CONTROL UNIT FOR MINING MACHINE

Abstract

A control unit for controlling machine functions of a mining machine, such as an underground mining machine, tunneling machine or bolting rig, includes a flameproof housing having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, and a plurality of fluid control valves respectively communicating with the at least one inlet and outlet. In particular, the fluid control valves are formed inside at least one valve monoblock, the monoblock including a plurality of distinct fluid passages.

Claims

1. A control unit for controlling machine functions of a mining machine, in particular of an underground mining machine, tunneling machine or bolting rig, the control unit comprising: a flameproof housing having at least one fluid inlet and/or outlet; and a plurality of fluid control valves communicating with the at least one inlet and outlet, wherein the fluid control valves are formed inside at least one valve monoblock, said monoblock including a plurality of fluid passages.

2. The control unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one monoblock is mounted inside the flameproof housing and being fully encompassed in said housing.

3. The control unit of claim 1, wherein other than the at least one fluid inlet and/or outlet, the flameproof housing is free of further fluid passages.

4. The control unit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of flame-sensitive components, wherein one, several or all of the flame-sensitive components are arranged inside the housing.

5. The control unit of claim 1, wherein one, several or all of the fluid passages of the monoblock include a dedicated fluid control valve.

6. The control unit of claim 1, wherein one, several or all of the fluid passages of the monoblock communicate with at least one sensor.

7. The control unit of claim 1, comprising a plurality of monoblocks, each monoblock including a plurality of valve-controlled fluid passages dedicated to at least one predefined machine function.

8. The control unit of claim 1, further comprising a data interface, and an electronic control device arranged to control machine functions, receive and process external control input from the data interface, and/or transmit sensor signals to the data interface.

9. The control unit of claim 8, further comprising at least one of: an inclinometer for providing an inclination signal to the electronic control device, a fluid detector for providing a leakage alarm signal to the electronic control device, and a door switch for providing a signal indicative of an opening of the flameproof housing, communicating with the electronic control device.

10. The control unit according to claim 1 further comprising at least one manifold in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and/or outlet of the flameproof housing, said manifold being releasably mounted externally on the control unit on the flameproof housing.

11. The control unit of claim 10, wherein the manifold includes at least one fluid passage for connecting at least one fluid supply to the control valves inside the flameproof housing, and at least one fluid passage for connecting the control valves inside the flameproof housing to the respective machine parts which are to be controlled.

12. The control unit of claim 10, wherein the manifold includes a base plate, said base plate including at least one of a fluid inlet communicating with the fluid inlet and/or outlet (28) of the flameproof housing; a fluid outlet communicating with the fluid outlet of the flameproof housing; and at least one sealing element effective to seal against exit and entry of fluids between the flameproof housing and the base plate.

13. The control unit of claim 12, further comprising an inlet manifold and/or at least one functional manifold mounted to the base plate such that the inlet manifold is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet of the base plate, and the at least one functional manifold is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the base plate, wherein the at least one functional manifold is dedicated to at least one machine function.

14. A mining machine, in particular an underground mining machine, tunneling machine or bolting rig, comprising a plurality of machine functions which are controlled by fluid circuits, preferably hydraulically, wherein said machine functions are controlled with a control unit, the control unit including a flameproof housing having at least one fluid inlet and/or outlet, and a plurality of fluid control valves communicating with the at least one inlet and outlet, wherein the fluid control valves are formed inside at least one valve monoblock, said monoblock including a plurality of fluid passages.

15. A mining machine host control system, in particular for controlling an underground mining machine (100), tunneling machine or bolting rig, comprising: a control signal input unit, in particular a human-machine interface or a machine control system; a control unit for controlling machine functions of the mining machine; and at least one controller in signal communication with the control signal input unit and the control unit, and arranged to process operating commands received from the control signal input unit into control commands for the control unit, said control unit including a flameproof housing having at least one fluid inlet and/or outlet, and a plurality of fluid control valves communicating with the at least one inlet and outlet, wherein the fluid control valves are formed inside at least one valve monoblock, said monoblock including a plurality of fluid passages.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0033] The invention will hereinafter be explained in more detail and by way of example with reference to the attached drawings of a preferred embodiment. Herein,

