GB2030732A - Controlling Transported Material - Google Patents
Controlling Transported Material Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2030732A GB2030732A GB7837781A GB7837781A GB2030732A GB 2030732 A GB2030732 A GB 2030732A GB 7837781 A GB7837781 A GB 7837781A GB 7837781 A GB7837781 A GB 7837781A GB 2030732 A GB2030732 A GB 2030732A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- conveyor
- output
- storage means
- amount
- sensed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- G05D7/00—Control of flow
- G05D7/06—Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means
- G05D7/0605—Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means specially adapted for solid materials
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
- Control Of Conveyors (AREA)
- Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)
- Air Transport Of Granular Materials (AREA)
Abstract
The output of a material storage bunker (2) onto a conveyor (1) is controlled in response to the quantity of material on the conveyor (1) so that large fluctuations in material and for blockages on the conveyor are avoided. Material on the conveyor is sensed by weighing sensors (4, 5) and the sensed signal processed electrically for controlling the bunker outfeed so as to keep the flow at (4) constant. In an alternate arrangement sensor (4) is associated with the bunker output and is compared with a reference derived from a comparison of the output of sensor (5) with a reference corresponding to total flow. In both cases the error signals are integrated. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Controlling Transported Material
This invention concerns a method of and apparatus for controlling the quantity of transported material by a transport system. The invention finds particular application in
installations wherein material is transported upon
conveyor and stored at least temporarily in storage means arranged to take material from and
add material to the conveyors.
Such an installation is found in a coal mine, wherein coal is transported on conveyors and coal sources such as storage bunkers are arranged to take coal from and add coal to the conveyors. In a
coal mine two districts may each be producing
coal at different and fluctuating rates, but a
steady combined output rate from the two
districts onto a trunk conveyor may be desired.
Consequently, storage bunkers are arranged
adjacent to the trunk conveyor carrying coal from -the districts and coal is added to the conveyor
when not enough is being produced. In this way,
the coal output is continuous.
Hitherto, control of the outputs from the
various sources onto the trunk conveyor has been
effected by operators who may be controlling the
outputs remotely and consequently the continued
output has not always been achieved because of
problems associated with a sufficiently rapid
response to fluctuation in coal supply.
An object of the present invention is to provide
a more effective method and apparatus for
controlling material flow than hitherto.
According to one aspect of the present
invention a method of controlling the quantity of
material transported by a transport system
including a material storage means and a
conveyor, the material storage means being
arranged to supply material a point along the
conveyor, comprises sensing an amount of
material on the conveyor on the downstream side
of the pdint, comparing the sensed amount with a
desired quantity of material for transport on the
conveyor, deriving an output signal indicative of
the comparison, sensing the amount of material
on the upstream side of the point and comparing
the sensed upstream amount as substrahend with
said derived output signal as minuend and
controlling the storage means to have an output
onto the conveyor which varies so as to be the
difference.
According to a further aspect of the invention,
a method of controlling the quantity of material
transported by a transport system including a
material storage means and a conveyor, the
mineral storage means being arranged to supply
material to a point along the conveyor, comprises
sensing an amount of material on the conveyor on
the upstream side of the point, comparing the
sensed amount with a desired quantity of
material, sensing the output of material from the
storage means which is fed onto the conveyor
and controlling said sensed output to minimise
the difference between said sensed upstream amount and said desired quantity.
According to another aspect of the present invention, apparatus for controlling the quantity of material transported by a transport system including a material storage means and a conveyor, the material storage means being arranged to supply- material to a point along the conveyor comprises a sensor for sensing an amount of material on the conveyor on the downstream side of the point, comparator means for comparing the amount sensed by the sensor with a desired quantity of material for the conveyor, and for deriving a signal indicative of said comparison, a further sensor for sensing an amount of material on the upstream side of the point, further comparator means for comparing the sensed upstream amount as subtrahend with the derived signal, the further comparator means having an output which is coupled to a control means for the output of the storage means to cause the storage means to have a material output onto the conveyor which varies so as to be the difference.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, apparatus for controlling the quantity of material transported by a transport system including a material storage means and a conveyor, the material storage means being arranged to supply material to a point along the conveyor, comprises a sensor for sensing an amount of material on the conveyor on the upstream side of the point, comparator means for comparing the sensed amount with a desired quantity of material, and producing an electrical output signal indicative of the comparison, a sensor for sensing the output of material from the storage means which is fed onto the conveyor, ::further comparator means for comparing said sensed output with said electrical output signal, the further comparator means having an output indicative of the further comparison and control means for controlling the output of material from the storage means operably connected to the output of said further comparator means so that output from the storage means is controlled so as to reduce the difference between said sensed output and said electrical output signal indicative of the comparison.
