The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 11, 2006
Filed:
Oct. 09, 2001
Robert H. Sturges, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Michael Twigger, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Amnart Kanarat, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Robert H. Sturges, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Michael Twigger, Blacksburg, VA (US);
Amnart Kanarat, Blacksburg, VA (US);
DBT America, Inc., Houston, PA (US);
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Blacksburg, VA (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to an automated continuous haulage apparatus and method designed for use in underground environments. Each mobile bridge carrier () contains distance measurement () and angular position () means for determining the mobile bridge carrier's () position and the angular position of attached piggyback conveyors (). Means for determining the ceiling height () are utilized to adjust the height of the piggyback conveyors (). On each mobile bridge carrier (), input from the various sensors is received by an electronic controller () that calculates the position and orientation of the bridge carrier () and attached piggyback conveyors (). The controller then plans an optimal path of movement for the bridge carrier () and computes the rate of movement for each independently operated track assembly on the bridge carrier such that the bridge carrier () and piggyback conveyors () arrive as close as possible to the planned path.