US 12,168,923 B2
Systems, methods, and devices for controlling the operation of an industrial machine based on a pipe attribute
Samuel Haworth, Oak Creek, WI (US)
Assigned to Joy Global Surface Mining Inc, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed by Joy Global Surface Mining Inc, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/394,862.
Application 18/394,862 is a continuation of application No. 17/198,009, filed on Mar. 10, 2021, granted, now 11,852,004.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/987,485, filed on Mar. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0125224 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 44/00 (2006.01); E21B 47/007 (2012.01); E21B 47/08 (2012.01); G08B 21/18 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 44/00 (2013.01) [E21B 47/007 (2020.05); E21B 47/08 (2013.01); G08B 21/182 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
15. A method of sensing a condition of a pipe of an industrial drill having a drill mast, the drill configured to selectively drive one of a plurality of pipes to perform a drilling operation, the method comprising:
monitoring, with a sensor, a weight of each of a plurality of pipes stored in a plurality of compartments of a rotatable pipe storage;
receiving, with an electronic controller, an output from the sensor;
determining, with the electronic controller, a presence or an absence within each of the compartments based on the output from the sensor;
comparing, with the electronic controller, the monitored weight to an initial weight, the initial weight representing one of a starting weight or a previously stored weight associated with the pipe;
actuating a pipe control drive to selectively rotate the pipe storage to align a first one of the compartments with a drive control actuator based on at least one of the monitored weight of the plurality of pipes, the presence of pipes in the compartments, and the absence of pipes in the compartments; and
transfer one of the pipes from the first compartment to the drive control actuator.