WO2017199160A1

WO2017199160A1 - Monitoring system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2017199160A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/052865
Authority: WO
Inventors: Manfred Alexander VAN DER MERWE
Original assignee: Van Der Merwe Manfred Alexander
Priority date: 2016-05-18
Filing date: 2017-05-16
Publication date: 2017-11-23
Also published as: ZA201807166B

Abstract

This invention relates to a monitoring system and method and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a dust monitoring method and system for use to monitor dust on mines. This invention provides a monitoring system having at least one vehicle with a monitor means including a dust monitor attached thereto to sense a dust load and transmission means to transmit a signal including information relating to the dust load.

Description

MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a monitoring system and method and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a dust monitoring method and system for use to monitor dust on mines.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In an information circular numbered 8758 entitled "Design of Surface Mine Haulage Roads - A Manual" by Walter W. Kaufmann and James C Ault, the authors state that: " The authors of this report have visited over 300 mining operations throughout the United States. At many of these mine sites, especially small coal mining and quarrying operations, little consideration appeared to be given to the construction of a good haulage road surface. In fact, development of the haulage way is frequently accomplished by simply clearing a path over existing terrain.

While this practice is undoubtedly the most economical means of road construction in terms of initial cost, the benefit is seldom long lived. Failure to establish a good haulage road surface will result in increased vehicle and road maintenance costs and will severely retard the ability of a vehicle to safely negotiate the route

Earth roads, unless thoroughly compacted and stabilised, may cause both vehicular and road maintenance difficulties. Dust problems are frequent during dry seasons and, if not controlled, the dust can contaminate air filtration components, brakes, and other moving parts, making frequent replacement of these items necessary. Moreover, dust represents a major safety hazard to the vehicle operator in that it can become so dense that visibility is severely reduced. Eliminating the dust problem requires continual wetting of the surface, which represents yet another maintenance expenditure. When subjected to heavy wetting, non-stabilised earthen roads become extremely slick and severely defaced by erosion...."

It is thus clear that dust creates difficulties on mines. Mine earth haulage roads are sometimes covered with surface materials. These materials add the expense of a haulage road and are not always sufficiently durable.

Asphaltic concrete, crushed stone or gravel and stabilised earth are common construction materials for developing a haulage road surface.

In a report entitled "Selection, performance and economic evaluation of dust palliatives on surface mine haul roads" by R.J. Thompson and A . Visser, published in volume 107 in the July 2007 edition of The Journal of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the authors state that:

"Excessive dust generation from unpaved mine haul roads is a problem common to most surface mining operations. While optimal road wearing course material selection parameters reduce the inherent dust generation potential, they do not totally eliminate fugitive dust. Many different classes of suppression of palliative treatments are available for mine haul roads..." This report continues to discuss dust suppression measures such as the use of hygroscopic salts, lignosulphonates, polymer emulsions, tar and bitumen. All the above mentioned surface coverings and dust suppression materials do not offer permanent solutions. These coverings and materials form part of a continuing road management plan and intermittent reapplication is required. Dust sensor apparatus are well-known and widely used. As an example, United States patent number US 5,910,700 A entitled "Dust sensor apparatus", discloses the following:

"A dust sensing apparatus uses a transducer element oscillating at a resonant frequency to detect changes in dust concentration. The transducer is fabricated from a polymer material which oscillates when a voltage is applied. The presence of dust affects the oscillation frequency. Dampening of the frequency by the dust presence changes the electrical resistance provided by the transducer. Electronic circuitry computes the level of dust by measuring and controlling the level of the AC signal required to maintain the oscillation frequency by monitoring the resistance."

It is furthermore known to use a dust sensor on a vehicle. Chinese patent number CN 204177705 U, entitled "Dust detecting and data transmitting system based on vehicle-mounted USB interface", discloses the following:

"A dust detecting and data transmitting system based on a vehicle-mounted USB interface comprises a dust sensor, a GPS module, the vehicle-mounted USB interface, a master control chip, a GSM module and a cloud server. The dust sensor collects dust concentration signals. The GPS module and the vehicle-mounted USB interface are connected with a CAN bus collecting module and a K bus collecting module, and the dust sensor and the vehicle-mounted USB interface are in plug connection. The master control chip is provided with a CAN bus interface, the CAN bus collecting module is connected with the CAN bus interface of the master control chip, the K bus collecting module is connected with a serial port of the master control chip, and the GPS module is connected with the master control chip. The GSM module is connected with the master control chip through the serial port. The dust detecting part of the system is connected with the vehicle-mounted USB interface, data are transmitted, stored and issued in real time, and therefore the large-quantity wide-range dynamic dust concentration detecting aim is achieved."