[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a control unit according to the preferred embodiment,

[0035] FIG. 2 is a first exploded view of the control unit of FIG. 1,

[0036] FIG. 3 is a second exploded view of the control unit of FIGS. 1 and 2,

[0037] FIG. 4 is a third exploded view of the control unit of FIGS. 1 through 3,

[0038] FIG. 5 is a schematic three dimensional view of the flameproof housing of FIGS. 1 to 4,

[0039] FIG. 6 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a drilling machine according to a preferred embodiment, and

[0040] FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing of a host control system of a mining machine according to a preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a control unit 1. The control unit 1 comprises a cover 3. The cover 3 is attached to a flameproof box 5 with fastening means 7 which in the preferred embodiment are screws. Together, the cover 3 and the flameproof box 5 constitute a flameproof housing 9. The cover 3 comprises a pair of handles 13 and identification plates 15.

[0042] The flameproof housing 9 is attached through a base plate 17, also referred to as intermediate plate, with second fastening means 19, which in the preferred embodiment are screws.

[0043] A first external manifold 21 is attached to and in fluid communication with the base plate 17. The first external manifold 21 may for example be an inlet manifold or outlet manifold or is for external functions.

[0044] Furthermore, a second manifold 23 is attached to and in fluid communication with the base plate 17. The second external manifold 23 may for example be an inlet manifold or outlet manifold or be used for external functions.

[0045] Also attached to the flameproof housing 9 is a data interface 25 which may for example be a flameproof connector.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows the control unit 1 of FIG. 1 in a partially exploded state. The base plate 17 comprises at least one fluid inlet 27 and at least a first outlet 29 in fluid communication with the second external manifold 23. Furthermore, the base plate 17 comprises a number of (not shown) fluid passageways which are in fluid communication with fluid ports which open to the top surface 31 of the base plate. The top surface 31 is facing the flameproof box 5. When mounted as can be seen from FIG. 2, the fluid ports opening to the top surface 31 are in fluid communication with a number of fluid inlets and/or outlets 28 of flameproof housing.

[0047] The base plate 17 further comprises a number of threaded bores 33 adapted to receive corresponding screws 35 for fastening the number of valve monoblocks to the base plate 17 (see FIG. 3).

[0048] FIG. 3 shows the components mounted inside the flameproof housing, and in particular inside the flameproof box 5 of the control unit 1 of the preferred embodiment. In addition to the elements already shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3 mainly shows a number of valve blocks for realizing the hydraulic functions of the control unit 1 and/or for realizing any pneumatic functions. In particular, a first, second and third monoblock 37, 39, 41 are provided. The monoblocks are attached to the base plate 17 only (cf. FIG. 2). Furthermore, the valve monoblocks 37, 39, 41 are in fluid communication with the base plate 17 only. The first monoblock 37 contains the hydraulic functions for operating a drill motor. The second monoblock 39 comprises the hydraulic functions for driving, e.g. pivoting an arm holding a drill rig or the like. Furthermore, the third monoblock may exemplarily comprise the hydraulic functions for operating a supply magazine, manipulator, rod handler or the like.

[0049] Further monoblocks might be added to provide hydraulic and/or pneumatic functions for the chassis of the mining machine, water supply systems etc.

[0050] Arranged inside the flameproof box 5 also is a first sensor 43 in the form of an inclinometer for determining the orientation and any tilting movements of the control unit 1.

[0051] The control unit 1 also comprises a second sensor 45 in the form of a fluid detector, for example an oil detector, for providing a leakage alarm signal in case of any leakage of fluid inside the flameproof box 5.

[0052] Furthermore, the control unit 1 comprises third sensor 47 in the form of a door switch for providing a signal indicative of an opening of the flameproof housing. Preferably, the control unit 1 is adapted to stop all switching operations involving electricity or any other spark ignition sources whenever the door switch indicates that the flameproof housing 9 has been opened to avoid any flammable material entering the flameproof housing or fluid inside the flameproof housing resulting from leakage to ignite.

