Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Mechanical control system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-28
2001-06-05
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Mechanical control system
C700S159000, C700S160000, C700S281000, C700S301000, C408S011000, C408S056000, C229S005830, C229S005830
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243625
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to method devices and system for automated quarry operation. More particularly it relates to automatically shutting of an unmanned liquid jet cutting system upon encountering unforseen, unusual or abnormal technical problems and circumstances.
SUMMARY
An automated quarry robotic system comprising a power unit, a balanced oscillator, a communication interface, a plurality of sensors and transducers, an optional mobile system, multiple intensifiers, one or more nozzles with diamond or sapphire orifice and a PLC (programmable logic controller which is a micro-controller with a control panel for programming and controlling rise and fall, indexer and oscillator system.
The system also includes means for automatically communicating via phone or wireless the status of the system to the responsible party so that the problem can be solved and the system restarted at the earliest opportunity. The system also includes means for automatically and safely shutting off the operation upon encountering unforseen, unusual or abnormal technical problems and circumstances such as unworkable hard spots, unusual water pressure etc.
PRIOR ART
Notwithstanding the inventors are intimately familiar with the prior art in their industry, a prior art search was nonetheless conducted and the following pertinent U.S. prior art patents were uncovered arranged in reverse chronological order.
a) U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,030 awarded to Nishikawa et al on Oct. 22, 1996 for, “Travel Control Method, Travel Control Device and Mobile Robot for Mobile Robot Systems”
b) U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,903 bestowed upon Young et al on Jul. 15, 1995 for “Method and Apparatus for Use in a Network of the Ethernet Type to Improve Fairness by Controlling Collision Backoff Times and Using Stopped Backoff Timing in the Event of Channel Capture”
c) U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,432 honorably conferred upon Wyatt et al on May 2, 1995 for “Programmable Oscillating Liquid Jet Cutting System”
d) U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,743 issued to Charles K Brown Jr. on Nov. 2, 1993 for “Quarry Pulverizer”
e) U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,620 honorably given to Kurebayashi et al on Jun. 23, 1992 for, “Control Method for Robots”
f) U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,293 issued to Yasukawa et al on Oct. 10, 1989 for “Abrasive Water Jet Cutting System”
g) U.S. Pat. No. 4,637,017 earned by Assaal et al on Jan. 13, 1987 for “Monitoring of Input Backoff in Time Division Multiple Access Communication Satellites.”
h) U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,883 issued to Daniel Liesveld on Dec. 4, 1979 for “Oscillating Liquid Jet System and Method for Cutting Granite and the Like”
i) U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,762 earned by Vito Biancale on Jan. 23, 1979 for “Quarry Operation”
Prior art fluid jet cutting systems are not suitable for unmanned operation without serious risk and concomitant liability. Prior art system also do not include a fail safe or even fail soft way of shutting the system automatically when problems are encountered. Lastly prior art quarry systems lack communication interface to inform a remotely located human being the status of the system.
In summary the prior art systems do not meet singly or even in combination the following objectives for this system.
OBJECTIVES
1) It is an objective of this invention to provide an automated quarry operation.
2). Another objective of this invention is to provide a fail soft and even fail safe way of shutting the system automatically when problems are encountered.
3) Another objective of this invention is to provide a communication interface for automatically communicating the status of the system to a remote supervisor.
4) Another objective of this invention is to provide a programmable interface such that the system can be reprogrammed for varied applications readily.
5) Another objective of this invention is to provide a hard spot interface to limit the effect of a small hard area of a given material on the average cutting rate of the material.
6) Another objective of this invention is to increase the efficiency of cut by working around a hard spot according to a preprogrammed algorithm.
7) Another objective of this invention is to provide multiple water jet cutting nozzles driven and powered by the same power unit on the same crawler to increase the cut rate efficiency and cost effectiveness on-site at a quarry.
8) Another objective of this invention is to provide an environmentally friendly system.
9) Another objective of this invention is to provide safer, quicker method of cutting stone on site at a quarry.
10) Another objective of this invention is to provide a system that is reliable and easy to maintain.
11) Another objective of this invention is to provide a system that is intuitive and easy to use such that it requires little training or retraining.
12) Another objective of this invention is that the thickness of the cut, the pitch, the rise and fall speed and the jet cut path be all coordinated and computer controlled such that the operator needs to enter or reset only the minimum set of parameters for each new programmable automatic unattended cut.
13) Another objective of this invention is that it provide all of the above mentioned objectives concurrently in high horse power (Q*P*N), wherein Q=Flow; P=Pressure and N=A constant factor.
14) Another objective of this invention is to provide a means for adjusting the balance of the balanced oscillator incorporated in this invention.
15) Another objective of this invention is to pretension the oscillator or high pressure tubing so as to alter the position and/or dwell of the nozzle as it moves to and fro.
16) Another objective of this invention is to automatically maximize the productivity of the cut under various pressures and positions of the stone being aut.
17) Another objective of this invention is to provide a means for automatically and readily fine tuning the shape of the cut under differing quarry conditions.
18) Another objective is to reduce the liability of the owners and operators of the quarry.
19) Another objective is to reduce accidents, noise, dust from blasting.
20) Other objectives of this invention reside in its simplicity, design elegance, ease of manufacture, ease of training and the like as will become apparent from the following brief description of the drawing and detailed description of the preferred and various alternate embodiments.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4176883 (1979-12-01), Liesveld
patent: 4246973 (1981-01-01), Mayer
patent: 4809788 (1989-03-01), Nelson
patent: 4872293 (1989-10-01), Yasukawa et al.
patent: 5257743 (1993-11-01), Brown, Jr.
patent: 5411432 (1995-05-01), Wyatt et al.
patent: 5547569 (1996-08-01), Spencer
Huneiti et al., Excitation Of Electrohydrodynamic Surfaces Waves On A Conducting Liquid Jet Employing AC Field, IEEE., pp. 1768-1774, 1996.*
Turnbull, On The Instability Of An Electrostatically Sprayed Liquid Jet, IEEE., pp. 183-788, 1990.*
Sato et al., Production of Oil/Water Type Uniformly Sized Droplets Using a Convergent AC Electric Field, IEEE., pp. 138-145, 1996.
Peterson Matthew C.
Wyatt Bradford P.
Wyatt Peter F.
Asija Ourpal
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Marc McDieun
N E D Corp.
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