Computer system for mining equipment of an underground operation

摘要

Mining equipment, such as shearer loaders and selective-cut heading machines, is equipped with a large number of transmitters, sensors, relays and solenoid valves, the measured values of which are recorded and displayed by a computer, or which are controlled by a program of the computer. The number of these components, which are distributed over the whole machine, makes the installation of such computers difficult because of the lines which are required, and costs building space, which is only available to a limited extent in mining machinery which is used underground and therefore of compact construction. A computer system which is equipped with a central computer (1), which contains the whole program for control and data transmission of such machines, is proposed. It is connected via serial data bus lines (3) to a number of remotely programmable satellite computers (2, 2a), which each independently monitor and/or control one of the mining items of equipment, or a part or parts of it. <IMAGE>