GSM communications is not always available, especially in remote mining areas.

Finally, it is known to measure dust conditions along a road. Chinese patent number CN 204086082 U, entitled "Road surface dust load measuring device", discloses the following:

"The utility model discloses a road surface dust load measuring device. The measuring device comprises a first sampling pipeline, a first flow speed measuring device, a first particulate matter concentration measuring device, a second flow speed measuring device, a first gas transportation device, a second sampling pipeline, a second gas transportation device, a third flow speed measuring device and a second particulate matter concentration measuring device. According to the utility model, the road surface dust load measuring device comprises the first particulate matter concentration measuring device which is used for measuring the concentration of the particle matter raised by the tires of a car traveling on a road surface and the second particulate matter concentration measuring device which is used for measuring the concentration of the particle matters in background air; through the combination of the result obtained through the measuring of the first particulate matter concentration measuring device and the result obtained through the measuring of the second particulate matter concentration measuring device, the road surface dust load is calculated through a formula. Compared with the prior art, the road surface dust load measuring device can measure the road surface dust load quickly in real time." Whilst the above patent discloses convenient real-time measuring of a dust load it does not disclose plotting the dust load along a road for dust management purposes. Typical weather stations have the following instruments: thermometer for measuring air and sea surface temperature; barometer for measuring atmospheric pressure, hygrometer for measuring humidity, anemometer for measuring wind speed, pyranometer for measuring solar radiation and rain gauge for measuring liquid precipitation over a set period of time. In addition, at certain automated airport weather stations, additional instruments may be employed, including: present weather/precipitation identification sensor for identifying falling precipitation, disdrometer for measuring drop size distribution, transmissometer for measuring visibility and ceilometer for measuring cloud ceiling. More sophisticated stations may also measure the ultraviolet index, leaf wetness, soil moisture, soil temperature, water temperature in ponds, lakes, creeks, or rivers, and occasionally other data.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a monitoring system and method which will, at least partially, alleviate some of the above-mentioned difficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention there is provided a monitoring system comprising at least one vehicle having a monitor means including a dust monitor attached thereto to sense a dust load and transmission means to transmit a signal including information relating to the dust load.

The vehicle is a mine haulage vehicle. There is provided for the dust sensor to be attached underneath the vehicle.

A still further feature of the invention provides for the transmission means to be a global system for Mobile (GSM) or radiofrequency (RF) transmitter.

A further feature of the invention provides for the dust to sensor to include a GPS, an altimeter, a gradient sensor, an accelerometer, a humidity sensor and a temperature sensor.

The gradient sensor can be helpful in determining and/or predicting the wear of brakes of the vehicle.

There is also provided for the ultimate it to be used to determine the time periods when the vehicle is moving or standing still.

There is still further provided for a dust load measurement and/or any one or more of the group consisting of the following measurements: location, altitude, gradient, acceleration, humility and temperature, to be taken at intervals and for the signal including information relating to the dust load measurement to be transmitted at intervals as measured along a path of travel of the vehicle.

This invention extends to a dust monitoring method comprising the steps of:

- attaching a dust monitor to a vehicle;

- measure dust load at regular intervals whilst the vehicle is travelling along a road; and

- associating a geo-location with a dust load measurement. There is provided for dust load to be measured at predetermined intervals.

There is provided for the vehicle to be a mine haulage vehicle and for the sensor to be attached underneath the vehicle.

A further feature of the invention provides for the dust to sensor to include a GPS, an altimeter, a gradient sensor, an accelerometer, a humidity sensor and a temperature sensor. The gradient sensor can be helpful in determining and/or predicting the wear of brakes of the vehicle.

