Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC

Stephen M Hancock

Carl John Moberg

Rex Aaron Glover

Fernando R Gonzalez

A drill head position determination system may include a mast, a drill head movably attached to the mast, and a drill drive assembly configured to move the drill head up and down along a length of the mast. The drill head may be configured to rotate a drill string. The drill drive assembly may include at least one sheave and a cable system wound about the at least one sheave. The drill head position determination system may further include a sheave sensor operatively coupled to the at least one sheave and configured to determine a position of the drill head based on a measured rotational position of the at least one sheave.

Drill head position determination system

A virtual hoist stop system for a mobile drilling machine may include a sensor assembly configured to monitor a full/empty status of a plurality of pipe storage slots, a drill string status, and a height of a rotary head, an operator interface configured to receive hoisting input, and a control module. The control module may be configured to receive signals from the sensor assembly, determine a target height based on the signals, receive hoisting input from the operator interface, and automatically stop the rotary head from hoisting beyond the target height.

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Van Alstyne, TX, United States of America

Stephen M Hancock