Mining utility transport vehicle

A mine transport vehicle is disclosed having two main bodies, one a power and control section and the other a payload section, the two sections being connected by an articulating joint. The power and control section has seating for an operator and a passenger. The payload section has seating for four passengers as well as capacity for at least approximately 2000 pounds of equipment. The weight distribution of each section is such that the stress on the frame and articulating joint is minimized thus providing improved life of the joint.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to vehicles and, in particular, to a vehicle specifically designed for reliable transportation of personnel and equipment for the mining industry.

2. Background of the Prior Art

Operation of vehicles for the transportation of personnel and equipment in deep shaft mines poses problems unlike most other mining operations. The environment of operation includes rough and irregular terrain, poor visibility and clearances, typically rough treatment of equipment, long and often continuous hours of operation from shift to shift, poor availability of repair resources and skills while in the mine, and a rust/corrosion accelerated environment due in part to deep pools of salt and silted water in the mine road paths. Mechanical joints and rotating drive equipment are prone to failure due to these adverse conditions. Additionally, such mechanical joints and connections typically require routine lubrication that inherently attracts the very substances that promote failures. Other designs have attempted to overcome these obstacles but have either failed to do so or have created another failure point in the attempt.

There remains a need for a robust mine transportation vehicle designed for operation with simple, minimal controls that are easily located for operation and servicing. There also remains a need for a vehicle with an articulating joint, such that the front and rear vehicle sections are balanced so as to not transmit unnecessary additional stress on the articulating joint.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is a vehicle sized and configured to make it suitable for transporting mining equipment and personnel for extended distances and durations with little or no significant downtime. Design criteria focus on elimination or reduction of lubricated joints, exposed rotating equipment, and complicated control systems. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the vehicle has two main bodies, one a power and control section and the other a payload section, the two sections being connected by an articulating joint. The power and control section preferably has seating for an operator and a passenger. The payload section preferably has seating for multiple passengers, preferably at least four passengers, as well as capacity for at least 2000 pounds of equipment. The weight distribution of each section is such that the stress on the frame and articulating joint is minimized, thus providing improved life of the joint.

It is desired to provide the mining industry with a vehicle for the transportation of personnel and equipment that can operate continuously with reduced maintenance based on scheduled minor servicing. A vehicle that is capable of meeting these criteria provides a significantly lower cost of operation and reduced loss of operation, thereby improving mine output capability by having workers at the needed locations immediately. Since operation of the vehicle includes traversing pools of salt and silted water, the design includes methods for self-bailing floors and protection of power and drive systems from submersion or exposure. Those components that could be exposed are constructed from materials that are resistant or minimally compromised by rust and corrosion.

In order to achieve the reduced service and reduced maintenance goals, the vehicle is designed so that most key drive train components are sealed and do not have exposed joints, shafts, linkages, or moving components. This includes the axle/differential system, the braking system, the drive motors, and the engine/pump power plant. The input to the pinion shaft of the differential is a sealed direct coupling to a hydraulic drive motor and brake device. The power section and the payload section are essentially identical in design with respect to the drive train, having no exposed moving power transmission parts. Power to the hydraulic motors on each section is provided through hydraulic lines from a control valve arrangement on the power section. Hydraulic power to the control valves is provided by a pump system directly coupled to a diesel engine. The control valves are piloted from a return-to-stop foot pedal and are based on a pre-set engine speed. No external drive shafts, universal joints, shaft bearings, transmission, or clutch type equipment exists for fouling and failure. The overall structural design includes materials that are either substantial in size or of special materials such that they are not compromised by impacts or deterioration due to harsh environmental elements. The drawings provide a general view of the vehicle as well as component locations and arrangements.

An additional feature of the invention is an articulated joint for connecting the power section and payload section together that allows each section to move rotationally about vertical and horizontal axes. Very high stresses occur in the area of the articulated joint due to the environmental conditions of the mine and rough terrain. Materials designed in the articulated joint preferably include hardened pins, an aluminum/bronze graphite impregnated bushing, high impact non-corrosive liner material, and a hardened backer plate for minimal wear of the rotational device. Furthermore, the stresses on each end of the joint are minimized through the balance of each connected car to improve life of the articulated joint. The joint is designed such that in case of failure, it can be removed and another unit bolted in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention summarized above may be better understood by referring to the following description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers are used for like parts. This description of an embodiment, set out below to enable one to practice an implementation of the invention, is not intended to limit the preferred embodiment, but to serve as a particular example thereof. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and specific embodiments disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other methods and systems for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent assemblies do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

Referring now to the drawings,FIGS. 1-4show a vehicle, indicated generally as10, according to the present invention. The vehicle10comprises a power and control section13and a payload section15. The power and control section13comprises an engine compartment18for a continuous service diesel engine19(FIG. 11) having a large capacity fuel tank21. Driver seating24and passenger seating25is provided in the power and control section13. A canopy28having a windshield29and open sides for access protects the driver seat24and passenger seat25. The payload section15includes four additional passenger seats31,32,33,34and a cargo bay37that can carry up to 2000 pounds of payload. A rear canopy40having a windshield41and open sides for access protects the passenger area of the payload section15.

The power and control section13is connected to the payload section15by a sealed greaseless articulating joint45that allows lateral and rotational movement between the two sections13,15. The articulating joint45is designed to be replaceable as a unit. Rotational plates48are made from non-corrosive, non-lubricated material. Pivot hinges49utilize aluminum-bronze bushings with impregnated graphite. Bump stops51,52are provided on the angled rear portion of the power and control section13to cushion the extremity of the range of travel when the vehicle10is pivoted.

