Method, apparatus and system for estimating the mass of a stockpile
Inventors
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Publication Number
US-11169065-B2
Publication Date
2021-11-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention resides in a method or system configured to estimate the mass of material in a stockpile. The surface profile of the stockpile is obtained and a plurality of layers are defined in the stockpile. Each layer extends parallel to the surface profile. Density characteristics of the stockpile material are obtained, from database records or measurement tests. The volume of each layer is estimated. The density of each layer is estimated, according to the density characteristics of the stockpile material. Using the volume of each layer and the density of each layer the mass of the stockpile is calculated.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method of estimating the mass of material in a stockpile by obtaining an upper surface profile of the stockpile by photogrammetry. The method defines a plurality of layers in the stockpile based on the upper surface profile, wherein each layer is defined to extend parallel to the upper surface profile, and estimates the volume of each defined layer.
The method further obtains density characteristics of the stockpile material. The density of each defined layer is estimated according to the density characteristics of the stockpile material, including consideration of density increase due to overburden pressure, and the mass of the stockpile is calculated using the estimated volume and estimated density of each defined layer.
A related system estimates stockpile mass by obtaining an upper surface profile and using a controller to define layers extending parallel to the upper surface profile and to estimate the volume of each layer. The system also obtains density characteristics, estimates the density of each defined layer according to those density characteristics, and calculates the mass of the stockpile using the estimated volume and density of each defined layer.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims, both covering per-layer mass estimation for a stockpile using photogrammetry-based geometry and density characterization. Each independent claim specifies the same core inventive sequence: upper surface profile acquisition, parallel layer definition and volume estimation, density-characteristics acquisition, layer density estimation, and total mass calculation from per-layer volume and density.
Photogrammetry-based upper surface profile and parallel layer volume estimation
Obtaining an upper surface profile of the stockpile by photogrammetry; defining a plurality of layers in the stockpile based on the upper surface profile, wherein each layer is defined to extends parallel to the upper surface profile, and estimating the volume of each defined layer.
Per-layer density estimation from density characteristics and mass calculation
Obtaining density characteristics of the stockpile material; estimating the density of each defined layer according to the density characteristics of the stockpile material; and calculating, using the estimated volume and estimated density of each defined layer, the mass of the stockpile.
Across both independent claims, the inventive approach is to combine a photogrammetry-derived upper surface profile with parallel layer volume estimation, then assign layer densities based on obtained density characteristics, and finally compute the stockpile mass as the sum of per-layer volume multiplied by per-layer density.
Stated Advantages
Improved mass-estimation accuracy compared with using “bulk density”.
Documented Applications
Estimating mass for a stockpile of wheat, including laboratory compression testing and comparison against calibrated bunker measurements.
Use in a system with a control unit interface for mass-estimation tied to density measurements under simulated loads/pressures.
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