[0053] In addition to the fluid control functions exerted by the valve monoblocks 37, 39, 41, the flameproof box 5 also houses a number of electronic components, for example in the form of printed circuit boards 49. The electronic components preferably constitute or form part of an electronic control device 50 which is adapted to control the machine functions triggering the fluid control valves provided in the valve monoblocks, and/or adapted to receive and process external control input from the data interface 25 and/or which is adapted to transmit signals from the sensors 43, 45, 47 or from further sensors provided in the valve monoblocks 37, 39, 41 to the data interface 25.

[0054] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 4, the electronic components 49 are mounted preferably on top of the valve monoblocks 37, 39, 41.

[0055] The flameproof housing 9 is preferably sealed against unwanted entry and exit of fluids by a sealing lip or band 51 extending circumferentially along the cover 3. The sealing lip band 51 is adapted to seal off the opening between the cover 3 and the flameproof box 5. Preferably, the flameproof box comprises a groove 53, at least partially receiving the sealing lip or band 51.

[0056] Preferably, also the data interface 25 sealed against the flameproof box 5 with a sealing element such as an O-ring 55 further sealing elements located to seal the base plate 17 (FIGS. 1 and 2) against the flameproof box 5 and/or the manifolds 21, 23 against the base plate 17, and/or to seal the valve monoblocks 37, 39, 41 against the base plate 17, are not shown for the sake of clarity of the figures, but are understood to be optionally present for improved sealing characteristics.

[0057] As can in particular be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, a large variety of control components can be mounted and unmounted to the valve monoblocks. In the present embodiment, the components 57, 59, 61, 63, 65 are mounted laterally onto the monoblock structures. By way of example only, the first monoblock comprises a number of solenoid valves 61. The second monoblock 39 comprises a number of position valves 63 located opposite of spring packs 65 associated with main control pistons (not shown).

[0058] The third monoblock 41 comprises a number of screw-in cartridge valves 59 and pressure sensors 57. Valve functionality can be added as is demanded by the respective machine function for each monoblock.

[0059] By way of example, FIG. 6 shows an underground mining machine in the form of a drill rig 100. The drill rig 100 comprises the control unit 1 which has already been explained with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4.

[0060] The control unit 1 is mounted to a support structure 102 and is adapted to control for example the drill motor 103 of a drill rig. The drill rig 100 further comprises a drilling expandable supply magazine 101 and a drilling expendable handling mechanism 105, which may be a semi-automated or automated manipulator. By allocating respective valve monoblocks to each of the machine functions for the drill motor 103, the manipulator 105 or the supply magazine 101, the control 1 is preferably adapted to control one, several or all of the machine functions of the underground mining machine in the form of the drill rig 100.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows the location of the number of fluid inlets/outlets 28 in a bottom face 10 of the flameproof housing 9. When mounted, these inlets/outlets 28 are in fluid communication with the correspondlingly arranged fluid ports of the base plate 17 (cf. FIGS. 2, 3). Only a few selected inlets/outlets are designated with reference signs for ease of legibility.

[0062] FIG. 7 schematically shows a mining machine host control system in accordance with the present invention. The host control system 200 comprises the control unit 1 also explained with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4. Furthermore, the system 200 comprises a human-machine-interface (HMI) 201, which is a control signal input unit and a main controller 203. The human-machine-interface 201 is connected for signal transmission with the controller 203.

[0063] The controller 203 also is connected through a signal transmission means such as for example a local CAN bus and/or a power supply to a display unit 205 for displaying control inputs and outputs and the like.

[0064] The controller 203 is furthermore connected to an IS junction box 207 through signal transmission 208.

[0065] The control unit 1 is connected to the controller 203 through a signal transmission such as for example a local CAN bus and/or power supply 210. For example, the signal transmission means are coupled into the control unit 1 through the data interface 25 (see FIGS. 1 through 4).

[0066] The control unit 1 is supplied with hydraulic fluid or pneumatic fluid through a fluid supply line 212.

[0067] The controller 203 may optionally be a data and/or power communication through a supply line 214 with a machine control system 209. Due to the single data interface and the modular design of the control unit 1, system implementation into the host system is easily accomplished.