976results about "Open-pit mining" patented technology

A three-dimensional and a two-dimensional GPS unit periodically provide coordinate positions of points on the work machine and are combined with a Kalman filter to produce a point of reference on a work machine. The point of reference is improved by combining the position with an inertial position derived from accelerometer data in another Kalman filter. Additionally, the two-dimensional GPS unit provides a heading that is combined with an inertial orientation derived by the angular rate from a gyroscope in another Kalman filter to produce a precise orientation estimate. Inclinometers provide pitch and roll of the work machine. With the point of reference, orientation estimate, pitch, roll and known geometry of the work machine, the GPS unit calculates the location and orientation of machine components and continuously tracks its movement throughout the mine. Additionally, the accelerometers and gyroscope provide position and orientation when the GPS units are inoperable.

The present invention is directed to a method for producing gas from a subterranean formation containing a coal seam. The method includes the steps of drilling a substantially vertical well bore into the subterranean formation, which intersects the coal seam and fracturing the coal seam using a hydrajetting tool to produce at least one pair of opposed bi-wing fractures substantially along a plane of maximum stress. One or more horizontal well bores may also be drilled into the coal seam along which the coal seam can be further fractured.

A method and a system for monitoring the location of a mining vehicle in a mine. The mine comprises a first and a second work area. At least one identifier (29) whose exact location is known is arranged in the first work area (18a). The location of the mining vehicle (1) is determined continuously by means of a dead reckoning. The location data, based on the dead reckoning, can be updated by means of the identifier. The location data are transmitted to a mine control system for monitoring the mining vehicle.

In one embodiment a pick assembly comprises a rotatable drum comprising at least one block disposed on a circumferential surface of the drum. The at least one block comprises a cavity comprising a cylinder. A pick comprises a working end and an opposing base end wherein the base end is disposed within the cavity and comprises a piston that is slidably retained within the cylinder. In a second embodiment a pick assembly comprises a rotatable drum comprising at least one block disposed on a circumferential surface of the drum. The rotatable drum comprises a cavity comprising a cylinder. The at least one block comprises a first end and an opposing second end wherein the second end is disposed within the cavity. A pick comprising a working end is rigidly secured to the first end of the at least one block and the second end comprises a piston slidably retained within the cylinder.

A method and apparatus is provided for determining structural change in a mining operation. A first scan of gateroad surfaces is obtained and information of the scan profile is stored. At a later time a second scan of the gateroad surfaces is then obtained. Information of the scans can be registered and any difference noted. If the difference exceeds a threshold a warning can be provided indicating a gateroad structural change that may be hazardous. The scans can be made from a single sensor, or from multiple sensors (301, 303). In the case where the sensors (301, 303) are mounted on a gateroad traversing structure (109), the distance of spacing of the sensors (301, 303) can be used to determine when the sensor (303) has reached a position of movement or travel of the gateroad traversing structure (109) where the scan from sensor (301) was made. A distance sensor (309) can be provided to determine the distance of movement and where the scans coincide.

A process line for excavating and processing oil sands ore near a mine face. A mobile excavator excavates ore along the length of a mobile mining conveyor. A mobile comminutor receives and comminutes the excavated ore and transfers the comminuted ore to the mobile mining conveyor. The mobile mining conveyor conveys the comminuted ore to a transfer conveyor that conveys the comminuted ore to a mobile slurry facility. The mobile slurry facility combines the comminuted ore with process water to produce a slurry and pumps and conditions the slurry through a hydro-transport pipeline to a mobile extraction facility as a slurry feed. The mobile extraction facility receives the slurry feed and directs the slurry feed and a water stream as inputs to a three stage countercurrent cyclone separator. The cyclone separator produces a bitumen rich stream and a tailings stream. The bitumen rich stream is directed to a froth concentration unit that separates the bitumen rich stream into a bitumen product stream, a recycled water stream and a fine tailings stream. The fine tailings stream is combined with the tailings stream to produce a tailings product stream that is directed to a tailings treatment facility. The tailings treatment facility receives the tailings product and combines the tailings product with an additive to produce a treated tailings stream that is directed to a tailings pond for separation into a dry tails phase and a water phase that may be collected and recycled as industrial process water.

An electronic blasting capsule which includes a housing which contains a propellant, a fuse, a sensor for detecting the position of the housing in a capsule delivery path, an energy arrangement for obtaining energy from an external energy source, and a controller, responsive to the sensor and the energy arrangement, for firing the fuse to initiate the propellant.