Operation monitoring for a thick matter conveying system

Abstract

Disclosed is, inter alia, a thick matter distributor mast ( 18 ) for distributing a thick matter to be conveyed by means of a thick matter pump ( 16 ), having a slewing gear ( 19 ) which can be rotated around a vertical axis at a maximum rotating speed; a mast assembly ( 40 ) having at least a first mast arm ( 41 ) and a second mast arm ( 42 ), wherein the first mast arm ( 41 ) is connected to the slewing gear ( 19 ) at a proximal end of the mast assembly ( 40 ), and wherein the mast arms ( 41, 42 ) each have a maximum operating range; a conveying line ( 17 ) which extends across the mast assembly ( 40 ) and comprises a proximal end, which is connectable to an outlet ( 28 ) of a thick matter pump, and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the conveying line ( 17 ) transitions to an end hose ( 45 ) at a distal end of the mast assembly ( 40 ); a receiver unit ( 11 ) for receiving at least one item of operational information; a processing unit ( 12 ) for determining a currently permissible operating range of the first mast arm ( 41 ) and the second mast arm ( 42 ) respectively and/or for determining a currently permissible slewing gear speed, each depending on the at least one received item of operational information; and a control unit ( 13 ) for limiting the operating range of the corresponding mast arm ( 41, 42 ) to the respective currently permissible operating range if one of the determined currently permissible operating ranges of the first mast arm ( 41 ) and the second mast arm ( 42 ) is smaller than or equal to the respective maximum operating range, and/or to limit the rotating speed of the slewing gear ( 19 ) if the determined currently permissible rotating speed is less than or equal to the maximum rotating speed.

1 . A thick matter distributor mast ( 18 ) for distributing a thick matter to be conveyed by means of a thick matter pump, having
 a slewing gear ( 19 ) which is rotatable about a vertical axis at a maximum rotating speed,   a mast assembly ( 40 ) having at least a first mast arm ( 41 ) and a second mast arm ( 42 ), wherein the first mast arm ( 41 ) is connected to the slewing gear ( 19 ) at a proximal end of the mast assembly ( 40 ), and wherein the mast arms ( 41 ,  42 ) each have a maximum operating range;   a conveying line ( 17 ) which extends across the mast assembly ( 40 ) and comprises a proximal end, which is connectable to an outlet ( 28 ) of a thick matter pump, and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the conveying line ( 17 ) transitions to an end hose ( 45 ) at a distal end of the mast assembly ( 40 );   a receiver unit ( 11 ) for receiving at least one item of operational information;   a processing unit ( 12 ) for determining a currently permissible operating range of the first mast arm ( 41 ) and the second mast arm ( 42 ) respectively and/or for determining a currently permissible slewing gear speed, each depending on the at least one received item of operational information; and   a control unit ( 13 ) for limiting the operating range of the corresponding mast arm ( 41 ,  42 ) to the respective currently permissible operating range if one of the determined currently permissible operating ranges of the first mast arm ( 41 ) and the second mast arm ( 42 ) is smaller than the respective maximum operating range, and/or to limit the rotating speed of the slewing gear ( 19 ) if the determined currently permissible rotating speed is less than the maximum rotating speed.   
     
     
         2 . The thick matter distributor mast ( 18 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the mast assembly ( 40 ) comprises a further mast arm ( 43 ,  44 ), or two further mast arms. 
     
     
         3 . The thick matter distributor mast ( 18 ) of  claim 2 , wherein the processing unit ( 12 ) is furthermore configured to determine a currently permissible operating range for each further mast arm ( 43 ,  44 ) depending on the at least one received item of operational information, and wherein the control unit ( 13 ) is furthermore configured to limit the operating range of each further mast arm to the respective currently permissible operating range if one of the determined currently permissible operating ranges of the further mast arms ( 43 ,  44 ) is smaller than the respective maximum operating range of the corresponding mast arm ( 43 ,  44 ). 
     
     
         4 . The thick matter distributor mast ( 18 ) of  claim 1 , wherein both the slewing gear ( 19 ) and a first mast arm ( 41 ) of the mast assembly ( 40 ) as well as two of the mast arms ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ) are each connected to one other by way of an articulated joint, and wherein the processing unit ( 12 ) is furthermore configured to determine the currently permissible operating range of a mast arm ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ) based on establishing a currently permissible opening angle of the articulated joint at a proximal end of the mast arm ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ). 
     
     
         5 . The thick matter distributor mast ( 18 ) of  claim 4 , wherein the control unit ( 13 ) is further configured to limit the operating range by restricting pivoting of the mast arm ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ) to the currently permissible opening angle. 
     
     
         6 . A thick matter pump ( 16 ) for conveying a thick matter through a conveying line ( 17 ) of a thick matter distributor mast ( 18 ), having
 a double-piston core pump ( 15 ) which has a maximum pump speed;   an S-pipe ( 24 ) which is switchable at a maximum switching speed and has an end that is disposed on an outlet ( 28 ) of the thick matter pump ( 16 ) and is connectable to a conveying line ( 17 );   a receiver unit ( 11 ) for receiving at least one item of operational information;   a processing unit ( 12 ) for determining a currently permissible pump speed and/or for determining a currently permissible switching speed, each depending on the at least one received item of operational information; and   a control unit ( 13 ) for limiting the pump speed to the currently permissible pump speed if the determined currently permissible pump speed is less than the maximum pump speed, and/or for limiting the switching speed if the determined currently permissible switching speed is less than the maximum switching speed.   
     
