A system and method for various levels of automation of a swing-to-hopper motion for a rope shovel. An operator controls a rope shovel during a dig operation to load a dipper with materials. A controller receives position data, either via operator input or sensor data, for the dipper and a hopper where the materials are to be dumped. The controller then calculates an ideal path for the dipper to travel to be positioned above the hopper to dump the contents of the dipper. In some embodiments, the controller outputs operator feedback to assist the operator in traveling along the ideal path to the hopper. In some embodiments, the controller restricts the dipper motion such that the operator is not able to deviate beyond certain limits of the ideal path. In some embodiments, the controller automatically controls the movement of the dipper to reach the hopper.

Swing automation for rope shovel

The present invention relates to a method for a safety system of a mining vehicle. The method comprises scanning the surroundings of the mining vehicle while the mining vehicle is driven and giving a collision warning if an obstacle is detected in a safety zone of the mining vehicle.In the system, there is stored obstacle information comprising at least location information of predetermined obstacles. Location information of the obstacle detected on the basis of the scanning is compared with the location information determined in the obstacle information. Stopping of the mining vehicle, caused by the safety system due to the detected obstacle, is prevented in response to the detected obstacle being determined safe on the basis of checking the obstacle information.

Method and apparatus for mining vehicle safety arrangements

A process and tool for monitoring the status, health, and performance of wear parts used on earth working equipment. The process and tool allow the operator to optimize the performance of the earth working equipment. The tool has a clear line of site to the wear parts during use and may be integrated with a bucket or blade on the earth working equipment.

Wear part monitoring

A mining machine includes a cutting mechanism with an arm, and a substantial weight of more than a thousand pounds attached to the arm. The mining machine also includes a first disc cutter adapted to engage the material to be mined and mounted on a first disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the first disc cutter, the first disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight. The mining machine also includes at least a second disc cutter spaced apart from the first disc cutter assembly and adapted to engage the material to be mined, and mounted on a second disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the second disc cutter, the second disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight.

Mining machine with driven disc cutters

A product and system for identifying and monitoring a characteristic including the part ID, presence, condition, usage and/or performance of ground-engaging products used on various kinds of earth working equipment.

Monitoring ground-engaging products for earth working equipment

The present invention is directed to an excavator that is operable in manual and automatic modes and uses state machines to effect unit operations, rotationally offset swing actuators to rotate boom and cutter head, a fail safe hydraulic system to maintain gripper pressure in the event of a malfunction of the hydraulic system, differing position and pressure control functions in the hydraulic actuators, a kinematic module to effect pitch and roll adjustments, a cutting face profile generator to generate a profile of the excavation face, and an optimization module to realize a high degree of optimization of excavator operation.

John Jordan

Papers

Automated excavation machine