Flexible Conveyor Navigation for Mining Cave-in Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible conveyor systems in mining operations are not effectively decoupled from continuous miners during cave-ins, requiring durability that increases weight and complexity, and lack autonomous navigation to prevent collisions and ensure efficient material transfer.
Innovation Solution
A flexible conveyor system with a conveyor navigation system and control means that allows independent extraction from continuous miners during cave-ins, equipped with proximity sensors and inertial navigation for autonomous operation, enabling lightweight design and collision avoidance, and integrated with a continuous miner navigation system for coordinated material transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flexible conveyor systems are coupled to continuous miners to ensure durability during cave-ins, then reliability is improved, but weight and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into independent segments: the continuous miner and the flexible conveyor system are separate entities that can operate independently. The conveyor system consists of modular conveyor modules that can be independently controlled and extracted, eliminating the need for rigid coupling while maintaining operational reliability during cave-ins.
Solution Approach 2:
The hitch mechanism enables dynamic reconfiguration of the conveyor system. Modules can be connected or disconnected based on operational conditions, allowing the system to adapt its configuration. This dynamic capability provides durability during cave-ins by allowing separation while avoiding permanent complex couplings.
2Productivity
If proximity sensors and navigation systems are added to enable autonomous operation, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system serves multiple functions: it provides autonomous navigation for the conveyor system, enables collision avoidance through proximity sensing, and facilitates coordinated operation with the continuous miner. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple productivity benefits from a single integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
Proximity sensors continuously monitor the environment and provide feedback to the control system. This feedback enables real-time collision avoidance adjustments and autonomous navigation decisions, improving productivity while managing complexity through closed-loop control rather than overly complex open-loop systems.
3Ease of operation
If the conveyor system operates independently from the continuous miner, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability during cave-ins worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch mechanism provides dynamic coupling capability, allowing the conveyor system to be connected to the continuous miner during normal operation for coordinated movement, and easily disconnected when independent extraction is needed. This dynamic coupling resolves the contradiction by providing both ease of independent operation and reliability when coupled.
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables the conveyor system to be extracted or separated from the continuous miner when needed. The modular conveyor modules can be independently extracted through the tunnel, providing ease of operation while the option to remain coupled provides reliability during cave-ins, depending on the specific operational situation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mining system including a continuous miner. The continuous miner mines material and includes a miner navigation system. The mining system further includes a flexible conveyor system for receiving the mined material from the continuous miner. The flexible conveyor system includes a conveyor navigation system. The mining system further includes control means for controlling the miner navigation system and the conveyor navigation system so that the flexible conveyor system receives the mined material from the continuous miner. Preferably, the flexible conveyor system need not be coupled to the continuous miner, and can be extracted separately in the event of a cave-in on the miner.