     
         7 . A thick matter conveying system ( 10 ), having
 a thick matter distributor mast for distributing a thick matter to be conveyed;   a thick matter pump for conveying the thick matter through a conveying line ( 17 ) of the thick matter distributor mast; and   a substructure ( 30 ) on which the thick matter distributor mast and the thick matter pump are disposed, the substructure ( 30 ) comprising:   a support structure ( 31 ) for supporting the substructure ( 30 ), wherein the support structure ( 31 ) has a stability range with a first threshold and with an upper limit defined by a maximum stability parameter;   a receiver unit ( 11 ) for receiving at least one item of operational information;   a processing unit ( 12 ) for determining a current stability parameter, depending on the at least one received item of operational information, and for determining a future stability parameter to be anticipated, depending on the at least one received item of operational information and at least one item of forecast information, the at least one item of forecast information being characteristic of a predicted change of the stability parameter upon the operation of at least one component of the thick matter distributor mast and/or the thick matter pump; and   a control unit ( 13 ) for controlling an operating parameter of at least one component of the thick matter distributor mast and/or the thick matter pump;   wherein the control unit ( 13 ) is configured to control the operating parameter in such a manner that, if the determined current stability parameter is above the first threshold and the determined future stability parameter to be anticipated is closer to the maximum stability parameter than the determined current stability parameter, the at least one component is operated at a reduced speed.   
     
     
         8 . The thick matter conveying system ( 10 ) of  claim 7 , wherein the control unit ( 13 ) is furthermore configured to control the operating parameter in such a manner that, if the determined current stability parameter is above the first threshold and the determined future stability parameter to be anticipated is more distant from the maximum stability parameter than the determined current stability parameter, the component is operated at an unchanged speed. 
     
     
         9 . The thick matter conveying system ( 10 ) of  claim 7 , wherein the stability range of the support structure ( 31 ) comprises a second threshold which is closer to the maximum stability parameter than the first threshold, and wherein the control unit ( 13 ) is furthermore configured to control the operating parameter in such a manner that, if the determined current stability parameter is above the second threshold, and the determined future stability parameter to be anticipated is closer to the maximum stability parameter than the determined current stability parameter, operation of the component is discontinued. 
     
     
         10 . The thick matter conveying system ( 10 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the control unit ( 13 ) is furthermore configured to control the operating parameter in such a manner that, if the determined current stability parameter is above the second threshold, and the determined future stability parameter to be anticipated is more distant from the maximum stability parameter than the determined current stability parameter, the component is operated at a reduced speed. 
     
     
         11 . The thick matter conveying system ( 10 ) of  claim 7 , wherein an extent of the reduction of the speed is dependent on the operating speed of the component. 
     
     
         12 . The thick matter conveying system ( 10 ) of  claim 7 , wherein the operating parameter of at least one component of the thick matter distributor mast and/or the thick matter pump is
 a rotating speed of a slewing gear of the thick matter distributor mast that can be rotated about a vertical axis;   a manipulation speed of a mast arm joint of the thick matter distributor mast;   an operating speed of an actuator of a mast arm of the thick matter distributor mast;   a pump speed or a pump frequency of a core pump ( 15 ) of the thick matter pump, and/or   a switching speed or a switching frequency of a switchable S-pipe ( 24 ) of the thick matter pump.   
     
     
         13 . The thick matter conveying system ( 10 ) of  claim 7 , wherein the processing unit ( 12 ) is configured to determine the future stability parameter to be anticipated depending on an item of forecast information which is characteristic for a predicted change in the item of operational information upon the operation of a plurality of, or all, components of the thick matter distributor mast and/or the thick matter pump. 
     
     
         14 . The thick matter conveying system ( 10 ) of  claim 7 , wherein an influence of the component that enlarges the stability parameter to the greatest possible extent is assumed to be the predicted change of the stability parameter. 
     
     
         15 . The thick matter conveying system ( 10 ) of  claim 7 , wherein the item of forecast information is calculated by taking into account a control signal to be output by the control unit for the operation of at least one component in a forecast period. 
     
     
         16 . The thick matter distributor mast ( 18 ), of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver unit ( 11 ) is configured to receive an item of operational information which is indicative of a joint torque of a mast arm ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ), of a cylinder force of a mast arm ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ), and/or of an opening angle of a mast joint ( 47 ). 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The thick matter distributor mast ( 18 ), of  claim 1 , wherein the respective receiver unit ( 11 ) is configured to receive an item of operational information which is indicative of one of the following properties:
 a type of the thick matter to be conveyed;   a density of the thick matter to be conveyed;   a load on the end hose ( 45 ); and   a type of end hose ( 45 ).   
     
     
         20 . The thick matter distributor mast ( 18 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the respective receiver unit ( 11 ) is configured to receive an item of operational information which is indicative of an anticipated maximum wind speed. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The thick matter conveying system ( 10 ) of  claim 7 , the support structure ( 31 ) further comprising at least one horizontally and vertically displaceable support leg ( 32 ), and wherein the receiver unit ( 11 ) is configured to receive an item of operational information which is indicative of one of the following properties:
 a torque of a slewing gear of the thick matter distributor mast that is rotatable about a vertical axis;   a horizontal leg force of the at least one support leg ( 32 ); and   a vertical leg force of the at least one support leg ( 32 ).   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The thick matter conveying system ( 10 ) of  claim 7 , wherein the substructure ( 30 ) is disposed on a vehicle ( 33 ).