Bulk Material Handling System and Control

Abstract

A bulk material handling system includes a bulk material handling apparatus to convey bulk material and a bulk material handling accessory to aid the bulk material handling apparatus in conveying the bulk material. The bulk material handling accessory includes a controller having one or more sensors. The controller generates a control signal to adjust operation of the bulk material handling accessory based upon at least one status signal of the one or more sensors. The controller also generates the control signal in accordance with a status signal to control signal response pattern defined by system parameter values. The system parameters include a minimum value to define a minimum level of the control signal associated with fail-safe operation and a maximum value to define a maximum level of the control signal associated with stable operation the bulk material handling accessory.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A bulk material handling apparatus, comprising
 a bulk material conveyor comprising a belt to convey bulk material,   a scraping member to scrape bulk material from the belt of the bulk material conveyor belt, the scraping member having a movement sensor associated therewith to generate a status signal indicative of movement of the scraping member,   a damper coupled to the scraping member, the damper to dampen movement of the scraping member based upon a control signal, and   a controller to generate the control signal of the damper based upon the status signal.   
     
     
         9 . The bulk material handling apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein
 the controller generates the control signal in accordance with a status signal to control signal response pattern defined by a plurality of system parameter values.   
     
     
         10 . The bulk material handling system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of system parameter values comprises a minimum value and a maximum value, the minimum value defining a minimum level of the control signal associated with fail-safe operation of the scraping member and the maximum value defining a maximum level of the control signal associated with stable operation of the scraping member. 
     
     
         11 . The bulk material handling system of  claim 8 , wherein the controller initiates a protective action based upon a predetermined relationship of the status signal to a lower threshold and an upper threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The bulk material handling system of  claim 11 , wherein the controller initiates the protective action
 if the status signal exceeds the upper threshold, or   if the status signal lies between the upper threshold and the lower threshold for at least a defined delay period.   
     
     
         13 . The bulk material handling system of  claim 8 , further comprising a
 positioning mechanism to position the scraping member with respect to the belt of the bulk material conveyor, wherein the controller generates signals that result in the position mechanism retracting the scraping member away from the belt of the bulk material conveyor in response to the status signal indicating unacceptable movement of the scraping member.   
     
     
         14 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A bulk material handling apparatus, comprising
 a bulk material conveyor comprising a belt adapted and configured to convey bulk material;   a scraping member adapted and configured to scrape bulk material from the belt of the bulk material conveyor belt;   a controller adapted and configured to generate a control signal;   a damper coupled to the scraping member, the damper configured and adapted to dampen movement of the scraping member toward and away from the belt in a manner that is at least partially dependent upon the control signal, the damper also being adapted and configured to bias the scraper member against the belt.