Site positioning system for an underground machine

US10041794B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Carl J. Moberg · Dunlap, US
• Thomas Temmann · Werne, DE
• Martin Teiner · Hamm, DE
• Paul Kornev · Herne, DE
• Frank Kühnemund · Dresden, DE
• Brian D. Rockwood · Peoria, US
• Matt Palmer · Peoria, US
• Brent Duppong · Cambridge, US
• Björn-Andre Hühn · Essen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 29, 2017
• Grant date: Aug 7, 2018
• Expiry date: Mar 29, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01C15/00
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A site positioning system for an underground machine includes a first prism coupled with the underground machine, a second prism operatively coupled with the underground machine, a primary total station, and a reference prism may be in communication with the primary total station. A positioning controller is configured to control, responsive to receiving a High Accuracy Machine Position mode, the primary total station to monitor the first prism and the second prism and transmit a first prism position and a second prism position, respectively, to the positioning controller; control, responsive to receiving a Low Accuracy Machine Position mode, the primary total station to monitor the first prism and transmit the first prism position to the positioning controller; determine, responsive to receiving a Reference Prism Measurement mode, whether a reference prism measurement has been completed, and present positioning information for the machine based on one or more of the prism positions.