The comparator means and the further comparator means preferably comprise summing amplifiers.
Two embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of part of a material transport system including a conveyor and material storage means,
Figure 2 is an electrical circuit diagram for the installationof Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view similar to
Figure 1, but of a different installation, and
Figure 4 is similar to Figure 2, but of the instailation of Figure 3.
Turning to Figure 1, there is shown part of a mineral transport system of a coal mine.
Particulate material is transported on a conveyor 1 in a direction generally indicated by X. It is desirable for efficient operation of the coal mine that a desired amount of particulate material is transported on the conveyor 1. A particulate material storage bunker is shown at 2. The storage bunker may for example be filled from the output of a coal winning machine (not shown). An out-feed conveyor 3 is connected between the output of the storage bunker and the conveyor 1.
A sensor for sensing the amount of material on the conveyor 1 downstream of the outfeed conveyor 3, is shown at 4. A similar sensor is shown at 5 for sensing the amount of material on the upstream side of the outfeed conveyor 3. The upstream material on the conveyor belt is provided by the sources (such as further coal winning machines).
Referring now also to Figure 2, the output of the sensor 4 is shown as a signal S, at the wiper of a resistor 8 in the output of the sensor 4. A demand signal is shown at D, which is a desired value for the signal S, i.e. a value corresponding to a desired value of material on the belt at weigher 4. The signals S, and D are fed to a comparator means shown as a summing amplifier 9. The output from the summing amplifier 9 is fed to an integrator 10 which has an associated capacitor 1 The output of the integrator 10 is fed to a further summing amplifier 14 and the output of this amplifier is fed to a control unit 1 5 for the bunker 2. The output of the sensor 5 is shown as a signal S2 at the wiper of a resistor 20 in the output of the sensor.A feedback signal indicative of the actual outfeed of the bunker is shown at S3 at the wiper of a further resistor 21.
In operation, if the value of S, is equal to D, then the summing amplifier has a zero output. A zero output causes the integrator 10 to maintain its output constant and so the controlling signal to the control unit 1 5 remains constant and a steady amount of material is added to the conveyor 1.
However, if insufficient material is on the downstream side of the conveyor, then the signal
S, reduces in magnitude and the summing amplifier has a positive dutput of magnitude dependent upon the disparity between D and S,.
The positive output causes the integrator 10 to have a higher output and this results in the control unit 1 5 causing more material to be added to the conveyor 1. Conversely if too much material is on the downstream side of the conveyor, then the signal S, increases in magnitude and the summing amplifier 9 has a negative output of magnitude dependent upon the disparity between
D and S,. The negative output causes the integrator 10 to have a lower output and this results in the control unit 1 5 causing less material to be added to the conveyor 1. It should be borne in mind that the integrator 10 has an output which stays at its existing output unless moved up or down by the summing amplifier 9.
The signal S3 is indicative of the actual output of the bunker and this signal is fed to the summing amplifier 14 between the output of the integrator 10. As more or less material is added to the conveyor, so S3 rises or falls and the action of the amplifier 14 is such that the controlling signal to the unit 1 5 is reduced or increased as S3 rises or falls respectively.
The signal S2 from the sensor 5 is also fed to the summing amplifier 14 and this signal acts in the same sense as the signal S3. Thus as the material on the upstream side of the outfeed conveyor increases in amount, then the signal S2 rises so that the controlling signal to the unit 1 5 falls to cause less material to be added to the conveyor 1. Conversely, if the signal S2 falls then more material is added. The sensor 5 is positioned such that the travelling time of material from the sensor along the conveyor 1 to the position of intersection of the outfeed conveyor 3 is equal to the travelling time from the bunker to the intersection plus the response time of the control system.The demand signal D as modified if necessary by S, therefore acts as minuend the signal S2 as subtrahend and the signal representing material added to the conveyor from the storage means (S3) as difference.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 4, there is shown a second installation and like reference numerals are used as appropriate. The principal difference between this installation and the above described installation is that a link conveyor 6 is situated between the bunker outfeed conveyor and the conveyor 1, the sensor 4 sensing material on the link conveyor; The control circuit of Figure 4 differs principally from that of Figure 2 in that the signal S2 is fed to a further summing amplifier situated on the input side of the summing amplifier 9.
