Sensor system of underground mining vehicles and underground mining vehicle comprising sensor system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underground mining vehicles face challenges in maintaining sensor visibility and protection due to harsh conditions, restricted operator views, and the risk of sensor damage from collisions with obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system with a movable stand and guard member that can retract the sensor inside the vehicle perimeter upon impact, using a biasing member like a mechanical spring or pneumatic cylinder to protect the sensor from external forces while maintaining visibility by positioning the sensor outside the vehicle perimeter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the sensor is positioned outside the vehicle perimeter to improve visibility of surroundings, then the operator's visibility and understanding of the surroundings is improved, but the sensor becomes vulnerable to external impacts and collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system employs a movable plate that can dynamically change position between extended (outside vehicle perimeter) and retracted (inside vehicle perimeter) states. This dynamic positioning allows the sensor to optimize between visibility when extended and protection when retracted, resolving the contradiction between being exposed for better surveillance and being protected from impacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member (spring or pneumatic cylinder) is pre-configured to exert a restoring force on the movable plate. When an external impact occurs, the biasing member absorbs the impact energy and automatically pushes the sensor back to its protected position, providing beforehand cushioning against damage from collisions with obstacles.
2Reliability
If the sensor is positioned inside the vehicle perimeter to protect it from impacts, then the sensor is protected from external forces, but the operator's visibility of the surroundings is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows the sensor to dynamically switch between protected (retracted) and visible (extended) positions based on operational needs. The movable plate mechanism enables the sensor to be inside the vehicle perimeter for protection or outside for optimal surveillance, resolving the contradiction between protection and visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member is pre-configured to automatically counteract external forces before they can damage the sensor. When obstacles or external forces attempt to impact the sensor, the biasing member's restoring force acts in advance to push the movable plate back into the protected position, preventing damage before it occurs.
3Device complexity
If a fixed sensor mounting is used to simplify the structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sensor cannot adapt to changing conditions and may be damaged during collisions
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a fixed mounting, the system uses a movable plate connected to the vehicle body through a biasing member. This dynamic mounting structure adds minimal complexity but provides significant adaptability, allowing the sensor to automatically respond to collisions by retracting, while maintaining structural simplicity through the use of basic mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor mounting system is self-regulating through the biasing member, which automatically adjusts the sensor position in response to external forces without requiring external control systems. The spring or pneumatic cylinder self-adjusts to keep the sensor in the optimal position, providing adaptability with minimal added complexity.
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
Enhances operator visibility and protects sensors from impacts by allowing them to be positioned outside the vehicle perimeter while retracting upon collision, ensuring continuous functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member fastened between the movable plate and the mounting plate... The movable plate has two positions: a resting position... and a retracted position... and the biasing member is biasing the movable plate to the resting position
Implementation Method 2
the biasing member comprises a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~5b
AI summary
A sensor system of underground mining vehicles, which system is arranged to be fastened at a perimeter of an underground mining vehicle, comprising a sensor (1) and a stand (2), wherein the stand comprises a mounting plate (3) for fastening the stand (2) to the underground mining vehicle, a movable plate (4) fastened moveably to the mounting plate (3), a guard member (7a, 7b,...) fastened to the movable plate (4), and a biasing member (9a, 9b,...) fastened between the movable plate (4) and the mounting plate (3). The sensor (1) is fastened to the movable plate (4). The movable plate (4) has two positions: a resting position, and a retracted position, and the biasing member (9a, 9b,...) is biasing the movable plate (4) to the resting position.