The step of transmitting a signal including information of a dust load includes transmitting a signal over a GSM or RF network together with geo-location information. There is also further provided for the base station to include a display for displaying a presentation or an image of a road on which the vehicle travels and for dust load quantities to be indicated in accordance with a legend on the road of the display. The legend may be colour-coded, numerical, alphabetic, alphanumerical or graphic. A profile view of the road may also be displayed to show a graph of the cross-sectional profile of the road.

Any one or more of the group consisting of the following: location, altitude, gradient, acceleration, humility and temperature, can also be displayed on the display. There is further provided for a static unit to include any one or more of the group consisting of the following sensors: dust, temperature, humidity, GPS, wind speed, wind direction, rain and ground moisture.

The static unit may also include a GSM unit and a communication unit.

The communication unit of the static unit may be a radiofrequency (RF) communication means.

The information transmitted to the storage means by the transceiver means is displayable on a display means of an electronic device.

A road network or path travelled by the vehicle is displayed on the display means and a legend is used to indicate a quantity of a measurement of any one or more of the sensors.

A dust loading is displayed along the road network in accordance with a visual legend.

The legend is colour-coded and for each colour to represent a different range of dust loading.

The legend is any one of the group consisting of: different colours, numbers, letters or alphanumerical codes.

A graph of a profile of a road on which the vehicle travels is shown on a display means. The inclination of the road as derived from the profile thereof is used in predicting brake wear of the vehicle. Any one or more of the group consisting of the following: location, paths or roads travelled, altitude, gradient, acceleration, humidity and temperature, is also selectively displayable or is also displayed on the display.

The information sensed by any one or more of the sensors are used in the management of the vehicle or of a number of vehicles fitted with monitoring means all of a mining operation.

These and other features of the invention are described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 : shows a schematic diagram of part of a monitoring system;

Figure 2: shows a schematic diagram of another part of the monitoring system of figure 1 ;

Figure 3: shows a schematic diagram of a road network displayed on a screen offer computing means; Figure 4: shows a truck mountable sensor means;

Figure 5: shows a static unit; and Figure 6 shows a graph of a profile of a road travelled by a vehicle, as recorded by a sense on the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the drawings, a monitoring system is generally indicated by reference numeral 1 .

The monitoring system includes a vehicle 2 in the form of a mine haulage truck having a dust sensor 3 attached thereto. The dust sensor 3, in this embodiment, is attached to the underside of the vehicle in a convenient location.

Figure 4 shows the dust sensor including all the other sensors referred to below. All sensors are contained in a box 1 1 which includes an antenna 13, a power socket 12 and may have other connections for other sensors or openings to allow for ambient measurements.

The dust sensor is also in communication with a GPS unit or may include a bespoke GPS unit inside the box 1 1 . The GPS unit is used to determine a geo-location of the truck and for other functions as described further below. The dust sensor further includes the following sensors: temperature, humidity, and accelerometer. A transmitter inside the box 1 1 transmits information from the dust sensor 3 and other sensors and from the GPS unit over a communications channel 4, such as an RF communications channel, to a base station or to a cloud storage means. In this way the information so transmitted, is available from any remote location with various different computing means or electronic communication devices such as a computer in the form of a laptop computer 5 or a desktop computer 8, a smart phone 7 or a tablet 6. An app may be available for download and use on any of these devices. There may or may thus not be a physical base station, but for ease of description reference to a base station is mostly made herein.

At the base station, which may typically be an office at a mining operation, the computer 8 is used to receive and to analyse the information received from the dust sensor and all the other sensors referred to above.

With reference to figure 3, a road network on a mine may be displayed on the display screen of the computer 8 or any of the electronic communication devices referred to above. The position, speed, inclination of travel of the vehicle at any instant can thus be displayed on the road network 6. In addition, as the vehicle moves around on the road network 6, the transmitter transmits sensed dust loadings and corresponding GPS readings at regular intervals. These dust loadings are plotted on the map, in real time.

