Single-Joystick Boom and Feed Control for Coordinated Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drilling machines, such as 'jumbo' drills, require separate joystick controls for the boom and feed, which can be inefficient and costly, especially in mining operations, as they often need simultaneous or coordinated movements for effective drilling.
Innovation Solution
A single joystick with multiple inputs allows for independent or combined control of boom and feed movements, enabling simultaneous operation according to different protocols, such as moving in the same or opposite directions, and includes a trigger for additional control options, with a controller to manage actuator outputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate joystick controls are used for boom and feed, then independent control of each component is achieved, but operational efficiency deteriorates due to inability to perform simultaneous coordinated movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate joystick controls into a single integrated joystick that can control both boom and feed movements. The single joystick includes multiple input mechanisms (stick movement, buttons, triggers) that can independently or simultaneously control boom and feed actuators, eliminating the need for operators to switch between separate controls and enabling coordinated simultaneous movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The single joystick is designed with multi-functionality to perform multiple control roles. It can operate in different modes: controlling boom only, feed only, or both simultaneously according to various protocols (e.g., moving in same direction, opposite directions, or independent movements). This universal control device replaces multiple specialized controls while maintaining all original capabilities.
2Productivity
If a single joystick controls both boom and feed, then productivity improves through simultaneous coordinated movements, but device complexity increases due to multiple control protocols and inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically switches between different operational protocols based on operator input. The joystick can operate in various modes (boom-only, feed-only, combined movements with different protocols) and the controller adapts the control signal distribution accordingly. This dynamic flexibility allows a single device to replace multiple specialized controls without requiring complex permanent configurations for each mode.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple inputs are provided on the joystick for different protocols, then adaptability improves for various drilling scenarios, but ease of operation deteriorates due to increased number of controls
Solution Approach 1:
The joystick control is segmented into distinct input mechanisms (stick movement for primary control, buttons for protocol selection, triggers for additional functions). Each segment handles specific control aspects, allowing the operator to combine them in different ways to achieve various drilling scenarios. This segmentation makes the complexity manageable by breaking it into intuitive, dedicated control elements rather than a monolithic complex interface.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for drilling with a drilling machine including a boom for supporting a drill and a feed for feeding the drill. A single joystick is adapted for controlling the movement of the boom and the feed independently or together, such as according to different protocols (e.g., for causing movement of the boom and feed in the same direction, or in different directions). Related methods are also disclosed.