AU2001248124B2 - Device for monitoring mining machines - Google Patents

Description

I WO 01/75808 1 PCT/AT01/00093 DEVICE FOR MONITORING MINING INDUSTRY MACHINES The invention relates to a device for monitoring mining industry machines, especially tunnelling or mining machines, with which measured data for operating parameters such as, for example, the power consumption, motor temperature or cutting arm position are determined.

From the DE 39 27 414 Al a method for monitoring drives as well as a measuring device have become known, with which underground drives are monitored by current measurements and temperature measurements. Such measuring devices make it possible to determine the present parameters and to control the machine accordingly. In this connection, indicating devices have also already been proposed, with which the position of the cutting arm or cutting tools can be determined and illustrated, for example, on a screen, which is especially advantageous when direct visual control of the working face is made difficult by the formation of a great amount of dust. A common feature of the known measuring devices is that they always determine present parameters, so as to permit in this way a correct control of the machine. Individual parts of tunnelling machines, and especially drives, are mostly also safeguarded by suitable safety devices. Thus, for example, by means of a temperature measuring by PTC-resistors, which are integrated in the motor winding, an impermissible heating is ascertained, wherein furthermore automatic fuses are provided, which in the event of an overload disconnect the drive from the power supply. For the correct functioning of such machines also a suitable reliable power supply is, of course, required, and it was proposed among others in the DE 39 27 414 Al to determine the respective phase relation, and in this way measure the loading of the underground drives and of the electric supply network also with regard to idle power, active power and apparent power, so as to ensure a perfect monitoring.

For electronic multimeters it has already been proposed to store the respective measured data in a memory and pass them on via an interface to a data processing plant.

WO 01/75808 PCT/AT01/00093 Monitoring devices which in addition to the actual indication of the respective operating parameters and the respective control of drives ensure parallel and invisibly a storing of the measured data, are currently used in aeroplanes in the form of a so-called "black box", wherein a specific selection of operating parameters over a specific period is stored. The evaluation of the signals stored in a black box accordingly makes it possible to draw conclusions about the cause of accidents, in which connection a specific choice of relevant parameters must be made, which are stored in such a memory.

A similar situation is encountered with tachographs, which in trucks monitor and record the adhering to the required stops as well as the driven speeds, wherein such recording devices are provided in addition to the existing measuring devices, e.g. a tachometer.

For monitoring underground mining industry machines it was until now just trusted that the respective actual and measured parameters furnish complete information about the correct manner of operation.

It now is the object of the invention to provide a device of the type mentioned at the outset, which in addition to the known measuring and control devices makes it possible, in the event of reclamation, to ascertain causes that cannot again be reconstructed after a defect has occurred. This applies in particular, for example, when by manipulation fuses are bridged or the signals of PTC-resistors are bridged, so as to permit in extreme cases a continued operation, which could then result in damage and reclamations. To permit the justification of such reclamations and an actual reconstruction of the situation that has caused the damage, in order to solve this problem according to the invention a device is proposed with which the additional monitoring of mining industry machines, and especially tunnelling or mining machines is made possible, wherein the design according to the invention essentially consists in that a measured data memory is provided that is separate from the monitoring and control devices of the tunnelling machine, in which the measured data can be stored together with the time over a predetermined period WO 01/75808 PCT/AT01/00093 deduced from a time base of the measured data memory, and in that the measured data memory has an interface for reading the stored data. Due to the fact that not only are actual data indicated, but the data can in fact be stored temporarily over a predetermined period of, for example, a working shift or a week, impermissible manipulations and, for example, the operation of equipment under impermissible operating parameters can be recognised also later on, and it becomes possible in particular to recognise unjustified reclamations where damages occurred due to a going against the instructions of the operating manual. The device according to the invention can, of course, be arranged suitably enclosed and inaccessible, so that manipulations can at any rate be recognised, to which end the design is advantageously such that the measured data memory is connected detachably to the mining industry machine. The detachable connection can, for example, be secured by a suitable lock, wherein the design can advantageously be such that the interfaces for the input and read-out of measured data can be locked mechanically or electronically, so that also later on a manipulating of the stored data by unauthorised persons can be prevented.

The conditions for the operation of mining industry machines depend to a great extent on the place of use. A continuous monitoring of the conditions that are absolutely essential for the operation, e.g. the power supply, as a rule only permits the taking into account of changed conditions directly during operation, wherein long-term effects, however, can in no way be recognised. Due to the fact that the same machine type, e.g. during the opening of a gallery, may in the course of the tunnelling encounter different rock qualities and accordingly different operating conditions, which over a predetermined period must be regarded as permissible, but briefly, e.g. due to harder rock, prove to be operating conditions that can lead to damages to the drive or machine, with such monitoring of the respective actual values at best a brief compensation by a suitable electronic or manual control can be brought about, wherein the possibilities of irreversible changes within the framework of such an electronic regulation or manual control can in no way be recognised. Because a large number of measured data, the significance of which in the individual case need not necessarily be recognised, are temporarily stored, WO 01/75808 4 PCT/AT01/00093 during the later analysis the respective evaluation criteria can be varied to an extent that is not possible with stationary measuring devices, and especially also not with storage measuring devices. Such storage measuring devices or measuring devices for the actual values as a matter of fact presuppose a very specific linking of the individual measured data in order to permit the respective desired information, which later on cannot readily be changed.

The measured data memory now contains a series of measured data, which are of no recognisable importance for the direct operation of the mining industry machine.

