Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Global Mining LLC

James W Ryan

Paul Russell Friend

James Decker Humphrey

Van I Phifer

A control system implemented for in-pit crushing and conveying (IPCC) operations employing a shovel machine and a crusher machine is provided. The shovel machine includes an implement configured to excavate a material from a worksite and load the material into a hopper of the crusher machine. The control system includes a position determination module, an excavation determination module, and a path determination module. The path determination module is configured to determine one or more travel paths, with a plurality of loading positions, for the shovel machine and the crusher machine. The plurality of loading positions is based at least in part on the relative position of the shovel machine and the crusher machine and a plurality of excavation positions, such that at each of the plurality of loading positions, the implement traverses an arc passing above the hopper.

System and method for in-pit crushing and conveying operations

A mining shovel includes a dipper assembly comprising a dipper arm coupled to a dipper, a boom assembly configured to support the dipper assembly, and an overcrowd prevention system including one or more sensors configured to monitor an axial force. The mining shovel also includes a swing abuse prevention system, including one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more compound loading forces, and one or more sensors configured to monitor a torsion loading force. The mining shovel also includes a control module configured to receive signals from the sensors, and to control at least the crowding force applied to the dipper.

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South Milwaukee, WI, United States of America

James W Ryan