Patent ID: 7743869

Claim:
A mine car comprising: a power and control section; a payload section; an articulating joint attaching said power and control section to said payload section, said articulating joint further comprising a first subassembly allowing rotational movement of said power and control section with respect to said payload section about a generally horizontal axis, and a second subassembly allowing rotational movement of said power and control section with respect to said payload section about a generally vertical axis, wherein said first subassembly further comprises: a bearing surface support plate affixed to said payload section; a composite disc bearing positioned on said bearing surface support plate; a wear surface support plate having a front side facing said bearing surface support plate and said composite disc bearing, and said wear surface support plate having a back side connected to said second subassembly; and a wear surface positioned on said wear surface support plate and facing said bearing surface support plate and said composite disc bearing; wherein said bearing surface support plate is joined to said wear surface support plate so as to allow relative rotation between said bearing surface support plate and said wear surface support plate; and a drive train comprising drive train components, wherein said drive train components are sealed within said mine car to substantially prevent contamination of said drive train components from an environment in which said mine car is operated.