Radioactive Tagged Excavation Element for Component Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for detecting the loss of teeth and shrouds in excavation buckets are not robust enough to withstand the rigors of the mining environment and fail to effectively locate missing components due to low visibility and operational conditions, leading to safety hazards and significant maintenance costs.

Innovation Solution

A tagged excavation element with a sealed radioactive source, such as Scandium-46, is secured to the shroud or tooth, allowing for detection using radiation detectors to monitor changes in radioactivity, thereby identifying the displacement of these components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If visual inspection methods are used to detect loss of teeth and shrouds, then operator awareness can be improved, but detection effectiveness deteriorates due to low visibility and dust conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidvisual detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces visual inspection methods with a radioactive tagging system. Each tooth and shroud is fitted with a radioactive source, and radiation detectors automatically monitor their presence. This substitution eliminates the need for human visual inspection in dusty, low-visibility conditions, providing reliable automatic detection of component loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces radioactive sources as intermediaries attached to teeth and shrouds. These sources emit radiation that can be detected through dust and ore, serving as a mediator between the components and the detection system. This allows detection to occur regardless of visual conditions, solving the problem of dust and low visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If RFID detection equipment is placed close to teeth and shrouds, then detection effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection precisionVSAvoiddetection system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex RFID detection systems with a simpler radioactive tagging system. Instead of requiring proximity-based electronic detection, the system uses radioactive sources that emit detectable radiation through any medium. This substitution reduces device complexity while maintaining or improving detection precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the detection parameter from electromagnetic fields (RFID) to ionizing radiation. Radioactive sources emit radiation with penetration capabilities that allow detection through dust, ore, and distance, eliminating the need for close proximity detection and reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If existing detection methods are used, then implementation cost is reduced, but detection robustness deteriorates in mining environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection robustnessVSAvoidimplementation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the detection system into independent modular units: individual radioactive sources for each tooth and shroud, and separate radiation detectors at strategic locations. This segmentation allows the system to be implemented in stages and makes each component simple to manufacture and replace, while the collective system provides robust detection throughout the mining environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a reliable and efficient method to detect the loss of excavation elements before they reach downstream crusher plants, reducing safety hazards and maintenance costs by ensuring timely detection and removal of missing components.

Implementation Method 1

a tagging device includes a radioactive source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadioactive decay: Radioactive Decay

Data Source

PatentUS10787793B2Tagged excavation element

Publication Date: 2020.09.29 SOUTH AFRICA NUCLEAR ENERGY

AI summary

A tagged excavation element, including an excavation element body and a tagging device securable to the excavation element body. The tagged excavation element is characterized in that the tagging device includes a man-made radioactive source. Typically, but not exclusively, the excavation element body comprises a shroud or tooth of an excavation bucket of a ground excavation tool (GET). A method is provided for manufacturing the tagged excavation element, and for detecting the tagged excavation element.