It may happen, in particular, that a machine is operated for a long time at the limit of the permissible operating conditions for the temperature. Only a later evaluation, which shows that the time during which such extreme conditions, which were not recognised as operating errors, were maintained is relatively long, can produce links with other measured data and in this way causes of defects can be sought out, which could not be ascertained within the framework of a continuous monitoring.

This applies especially when the measured data are averaged over in each instance variable periods and mean values or root mean square values are selected over freely defined periods. Such a zooming into a specific period makes it possible to subsequently clarify causes of a failure or defect, which cannot be ascertained with the normal acquisition of measured data.

Especially, with such a measured data memory also a series of data that do not appear directly relevant can be stored at the same time or with the relevant time, so that various parameters can subsequently be linked under respective modification of the evaluation system, so that in this way information can be obtained which cannot readily be deduced from the monitoring in continuous operation. Advantageously, therefore, the design according to the invention is such that sensors for determining for each phase separate measured data for voltage, power consumption and frequency of the voltage supply, as well as additional sensors for determining motor temperature, outside temperature, humidity, loading, 12/04 '06 10:42-F.AX 61 3-9859 1588CALIA LWREM BAU 104 CALLINAN LAWRIE MELB AUS Z 004 especially bending load, and/or the angle, position of anrms and/or the gradient of coniveyor belts, are connected to the measured data memory. When for example, in ci addition to determining the quality of the voltage supply, also measured values such as motor temperature, outside temperature and/or humidity are stored in the measured data memory, the occurrence of insulation damages or the like can be ci recognised at an early stage or also later on, and for example the respective operating 00 parameters suitable for operating the machine can be adapted to the special conditions of a specific mining site, in order to reduce the risk of a machine failure.

During the later evaluation of the stored values, any measured values can be correlated, and frm such correlations new information can be, obtained which in no way becomes visible during a continuous monitoring of the individual measured data. Especially the later possibility of rnodifing the evaluation system in order to ascertain causes of defects, offers a particular advantage here, in which connection also a remote transmission of the memory contents to a monitoring centre can possibly be provided for the purpose of such an evaluation adapted to the place of use, According to the invention, therefore, the use of a mobile measured data memory is proposed as monitoring device for mininig industry machines equipped with electric drives.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a device for monitoring tunnelling or ining machines, with which measured data for operating parameters such as the power consumption, motor temperature or cutting arm position are determined, wherein a measured data memory is provided that is separate from the monitoring and control devices of said tunnelling or mining machine and is detachably connected to the machine, which the measured data is adapted to be stored together with the time over a predetermined period deduced -from a time base of the measured data memory, to which sensors for determining for each phase separate measured data for voltage, power consumption and frequency of the voltage supply are connected, and wherein the measured data memory has a mechanically or electronically lockable interface for the input and read-out of the stored data.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a diagram of measured values for the motor temperature, power consumption and zVU4M,&ti2976-pceip COMS 0 No: SBMI-03298189 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:39 Date 2006-04-12 12/04 '06 10:42 FAX 613 9859 1C588 CALLINAN LAWRIE ELB AUS @005 Va voltage supply, drawn up over a defined time interval. In the drawing on the y-axis the voltage in volt, power consumption in ampere and motor temperature in 0 C are plotted, whereas the x-axis represents the time axis. From the measured values I2i4/06.all297specipp.5 COMS ID No: SBMI-03298189 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:39 Date 2006-04-12 WO 01/75808 PCT/ATO 1 /00093 stored at specific times there result the graphs shown in the drawing for the fluctuations of power consumption, voltage and temperature, and it can be noted immediately that whenever respective actual values are compared with one another, it can be ascertained immediately whether all these values or only part of these values lie within specified limits and can, therefore, be regarded as permissible. Only by looking at the graphs as a whole can it be seen that over a specific period changes occur. In the case of the time interval illustrated in the drawing this applies, for example, to a more or less continuous increase in the motor temperature, which occurs especially during a period when the current consumption is punctual and at certain times becomes considerably less. The drop in the power consumption, the increase in temperature and the essentially insignificant changes in the supply voltage accordingly permit an early recognition that obviously correlations can be deduced from this, wherein at the same time it may be assumed that at no moment as such respective impermissible operating conditions prevailed. Only the intermediate storing of the values over a longer period permits, therefore, the recognising of correlations, as can be obtained during a subsequent evaluation, which in each instance is adapted to the point in question.

Where the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature, integer, step, component or group thereof.

Claims (3)

1. A device for monitoring tunnelling or mining machines, with which measured data for operating parameters such as the power consumption, motor temperature or 5 cutting arm position are determined, wherein a measured data memory is provided t~q -that is separate from the monitoring and control devices of said tunnelling or mining 00 machine and is detachably connected to the machine, which the measured data is ,adapted to be stored together with the time over a predetermined period deduced o from a time base of the measured data memory, to which sensors for determining for C 10 each phase separate measured data for voltage, power consumption and frequency of the voltage supply are connected, and wherein the measured data memory has a mechanically or electronically lockable interface for the input and read-out of the stored data.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein additional sensors for determining motor temperature, outside temperature, humidity, loading, especially bending load, and/or the angle position of arms and/or the gradient of conveyor belts, are connected to the measured data memory.

3. A device for monitoring tunnelling or mining machines, substantially as disclosed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 1 2 th day of April, 2006 VOEST-ALPINE BERGTECHNIK GESELLSCHAFT M.B.H. By their Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE 2/OS,4i6a12976.8 CiP gs,2 COMS ID No: SBMI-03298189 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:39 Date 2006-04-12