As shown more particularly in the exploded view ofFIG. 5and the close-up assembled view ofFIG. 6, articulating joint45comprises a first subassembly200configured to allow rotational movement about a generally horizontal axis A-A between power and control section13and payload section15, and a second subassembly300configured to allow rotational movement about a generally vertical axis B-B between power and control section13and payload section15. First subassembly200includes a bearing surface support plate210that is bolted to a backing plate220on the interior of payload section15via bolts212. A support hub230has a base232which is positioned in a recess234on the front wall of payload section15, and a threaded end236opposite the base232configured to receive a threaded clamp ring238. Bearing surface support plate210has a circular recess214configured to receive a composite disc bearing216, preferably a composite disc bearing having a blend of carbon fiber for reinforcement and polymer as a binder, such as the composite disc bearings that are readily commercially available from HyComp Inc. under the trademarks WEARCOMP and FIBRECOMP. As particularly shown in the detail view ofFIG. 7, both support plate210and composite disc bearing216have a central opening218extending therethrough and sized to receive support hub230. A wear surface support plate240holding a wear surface242(preferably a 4140 steel circular plate having a 16-32 RA finish) is situated in facing orientation to the bearing surface support plate210and composite disc bearing216. Wear surface242is sized to fit within recess214of bearing surface support plate210. As particularly shown in the detail view ofFIG. 8, both wear surface support plate240and wear surface242have a central opening244extending therethrough and sized to receive support hub230. Clamp ring238is threaded onto the end of support hub230to position composite disc bearing216against wear surface242while allowing relative rotation between the two. Preferably, wear surface support plate has a circular notch246circumscribing wear surface242and configured to receive the outer wall of circular recess214. This configuration closes composite disc bearing216and wear surface242within an essentially closed chamber defined by the walls of recess214and the front face of wear surface support plate240, thus shielding the bearing assembly from harsh environmental elements.

Attached to the back of wear surface support plate240are hinge members310, each having a generally vertical, cylindrical opening312extending therethrough. A hinge bracket support plate320is bolted to a hinge bracket backer plate331by preferably bolting the two together through a back wall of power and control section13. Hinge bracket support plate320is provided hinge brackets322, each of which has a generally vertical, cylindrical opening324extending therethrough (and having a diameter equal to that of openings312in hinge members310). A hinge pin330pivotally attaches each hinge member to a respective pair of hinge brackets322, and a locking ring332holds each resulting hinge connection in place. This configuration thus allows pivoting of power and control section13about a generally vertical axis B-B extending through hinge pins330with respect to payload section15.

The vehicle10of the present invention has four-wheel drive, and is designed to operate around-the-clock. It is designed to carry up to six passengers and 2000 pounds of cargo and equipment. Additional features of the vehicle10include a plasma cut plate steel frame with welded construction having balanced weight distribution over the axles. The lower portion55of the front of the power and control section13is sloped to serve as a skid plate. The power and control section13and payload section15may also be equipped with tow hooks, such as shown at56,57,58,59. Furthermore, the power and control section13may include front driving headlights60,61, and the payload section15may include a backup light64.

Referring toFIGS. 9 and 10, the vehicle10has air-ride suspension and shock dampening with approximately four inches of travel. The suspension shown inFIGS. 9 and 10includes a Caterpillar axle unit67with an input shaft directly coupled to a hydraulic motor70. An air bag73is installed over the axle67. The leading arm75attaches the axle67to the body78of the power and control section13or payload section15. A shock absorber80is attached between the far side of the leading arm75and the body78. A tracking arm83with spherical bearings is also attached. A bump stop86limits vertical travel to approximately four inches. The axle configuration may also include a skid plate89to protect the axle unit67.

The vehicle engine/drive train and motion control is provided by hydraulics as shown inFIG. 11. The power system is designed for long engine life at constant 2000-RPM operation. A variable displacement hydraulic pump90is coupled directly to the diesel engine19. Hydraulic fluid is taken from storage tank93and directed under pressure to control valves96. The hydraulic motor70on the front and rear axle provides rotational motion for the four wheels. A floor mounted single foot pedal in front of the driver seat24provides for an accelerator99to control the speed of the vehicle10and a brake102. For braking, a sealed hydraulic brake unit105is coupled directly to the hydraulic motor70. A parking brake105with emergency override108may also be provided. There are no mechanical powertrain components exposed to the environment.

Motion control is provided by a joystick-operated hydraulic steering system. Joystick111is centrally mounted adjacent to the driver seat24. Gauge and control instrumentation is provided in a sealed console. A separate steering/auxiliary system hydraulic pump114is mounted directly to engine19. Hydraulic steering cylinders117,118are connected between the power and control section13and payload section15. The hydraulic steering cylinders117,118are extended or contracted to pivot the vehicle10around the articulating joint45to provide turning.FIG. 12illustrates the minimum turning radius for a right hand turn. As particularly shown inFIG. 13, hydraulic steering cylinders117,118are preferably attached to payload section15using a universal-type joint400. Joint400mounts heads117a,118aof steering cylinders117,118to payload section15so as to allow rotation about a vertical pin410extending through joint housing420, and likewise so as to allow rotation in a generally vertical direction, thus accommodating rotation of payload section15with respect to power and control section13.

Additional features include a heat exchanger121for the hydraulic fluid and an engine cooling system124that uses hydraulic powered cooling fans126. All hydraulics are transferred through flexible lines and protected by the vehicle chassis or guarded in chases and sleeves. The hydraulic valves are pilot operated resulting in minimal electronic controls.

Some of the preferred service features of a vehicle configured in accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention include:Elevated charge-air, engine and hydraulic cooler for less fouling and easier cleaning;Electric circuits raised, sealed, and protected with waterproof through-wall connectors;Fully enclosed engine compartment with elevated, easy access ECM;Elevated oil and air filter service area;Elevated hydraulic valve bank area; andTank-in-tank design for fuel tank and hydraulic tank.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.