An industrial machine including a sensor and a controller. The sensor is configured to sense a characteristic of a fluid of the industrial machine. Wherein the characteristic is indicative of a contaminant level. The controller has an electronic processor and a memory. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of the contaminant level, compare the contaminant level to a threshold, and upon the contaminant level crossing the threshold perform at least one selected from a group consisting of output an alert, and commence a shutdown procedure of the industrial machine.

A hose retention system for a negative-angle-capable blasthole drilling machine is disclosed. The hose retention system may include an upper cage to extend longitudinally along a mast structure. The upper cage may have a secured end to couple the upper cage to the mast structure, a free end to extend toward the mast structure, and a first longitudinally-extending channel. The hose retention system may include a lower cage separate from the upper cage to extend longitudinally along the mast structure. The lower cage ma secured end to couple the lower cage to the mast structure, a free end to extend toward the mast structure, and a second longitudinally-extending channel.

A system for monitoring a condition of a pan line associated with a longwall mining system includes multiple pan segments arranged in a successive manner. Adjacently located pan segments are moveably coupled by an interconnecting joint. An underside of each pan segment defines an opening whose axis is parallel to a plane of the associated pan segment. The system also includes a fiber optic shape sensing system that has a fiber optic cable disposed along the multiple pan segments and located within the opening of each pan segment. A controller coupled to the fiber optic cable detects a shape of the fiber optic cable, identifies a position of each pan segment based on the detected shape of the fiber optic cable, and determines if a fault exists in the interconnecting joints between adjacently located pan segments based on the identified positions of respective ones of the adjacently located pan segments.

The invention relates to a control system for automatically monitoring machine tasks and workflows performed by agriculture, mining or construction machines, comprising a computer for enabling a user to configure sensors and actuators and for reading sensor and actuator signals as sensor values and actuator statuses, a hardware interface for connecting the computer to an installed sensor and actuator network having a plurality of sensors and actuators, and a software configuration tool with a software interface, wherein the software interface enables a user to enter configuration instructions for instructing the computer, to configure a user-specifically customizable transformed sensor based on amending a sensor value and/or actuator status of a sensor and/or actuator of the sensor and actuator network and machine task based on logically linking sensor values, transformed sensor values and actuator statuses, wherein the user-specific customizability is enabled by providing a selectability, linkability and conditionability of sensor values, transformed sensor values and actuator statuses as variables, wherein at least two variables are logically linked and wherein at least one variable is conditioned based on using relational operators.

A cable handling system for a longwall mining machine is disclosed. The longwall mining machine includes a shearer configured to move along a pan line to mine material along a mine face. The cable handling system includes a service line configured to carry one or more supply lines to the shearer for facilitating shearer operation. Further, a plurality of interconnected trays accommodates the service line. Moreover, a controller is configured to determine a profile of the pan line; detect one or more parameters associated with the service line in relation to the profile of the pan line; and determine a likelihood of at least a portion of the service line dislodging from the plurality of interconnected trays based on the one or more parameters exceeding a predefined threshold.

A method of operating a cable handling system of a longwall mining machine having a shearer movable along a pan line to mine material along a mine face, the cable handling system including: i) a service line configured to carry one or more supply lines to the shearer for facilitating shearer operation, ii) a plurality of interconnected trays to accommodate the service line, iii) a plurality of sensor nodes distributed along a length of the service line, and iv) a plurality of transceivers distributed along a length of the pan line, the method comprising: a) sensing orientation, acceleration and/or position data of the service line using the plurality of sensor nodes, b) using the plurality of transceivers to receive the orientation, acceleration and/or position data from the plurality of sensor nodes and to transmit the orientation, acceleration and/or position data to a controller, and c) detecting, by the controller, an actual or imminent failure mode of the service line using analysis of the orientation, acceleration and/or position data from the plurality of the sensor nodes.

An industrial machine including a sensor and a controller. The sensor is configured to sense a characteristic of a fluid of the industrial machine. Wherein the characteristic is indicative of a contaminant level. The controller has an electronic processor and a memory. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of the contaminant level, compare the contaminant level to a threshold, and upon the contaminant level crossing the threshold perform at least one selected from a group consisting of output an alert, and commence a shutdown procedure of the industrial machine.

A system for remotely operating a machine, such as a mine vehicle, includes at least one first emitter for emitting a first signal corresponding to a first zone adjacent to the machine. A transmitter is provided for receiving the first signal emitted by the emitter, the transmitter being adapted for issuing commands for controlling the machine and also indicating the presence of the transmitter in the first zone. A controller is also provided for controlling the machine based on the control signals from the transmitter based on the presence of the transmitter in the first zone. Related methods are also disclosed.

A system for remotely operating a machine, such as a mine vehicle, includes at least one first emitter for emitting a first signal corresponding to a first zone adjacent to the machine. A transmitter is provided for receiving the first signal emitted by the emitter, the transmitter being adapted for issuing commands for controlling the machine and also indicating the presence of the transmitter in the first zone. A controller is also provided for controlling the machine based on the control signals from the transmitter based on the presence of the transmitter in the first zone. Related methods are also disclosed.

Various examples are provided related to methane detection in harsh environments. In one example, a method includes drawing a sample of air from at least one first location; delivering the sample to a volume within a sensor block at a second location, where the sensor block includes a gas concentration sensor in communication with the volume; and where a vacuum is applied to the volume within the sensor block to facilitate delivery of the sample to the second location. In another example, a system includes a sampling unit that houses a sensor block, where a sample tube is coupled to an inlet of the sensor block, which includes a gas concentration sensor; an ejector that facilitates delivery of a sample of air from the first location via the sample tube; and a control unit that can receive a gas concentration sensor output from the sampling unit for processing.