Spraying Boom Sensor System for Mine Surface Definition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing concrete spraying systems for reinforcing rock structures in mines and tunnels require expensive additional scanners for accurate spraying, which increases costs and complexity, and do not effectively account for gravity-based bending and wear of the spraying boom.

Innovation Solution

A definition system for a spraying area that uses sensors on the spraying boom to contact multiple points on the surface, obtaining location information and defining these points in a coordinate system to form the spraying area, allowing for accurate boundary definition without additional scanners, and accounting for boom movement and wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional scanners are used to recognize surface shape for accurate spraying, then spraying accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespraying accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spraying boom itself serves as the measurement tool through integrated sensors that detect the position of spray points directly on the surface. The system uses the boom's own structure and movement data to define the spraying area, eliminating the need for separate scanning devices. The controller processes sensor data from the boom to automatically determine the spraying boundary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The spraying boom performs multiple functions: it delivers concrete spray while simultaneously measuring surface geometry through integrated sensors. The same structural components used for spraying also serve as the reference frame for defining the spraying area, combining measurement and application functions in a single system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If additional scanners are used to recognize surface shape for accurate spraying, then spraying accuracy is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespraying accuracyVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The spraying boom itself serves as the measurement tool through integrated sensors that detect the position of spray points directly on the surface. The system uses the boom's own structure and movement data to define the spraying area, eliminating the need for separate scanning devices. The controller processes sensor data from the boom to automatically determine the spraying boundary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces expensive, complex scanning equipment with simpler, more affordable sensors integrated into the existing boom structure. The solution uses cost-effective positioning sensors and the boom's inherent movement data rather than requiring costly specialized scanning hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Device complexity

If traditional spraying systems are used without accounting for boom bending and wear, then device complexity is reduced, but spraying accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidspraying accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Sensors on the spraying boom provide real-time feedback on the actual position of spray points relative to the defined spraying area. The controller uses this feedback to detect deviations caused by boom bending and wear, and automatically adjusts the spraying operation to maintain accuracy despite mechanical changes in the boom structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3953566B1Definition system for defining a spraying area for a spraying machine
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 NORMET
  • EP3953566B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3953566B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3953566B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The application relates to a definition system (100) for de- fining a spraying area (A1, A2, A3, A4) for a spraying ma- chine (102). The system comprises a spraying boom (104) of the machine, sensors of the boom, and a controller (120) for controlling the boom. A nozzle tip (115) of the boom is configured to contact several contact points (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6) on a surface (104) to be sprayed in order to define boundaries of the area. The sensors obtain location information of each contact point. The controller defines location of the each contact point in a co-ordinate system of the boom on a grounds of the obtained location information so that defined locations of the contact points are used to form the area to be sprayed in the co-ordinate- system.