UDD dragline bucket

Abstract

A UDD bucket for a UDD mining operation provided with multiple hoist connection points that alternative couple to the front and/or rear hoist lines. The UDD mining machine includes a control system that directs the movement of the bucket within a prescribed carry envelope to limit unequal wearing of the hoist lines or minimize the magnitude of rope loads. In one construction, the control system directs the movement of the bucket with a range of motion where the loads on the hoist lines are kept within a prescribed variance of each other during the carry phase or most of the carry phase of a digging cycle. The bucket will be moved by the mining machine with the inventive control system so that, in the carry phase, the loads applied to the front hoist line are within, for example, 5%, 10% or 15% of the loads applied to the rear hoist lines. This general equaling of the loads in the hoist lines results in longer wear life for the front hoist lines, and generally equal wearing of the front and rear hoist lines to enable simultaneous replacement. The alternative connection points enables the carry envelope to be altered.

1 . A UDD bucket comprising a cavity for receiving earthen material therein, a front portion having a front digging edge, and a rear portion opposite to the front portion, a front hoist connection in the front portion of the bucket to connect a front hoist line to the bucket to independently lift and lower the front portion of the bucket, a first rear hoist connection in the rear portion of the bucket to connect a rear hoist line to the bucket to independently lift and lower the rear portion of the bucket, a second rear hoist connection in the rear portion of the bucket to alternatively connect the rear hoist line to the bucket so as to alter relative loading between the front and rear hoist lines for operation in a mine, and a drag connection for connecting a drag line to the bucket for pulling the bucket in a digging operation. 
   
   
       2 . A UDD bucket in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a second front hoist connection in the front portion of the bucket to alternatively connect the front hoist line to the bucket so as to alter relative loading between the first and second hoist lines for operation in a mine. 
   
   
       3 . A UDD bucket in accordance with  claim 2  which further includes a bottom wall, a rear wall and sidewalls to define the cavity, and wherein the first rear hoist connection is positioned forward of the rear wall. 
   
   
       4 . A UDD bucket in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the second rear hoist connection is positioned forward of the rear wall. 
   
   
       5 . A UDD bucket in accordance with  claim 1  which further includes a bottom wall, a rear wall and sidewalls to define the cavity, and wherein the first rear hoist connection is positioned forward of the rear wall. 
   
   
       6 . A UDD bucket in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the second rear hoist connection is positioned forward of the rear wall. 
   
   
       7 . A UDD bucket in accordance with  claim 1  which further includes a pair of opposite sides, each said side including one said first rear hoist connection and a one said second rear hoist connection. 
   
   
       8 . A UDD bucket in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the rear portion of the bucket includes two said first rear hoist line connections each connecting to a separate rear hoist line, and two said second rear hoist line connections alternatively connecting to the separate rear hoist lines. 
   
   
       9 . A UDD bucket comprising a cavity for receiving earthen material therein, a front portion having a front digging edge, and a rear portion opposite to the front portion, a first front hoist connection in the front portion of the bucket to connect a front hoist line to the bucket to independently lift and lower the front portion of the bucket, a rear hoist connection in the rear portion of the bucket to connect a rear hoist line to the bucket to independently lift and lower the rear portion of the bucket, a second front hoist connection in the front portion of the bucket to alternatively connect the front hoist line to the bucket so as to alter relative loading between the first and second hoist lines for operation in a mine, and a drag connection for connecting a drag line to the bucket for pulling the bucket in a digging operation. 
   
   
       10 . A UDD bucket in accordance with  claim 9  which further includes a pair of opposite sides, each said side including one said rear hoist connection. 
   
   
       11 . A UDD bucket in accordance with  claim 10  wherein each said side includes a second rear hoist connection in the rear portion of the bucket to alternatively connect the rear hoist line to the bucket so as to alter relative loading between the first and second hoist lines for operation in a mine. 
   
   
       12 . A UDD bucket in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the front portion of the bucket includes two said first front hoist line connections each connecting to a separate front hoist line, and two said second front hoist line connections alternatively connecting to the separate front hoist lines. 
   
   
       13 . A UDD bucket comprising a bottom wall, a rear wall and sidewalls to define a cavity for receiving earthen material therein, a front portion having a front digging edge and a rear portion opposite to the front portion, a front hoist connection in the front portion of the bucket to connect a front hoist line to the bucket to independently lift and lower the front portion of the bucket, a rear hoist connection in the rear portion of the bucket forward of the rear wall to connect a rear hoist line to the bucket to independently lift and lower the rear portion of the bucket, and a drag connection for connecting a drag line to the bucket for pulling the bucket in a digging operation. 
   
   
       14 . A UDD bucket in accordance with  claim 13  which further includes a pair of opposite sides, each said side including one said rear hoist connection. 
   
   
       15 . A UDD bucket in accordance with  claim 14  wherein each said side includes a second rear hoist connection in the rear portion of the bucket to alternatively connect the rear hoist line to the bucket so as to alter relative loading between the first and second hoist lines for operation in a mine.