In use, as the vehicle is travelling along the roads, the intensity of the dust loadings and all other things conditions may be indicated on the map 6. A legend may be used to indicate different dust loadings. With reference to figure 3, different graphical shading of the road indicates different dust loadings. For example, light dust loading may be indicated by the dots as indicated by reference numeral 8, with intermediate or medium loadings indicated by the crosses of reference numeral 9 and high, and possibly undesirous dust density conditions may be indicated by the inclined shading lines as indicated by reference numeral 7. Of course, any other means of indication can be used. In practice, the use of different colours will be preferable to show where immediate dust control is required and/or where dust control is still at acceptable or at intermediate levels, increasing or declining.

Information from the altimeter and/or GPS makes possible to plot a graph of the profile of the road travelled on by the vehicle as shown in figure 6. The inclination of the road may be used to predict brake wearing and maintenance of the vehicle.

The accelerometer can be used to monitor the speed of a vehicle and is useful in addressing over speeding by a driver. The accelerometer or a speedometer which may also be included in the dust sensor, may even be connected to a governor to prevent over speeding of the vehicle. The GPS may also be used for the purpose.

A static unit 10 which includes a solar panel 14 computing and communication means 16, oh wind speed sensor and other sensors such as a dust sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a GPS, a wind direction indicator, a rain sensor and a ground moisture sensor also form part of the system.

The static unit also includes a GSM unit or a radiofrequency communication means. It further also includes a GPS. The static unit 10 may be located at convenient locations on the mine and will also transmit readings from the sensors to the cloud storage facility for access from the base station or from any remote location using the electronic communication devices referred to above. It is envisaged that the system described herein will provide an advantage in that dust control measures may be applied where it is mostly needed on a road network. Having reference to figure 3, an operator or manager will readily glean where dust treatment is mostly required. Dust treatment can thus be applied only where necessary, instead along the whole length of the road surface. All the other information sensed by the other sensors on the dust monitor and on the static unit will also be of great assistance. As stated above, over speeding of the vehicle will be monitored, the where of the brakes of the vehicle can be predicted and the whole system and/or vehicle can be shut down if the vehicle is at a standstill for a predetermined period. If the vehicle is stationary, the reason therefore may be investigated to improve efficient use of the vehicle. For example, it may be that a driver is fatigued or that poor quality air filters and/or tyres are used. Averages of movement of different vehicles can also be compared to each other. The static units may also provide early warning of inclement adverse weather conditions and information may be derived from atmospheric conditions such as humidity, rain and the like, to predict and manage efficiency and use of vehicles on a mine. For example, the most efficient speed of travelling for the best manageable dust conditions of the vehicle may be determined from the information gathered. Humidity and rain conditions may also impact on allowed speed of travel of a vehicle to prevent accidents. In other words, instant and historical data may be used to manage the workings on mine efficiently. The system described herein will thus lead to a cost saving as dust treatment measures will be selectively applied only to areas where it is most needed. After some use, the system may also be employed to indicate which dust treatments of a select number of treatments are more economical. The efficiency of dust treatment materials could thus be compared to each other. It is proposed that the dust sensors will be attached to a plurality of trucks that are already operating on the mines and there is thus no need to source additional vehicles to do dust monitoring along a road on mine working. The use of a plurality of trucks will ensure proper coverage of the mine working and will result in reliable, averaged measurements.

The invention is not limited to the precise details as described herein and many embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the legend used to indicate dust loading could be colour coded and many different loadings instead of only light, medium and heavy, as discussed above, can be implemented. A centrally located or remote service provider could thus also conveniently outsource dust and road management services.

BREDENKAMP ATTORNEYS AGENTS/ATTORNEYS FOR THE APPLICANT

Claims

In accordance with this invention there is provided a monitoring system comprising at least one vehicle having a monitor means including a dust monitor attached thereto to sense a dust load and a transmission means to transmit a signal including information relating to the dust load.

A monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 in which the vehicle is a mine haulage vehicle.

A monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the monitor means is attached underneath the vehicle.

A monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the transmission means is a transceiver means.

A monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the transceiver is a global system for mobile (GSM) transceiver or a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver.

A monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the monitor means further includes any one or more of the group consisting of: a GPS, an altimeter, a gradient sensor, an accelerometer, speedometer, a humidity sensor and a temperature sensor.

A monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a static station includes a transceiver means in the form of a global system for mobile (GSM) transceiver or a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 7 in which the static station includes any one or more of the group consisting of the following sensors: dust, temperature, humidity, GPS, wind speed, wind direction, rain and ground moisture.

A monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the transceiver means transmits sensed or measured information to a storage means.

A monitoring system as claimed in claim 9 in which the storage means is a cloud storage means.

A monitoring system as claimed in claim 10 in which the cloud storage means is accessible from a remote electronic device.

A monitoring system as claimed in claim 9 in which the storage means is a storage device of a computer at a base station.

A monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the information sensed by anyone of the sensors and transmitted to the storage means by the transceiver means is displayable on a display of an electronic device.

A monitoring system as claimed in claim 13 in which a road network travelled by the vehicle is displayed on the display means and the legend is used to indicate a quantity of measurement of any one or more of the sensors.

15. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 14 in which a severity of a dust loading is displayed along the road network in accordance with a visual legend.

16. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 15 in which the legend is colour- coded and for each colour to represent a different range of dust loading.

17. A monitoring system as claimed in claim 15 in which the legend is anyone of the group consisting of: different colours, numbers, letters or alphanumeric codes.

18. A monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a graph of a profile of a road or path on which the vehicle travels or travelled is shown on a display means.

19. A monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which any one or more of the group consisting of the following: location, roads or path travelled, altitude, gradient, acceleration, humidity and temperature is also selectively displayable or is also displayed on the display.

20. A monitoring method comprising the steps of:

- attaching a monitoring means to a vehicle;

- including a dust monitor in the monitoring means; and

- measuring a dust load whilst the vehicle is travelling along a road.

21 . A monitoring method as claimed in claim 20 including the step of recording and associating a geolocation of the vehicle with a dust loading measurement.

22. A monitoring method as claimed in any one of claims 20 or 21 in which the monitoring means senses or measures any one or more of the group consisting of the following, relating to the vehicle or the ambient conditions at the vehicle: dust loading, location, altitude, gradient of travel, acceleration, speed, humility and temperature.

23. A monitoring method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 22 in which the monitoring means includes a transceiver for transmitting sensed or measured information to a storage means.

24. A monitoring method as claimed in claim 23 in which the storage means is a cloud storage means.

25. A monitoring method as claimed in claim 24 in which the cloud storage means is accessible from remote electronic devices.

26. A monitoring method as claimed in claim 23 in which the storage means is a storage device of a computer at a base station.

27. A monitoring method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 26 in which the vehicle is a mine haulage vehicle.

28. A monitoring method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 27 in which a static unit includes any one or more of the group consisting of the following sensors: dust, temperature, humidity, GPS, wind speed, wind direction, rain and ground moisture.

29. A monitoring method as claimed in claim 28 in which the static unit includes a transceiver for transmitting any one or more of the sense or measured information to the storage means.

30. A monitoring method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 29 in which the information transmitted to the storage means by the transceiver means is displayable on a display means of an electronic device.

31 . A monitoring method as claimed in claim 30 in which a road network travelled by the vehicle is displayed on the display means and a legend is used to indicate a quantity of a measurement of any one or more of the sensors.

32. A monitoring method as claimed in claim 31 in which a severity of a dust loading is displayed along the road network in accordance with a visual legend.

33. A monitoring method as claimed in claim 32 in which the legend is colour- coded and for each colour to represent a different range of dust loading.

34. A monitoring method as claimed in claim 32 in which the legend is any one of the group consisting of: different colours, numbers, letters or alphanumerical codes.

35. A monitoring method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 34 in which a graph of a profile of a road on which the vehicle travels is shown on a display means.

36. A monitoring method as claimed in claim 35 in which the inclination of the road as derived from the profile thereof is used in predicting brake wear of the vehicle.

A monitoring method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 35 in which any one or more of the group consisting of the following: location, paths or roads travelled, altitude, gradient, acceleration, humidity and temperature, is also selectively displayable or is also displayed on the display.

A monitoring method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 37 in which the information sensed by any one or more of the sensors are used in the management of the vehicle or of a number of vehicles fitted with monitoring means all of a mining operation.

A monitoring system substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

A monitoring method substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.