Survey systems

Abstract

Abstract 1528691 Mining equipment COAL INDUSTRY (PATENTS) Ltd 6 May 1977 [6 Feb 1976] 04731/76 Heading E1F [Also in Division H4] The shape of the path 1 followed by a coal cutting machine 11 as it traverses a coal face is measured by an opto-electronic system, which, using computing techniques makes a continuous series of measurements of the angular positions of optical sources 12, 13; as described, reflectors; positioned, on the heading axis of the optical receiver, and on the pit props erected along the traverse path, whereby the straightness of the cut along the coal seam may be continuously monitored. The optical receiver 10 is a linear (but may be 2-D<SP>1</SP>) array of photodiodes 23, Figure 5 directly connected to a readout shift register 26. The transmitter (not shown) may be either a wide beam L.E.D. source or a scanning laser positioned close to the receiver optics 22, 24. The processing circuitry is a microprocessor which uses the angular and distance measurement to compute the profile of the cut, which may be displayed in analog and digital form, in situ.

Inventors

No inventors recorded.

Bibliographic Details