Method and system for determining structural changes in a longwall mine

Abstract

A system for determining structural changes in a longwall mine, including a modulator wheel operatively coupled to a longwall mining machine, and a controller in communication with the modulator wheel; wherein the controller determines a movement of the longwall mining machine according to a signal received from the modulator wheel.

1 . A system for determining structural changes in a longwall mine, including:
 a modulator wheel operatively coupled to a longwall mining machine; and   a controller in communication with the modulator wheel;   wherein the controller determines a movement of the longwall mining machine according to a signal received from the modulator wheel.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the modulator wheel is an optical modulator wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the modulator wheel is an electrical modulator wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the controller is in optical communication with the modulator wheel. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the controller is in electrical communication with the modulator wheel. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the modulator wheel frictionally engages with a rail of a monorail system supplying services to the longwall mining machine. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the modulator wheel is mounted to an arm. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the arm is mounted to an end carriage of the monorail system. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein an optical fibre connects the controller to the modulator wheel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the controller is connected to a local area network. 
     
     
         11 . A method of determining structural changes in a longwall mine including the steps of:
 measuring a signal received from a modulator wheel, the modulator wheel operatively coupled to a longwall mining machine; and   communicating the signal to a controller;   
       wherein the controller determines a movement of the longwall mining machine according to the signal. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the modulator wheel is an optical modulator wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the modulator wheel is an electrical modulator wheel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the controller is in optical communication with the modulator wheel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the controller is in electrical communication with the modulator wheel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of dam  11  wherein the modulator wheel frictionally engages with a rail of a monorail system supplying services to the longwall mining machine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the modulator wheel is mounted to an arm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the arm is mounted to an end carriage of the monorail system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of dam  11  wherein an optical fibre connects the controller to the modulator wheel. 
     
     
         20 . A system for determining structural changes in a longwall mine, including:
 a modulator wheel for frictionally engaging with a rail of a monorail system, the monorail system for supplying services to a longwall mining machine; and   a controller in communication with the modulator wheel;   wherein a distance moved by the longwall mining machine is determined according to a signal received by the controller from the modulator wheel.