A computerised sensor based diagnostic maintenance system for continuous mining machine hydraulics

The US Bureau of Mines has developed an expert knowledge based system to diagnose hydraulic problems on the Bureau's testbed Joy 16CM continuous mining machine. The author describes this computerised, sensor-based diagnostic maintenance tool and its components. The diagnostic system is interfaced to machine-based sensors which monitor various hydraulic system parameters, such as pressures, flows, temperatures, fluid level, and ferrous debris present in the oil. The status of these parameters is updated periodically and transmitted via a distributed data acquisition interface to a remote PC location. At the PC level, a software interface accepts the sensor information, translates it, and sends it to the diagnostic knowledge base. All diagnostic decisions are based on this sensor information. The various fault tests conducted on the testbed mining machine using this diagnostic maintenance system are discussed, and results are given.<
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