In operation, the signal D is fed to the summing amplifier 23, whereat it is effectively reduced in magnitude by the signal S2, ie the desired quantity of material in the conveyor has subtracted from it the amount of material upstream of the bunker. The different signal (D S2) is fed to the summing amplifier 9, whereat it acts in the same way as the demand signal in the previously described embodiment. Thus the bunker output signal now represented by S, is compared to (D-S2) in the amplifier 9 and if equal then a zero output is created from the amplifier 9, which in turn causes the output of the integrator 10 to remain at its existing level so that the quantity of material on the outfeed conveyor remains constant. If, however, S, falls below (D S2), then the output of the summing amplifier 9 goes positive, thereby increasing the output of integrator 10 to cause more material to be added to the outfeed conveyor. When the control unit has taken the necessary action, the feedback signal S3 cancels the raise output signal at amplifier 14. If S2 falls below (D-52) then the inverse operation occurs and material on the outfeed conveyor is reduced.
From the above description it can be seen that a flexible method and apparatus for controlling the quantity of transported material are provided.
Claims (3)
1. A method of controlling the quantity of material transported by a transport system including a material storage means and a conveyor, the material storage means being arranged to supply material to a point along the conveyor, comprising sensing an amount of material on the conveyor on the downstream side of the point, comparing the sensed amount with a desired quantity of material for transport on the conveyor deriving an output signal indicative of the comparison sensing the amount of material on the upstream side of the point and comparing the sensed upstream amount as substrahend with said derived output signal as minuend and controlling the storage means to have an output onto the conveyor which varies so as to be the difference.
2. A method of controlling the quantity of material transported by a transport system including a material storage means and a conveyor, the mineral storage means being arranged to supply material to a point along the conveyor, comprising sensing an amount of material on the conveyor on the upstream side of the point, comparing the sensed amount with a desired quantity of material, sensing the output of material from the storage means which is fed onto the conveyor and controlling said sensed output to minimise the difference between said sensed upstream amount and said desired quantity.
3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the comparator means (9) and the further comparator means (14) comprising summing amplifiers.
3. Apparatus for controlling the quantity of material transported by a transport system including a material storage means and a conveyor, the material storage means being arranged to supply material to a point along the conveyor, comprising a sensor for sensing an amount of material on the conveyor on the downstream side of the point, comparator means for comparing the amount sensed by the sensor with a desired quantity of material for the conveyor, and for deriving a signal indicative of said comparison, a further sensor for sensing an amount of material on the upstream side of the point further comparator means for comparing the sensed upstream amount as subtrahend with the derived signal, the further comparator means having an output which is coupled to a control means for the output of the storage means to cause the storage means to have material output onto the conveyor which varies so as to be the difference.
4. Apparatus for controlling the quantity of material transported by a transport system including a material storage means and a conveyor, the material storage means being arranged to supply material to a point along the conveyor, comprising a sensor for sensing an amount of material on the conveyor on the upstream side of the point, comparator means for comparing the sensed amount with a desired quantity of material and producing an electrical output signal indicative of the comparison, a sensor for sensing the output of material from the storage means which is fed onto the conveyor, further comparator means four comparing said sensed output with said electrical output signal the further comparator means having an output indicative of the further comparison and control means for controlling the output of material from the storage means operably connected to the output of said further comparator means so that output from the storage means is controlled so as to reduce the difference between said sensed output and said electrical output signal indicative of the comparison.
5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, wherein the comparator means and the further comparator means comprising summing amplifiers.
6. A method of controlling the quantity of material transported by a transport system including a material storage means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
7. Apparatus for controlling the quantity of material transported by a transport system including a material storage means substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
New Claims or Amendments to Claims filed on 2 Owt 1979.
