the bucket to be moved within a range of motion where the loads on the hoist lines are kept within a prescribed variance of each other during the carry phase or most of the carry phase of a digging cycle. For example, movement of the bucket will be directed by the inventive control system so that the loads applied to the front hoist line are within, for example, 5%, 10% or 15% of the loads applied to the rear hoist line. This general equaling of the loads in the hoist lines results in longer wear life for the front hoist line, and generally equal wearing of the front and rear hoist lines to enable simultaneous replacement.

[0013]In another aspect of the invention, a UDD machine commonly has more motors supporting the front hoist lines than the rear hoist lines. The control system can direct the bucket through a carry envelope that maximizes the carrying power of the additional motors. For example, the prescribed carry envelope may equalize the loads carried by each motor rather than in each hoist line.

[0014]In another aspect of the invention, the bucket for a UDD mining operation is provided with a plurality of pairs of connection points for either or both of the front and rear hoist lines. In this way, the carry envelope for a particular bucket can be adjusted for a particular mining operation to maximize the equaling of the hoist line wear. Multiple connection points can also provide flexibility in accommodating and maximizing performance.

[0015]In another aspect of the invention, the bucket for a UDD mining operation is formed with a bottom wall, a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls that are connected to define a front digging edge and a bucket cavity. The bucket is provided with connection points to facilitate the connection of front and rear hoist lines to the bucket. At least one of the connection points for coupling the rear hoist line to the bucket is located forward of the rear wall to provide improved carrying of the bucket during use for certain mining operations.

Problems solved by technology

This general equaling of the loads in the hoist lines results in longer wear life for the front hoist line, and generally equal wearing of the front and rear hoist lines to enable simultaneous replacement.

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