Superseded Claims 1-5
New or Amended Claims:
1. A method of controlling the quantity of material transported by a transport system including a material storage means and a conveyor, the material storage means being arranged to supply material to a point along the conveyor, characterized by comprising sensing an amount of material on the conveyor on the downstream side of the point, comparing the sensed amount with a desired quantity of material for transport on the conveyor deriving an output signal indicative of the comparison sensing the amount of material on the upstream side of the point and comparing the sensed upstream amount as subtrahend with said derived output signal as minuend and controlling the storage means to have an output onto the conveyor which varies so as to be the difference.
2. Apparatus for controlling the quantity of material transported by a transport system including a material storage means (2) and a conveyor (1), the material storage means being arranged to supply material to a point along the conveyor, characterized by comprising a sensor (4) for sensing an amount of material on the conveyor on the downstream side of the point, comparator means (9) for comparing the amount sensed by the sensor with a desired quantity of material for the conveyor, and for deriving a signal indicative of said comparison, a further sensor (5) for sensing an amount of material on the upstream side of the point further comparator means (14) for comparing the sensed upstream amount as subtrahend with the derived signal, the
further comparator means (14) having an output which is coupled to a control means (1 5) for the output of the storage means (2) to cause the storage means (2) to have material output onto the conveyor (1) which varies so as to be the difference
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7837781A GB2030732A (en) | 1978-09-22 | 1978-09-22 | Controlling Transported Material |
| DE19792936203 DE2936203A1 (en) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-09-07 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A QUANTITY OF MATERIAL REQUIRED WITH A TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF CONVEYOR AND MATERIAL STORAGE |
| FR7923617A FR2437025A1 (en) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-09-21 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF A CONVEYOR |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7837781A GB2030732A (en) | 1978-09-22 | 1978-09-22 | Controlling Transported Material |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2030732A true GB2030732A (en) | 1980-04-10 |
Family
ID=10499843
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7837781A Withdrawn GB2030732A (en) | 1978-09-22 | 1978-09-22 | Controlling Transported Material |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| DE (1) | DE2936203A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2437025A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2030732A (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5004400A (en) * | 1989-04-13 | 1991-04-02 | Halliburton Company | Automatic rate matching system |
| US5102281A (en) * | 1989-04-13 | 1992-04-07 | Halliburton Company | Automatic rate matching system |
| US5195861A (en) * | 1989-04-13 | 1993-03-23 | Halliburton Company | Automatic rate matching system |
| CN114394383A (en) * | 2022-02-15 | 2022-04-26 | 中国电建集团成都勘测设计研究院有限公司 | Feeding system applied to sandstone aggregate pile or material warehouse |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB937822A (en) * | 1959-03-03 | 1963-09-25 | Ass Elect Ind | Improvements in and relating to conveyor arrangements |
| GB1063351A (en) * | 1962-09-25 | 1967-03-30 | Coal Industry Patents Ltd | Methods of and means for automatically controlling the rate of flow of granular material |
| GB1088144A (en) * | 1965-02-16 | 1967-10-25 | Polysius Gmbh | Process for controlling sieve grinding plants |
| GB1443180A (en) * | 1973-06-06 | 1976-07-21 | British Steel Corp | Method and apapratus for controlling material feed rate |
-
1978
- 1978-09-22 GB GB7837781A patent/GB2030732A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1979
- 1979-09-07 DE DE19792936203 patent/DE2936203A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1979-09-21 FR FR7923617A patent/FR2437025A1/en active Pending
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5004400A (en) * | 1989-04-13 | 1991-04-02 | Halliburton Company | Automatic rate matching system |
| US5102281A (en) * | 1989-04-13 | 1992-04-07 | Halliburton Company | Automatic rate matching system |
| US5195861A (en) * | 1989-04-13 | 1993-03-23 | Halliburton Company | Automatic rate matching system |
| CN114394383A (en) * | 2022-02-15 | 2022-04-26 | 中国电建集团成都勘测设计研究院有限公司 | Feeding system applied to sandstone aggregate pile or material warehouse |
| CN114394383B (en) * | 2022-02-15 | 2023-11-28 | 中国电建集团成都勘测设计研究院有限公司 | Be applied to feed system of grit aggregate stock pile or magazine |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2437025A1 (en) | 1980-04-18 |
| DE2936203A1 (en) | 1980-04-03 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |