GB2185222A - Articulated vehicle, particularly for use in underground mines - Google Patents
Articulated vehicle, particularly for use in underground mines Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2185222A GB2185222A GB08600557A GB8600557A GB2185222A GB 2185222 A GB2185222 A GB 2185222A GB 08600557 A GB08600557 A GB 08600557A GB 8600557 A GB8600557 A GB 8600557A GB 2185222 A GB2185222 A GB 2185222A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- drive units
- drive unit
- chassis
- suspension bar
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D53/00—Tractor-trailer combinations; Road trains
- B62D53/02—Tractor-trailer combinations; Road trains comprising a uniaxle tractor unit and a uniaxle trailer unit
- B62D53/023—Tractor-trailer combinations; Road trains comprising a uniaxle tractor unit and a uniaxle trailer unit with two or more coupling joints allowing staggering of the units from a central plane
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D12/00—Steering specially adapted for vehicles operating in tandem or having pivotally connected frames
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D47/00—Motor vehicles or trailers predominantly for carrying passengers
- B62D47/02—Motor vehicles or trailers predominantly for carrying passengers for large numbers of passengers, e.g. omnibus
- B62D47/025—Motor vehicles or trailers predominantly for carrying passengers for large numbers of passengers, e.g. omnibus articulated buses with interconnecting passageway, e.g. bellows
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
Abstract
A vehicle, particularly for use in underground mines, comprises wheeled front and rear drive units 1 each having a control cab, and an intermediate passenger carrying unit 2 which is pivotally connected to both the drive units by pivotal connections 4. Each drive unit 1 has an engine 25 driving wheels 3. Each pair of wheels 3 is carried by a Y-shaped suspension frame 6 supported by a universal pivot 7 and by two suspension arrangements 8 each comprising a coil spring 9 and a hydraulic damper 10. Movement of the suspension frame 6 is guided by a tongue sliding in a guideway. The vehicle is steerable in two modes by hydraulic rams acting between the drive units 1 and the intermediate unit 2. In one mode, a diagonal bar 21 ensures that the two drive units are steered in opposite directions relative to the intermediate unit. In the other mode, one end of the diagonal bar is relocated, and only one of the two drive units is steerable relative to the intermediate unit. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Vehicles
This invention relates to vehicles comprising pivotally connected units, the vehicles being steered by pivoting the units relatively to neighbouring units.
In particular, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to vehicles for use in underground mines, the vehicles travelling along underground roadways of relatively small cross-sectionai areas.
It is known for an underground mine vehicle to comprise two pivotally connected units which enable the vehicle to steer around bends encountered along the roadways. One example comprises an underground mine manriding bus with one unit constituting the drive unit and the other unit constituting the passenger cab. Unfortunately, such a vehicle has a maximum capacity of about sixteen passengers which usually is found inadequate. This tends to present a serious problem in mines where the working face is several miles distance from the mine shaft.
An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle capable of carrying a larger number of passengers and yet able to negotiate the confined underground mine roadways.
According to the present invention a vehicle has three units comprising front and rear drive units and an intermediate load carrying unit which is pivotally connected to both the drive units, the drive units are provided with supporting wheels and the intermediate load carrying unit is suspended between the two drive units.
Preferably, each drive unit comprises a pair of supporting wheels arranged to drivably engage the mine roadway floor, the drive units being maintained in their operationally supported positions by reaction with the intermediate load carrying unit via the pivotal connec tions .
Advantageously, each drive unit comprises a support chassis and a suspension bar pivotally mounted on the chassis, the pair of support ing wheels being mounted on the suspension bar.
Preferably, the pivotal connection means provided on each drive unit are mounted on the support chassis.
Advantageously, each pivotally mounted suspension bar is resiliently connected to the associated drive unit chassis.
Advantageously, the resilient connection means are remote from the pivotal mounting.
Preferably, guide means are provided for guiding each pivotally mounted suspension bar throughout its pivotal movement.
Advantageously, each guide means comprises a guideway extending downwardly from the associated chassis and a tongue element provided on the pivotally mounted suspension bar and guidably engaged with the guideway.
Preferably, steering means are provided such that in one operational steering mode both pairs of wheels are used to steer the vehicle.
Advantageously, the steering means enable that in a second operational steering mode only one pair of wheels is used to steer the vehicle.
Preferably, control means are provided such that at any particular time the vehicle can be driven only from one selected drive unit.
By way of example two embodiments of the present invention now will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and comprising front and rear drive units and an intermediate load carrying unit suspended between the two drive units;
Figure 2 is a plan of one of the drive units of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the drive unit of
Figure 2 as seen in the direction of arrow x;
Figure 4 is an end view of the drive unit of
Figure 2 as seen in the direction opposite to arrow x;
Figure 5 is a inverted plan of the drive unit of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of a detail of Figure 5 shown on an enlarged scale;;
Figure 7 is a cross-section of a detail of
Figure 6 as seen along section line VII-VII of
Figure 6; Figure 8 is a diagrammatic plan of a detail of the first embodiment of the vehicle; and
Figure 9 is a diagrammatic plan of a part of a second embodiment of vehicle constructed in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to Figures 1 to 8 of the drawings the first embodiment of vehicle comprises three units consisting of substantially identical front and rear drive units 1 and intermediate load carrying unit 2 which is pivotally connected to both the drive units 1. Both the driven units are provided with supporting wheels 3 and the load carrying unit is suspended between the two drive units.
Each drive unit 1 comprises a pair of supporting wheels 3 arranged to drivably engage the mine roadway floor, the drive units being maintained in their operationally supported positions by reaction with the intermediate load carrying unit via the pivotal connections 4.
Each drive unit 1 comprises a support chassis 5 comprising a tube framework and reinforced plates secured between the framework. Also each drive unit comprises a generally 'y' shaped suspension bar 6 which is pivotally mounted on to the base of the chassis by a pivotal mounting 7 and which is resiliently connected to the chassis by two coil spring arrangements 8. Each coil spring arrangement comprises an outer heavy duty coil spring 9 and an inner hydraulic damper device 10. As seen in Figure 5 the generally 'y' shaped suspension bar is pivotally mounted on to the chassis at a location adjacent to the end of the single limb and is resiliently connected to the chassis at locations adjacent to the ends of the forked limbs.
Guide means 11 (see particularly Figures 5 and 6) are provide for guiding each pivotally mounted suspension bar throughout its pivotal movement, the guide means comprising a guideway 12 extending downwardly from the chassis and a tongue element 13 provided on the pivotally mounted suspension bar. The tongue element slidably engages within the guideways.
Figure 7 shows a pivotal mounting 7 to comprise a spherical bearing 14 enabling the suspension to negotiate sideways inclinations in the mine floor.
Each pivotal connection 4 (see particularly
Figure 3) comprises an upright pivot shaft 15 mounted on the drive unit chassis. The lower most end of the pivot shaft 15 is supported in a double taper roller bearing 16 and the uppermost end of the shaft is supported in a single ball bearing 17. Each end of the intermediate load carrying unit 1 is provided with upper and lower brackets 18 and 19 for fixedly engaging the associated pivot shafts on the two drive units.
The vehicle is steered by means of hydraulic rams 20 arranged in two pairs with each pair extending between a drive unit and the adjacent end of the intermediate load carrying unit. Actuation of the steering rams 20 urges the drive units to pivot about the associated pivot shaft to steer the vehicle. In the first described embodiment (see particularly Figures 1, 5 and 8) the steering means have two operational modes. In the first operational steering mode a rigid bar 21 diagonally links the two pivotally mounted suspension bars on the two drive units. The diagonal bar 21 is connected between end locations of the two forked limbos of the suspension bars. Thus, the two suspension bars are operationally connected such that both drive units are simultaneously pivotal with respect to the intermediate load carrying unit.Thus, in this first operational steering mode both pairs of wheels are used to steer the vehicle.
In the second operational steering mode one end of the bar 21 is moved under the action of a hydraulic ram 22 along a slideway 23 (see particularly Figure 8) until it is co-incident with the axis of the associated pivot shaft.
Thus, when the rams 20 are actuated to urge the drive units to pivot with respect to the intermediate load carrying unit only one pair of rams is effective to pivot the associated drive unit. The remaining drive unit is located in position by the action of the rigid bar. The rams 20 associated with the locked drive unit relieve pressure. Thus, in the second operational steering mode only one pair of wheels is used to steer the vehicle. The second operational steering mode is required when the vehicle is parked adjacent to the roadways side wall and initial movement must be away from the side wall. Once the vehicle is clear of the side wall the ram 22 is activated to move the end of bar 21 back to its normal position and the more sensitive first steering mode is engaged.
Each drive unit 1 is provided with control means 24, the control means ensure that at any particular time the vehicle can be driven only from one selected drive unit.
Each drive unit also is provided with an engine 25 for driving the wheels 3 and with various hydraulic pumps for activating the hydraulic activators. The engine and pumps are mounted on a rigid sub-frame which is resiliently supported by the chassis 5. Twin fuel tanks 26 with balance pipes at each end allow for filling from either side.
The intermediate load carrying unit 2 constitutes a passenger cab provided with rows of seats 27, the walls of the cab being cut away to form doorways to each cab section. The centre of the cab houses an oil tank 28 and incorporates separate suction filters for each drive unit.
Figure 9 illustrates a second embodiment of vehicle comprising only the first mentioned operational steering mode in which the vehicle is steered under the action of both pairs of wheels 3.
Claims (10)
1. A vehicle having three units comprising front and rear drive units and an intermediate load carrying unit which is pivotally connected to both the drive units, the drive units are provided with supporting wheels and the intermediate load carrying unit is suspended between the two drive units.
2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which each drive unit comprises a pair of supporting wheels arranged to drivably engage the mine roadway floor, the drive units being maintained in their operationally supported positions by reaction with the intermediate load carrying unit via the pivotal connections.
3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2, in which each drive unit comprises a support chassis and a suspension bar partially mounted on the chassis, the pair of supporting wheels being mounted on the suspension bar.
4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 3, in which the pivotal connection means provided on each drive unit are mounted on the support chassis.
5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, in which each pivotally mounted suspension bar is resiliently connected to the associated drive unit chassis .
6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5, in which the resilient connection means are remote from the pivotal mounting.
7. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding claims 2 to 6, in which guide means are provided for guiding each pivotally mounted suspension bar throughout its pivotal movement.
8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 7, in which each guide means comprises a guideway extending downwardly from the associated chassis and a tongue element provided on the pivotally mounted suspension bar and guidably engaged with the guideway.
9. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, in which steering means are provided such that in one operational steering mode both pairs of wheels are used to steer the vehicle.
10. A vehicle substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.
10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 9, in which the steering means enable that in a second operational steering mode only one pair of wheels is used to steer the vehicle.
11. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which control means are provided such that at any particular time the vehicle can be driven only from one selected drive unit.
12. A vehicle substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.
CLAIMS
New claims or amendments to claims filed on 22 April 1986
Superseded claims 1 to 12
New or amended claims:
1. A vehicle having three units comprising front and rear drive units and an intermediate load carrying unit which is pivotally connected to both the drive units, both the drive units being provided with supporting wheels and the intermediate load carrying unit is suspended between the two drive units, the vehicle further comprising steering means having two operational modes, in the first operationl mode the supporting wheels of both drive units are used to steer the vehicle and in the second operational mode the supporting wheels of only one drive unit are used to steer the vehicle.
2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which each drive unit comprises a pair of supporting wheels arranged to drivably engage the mine roadway floor, the drive units being maintained in their operationally supported positions by reaction with the intermediate load carrying unit via the pivotal connections.
3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2, in which each drive unit comprises a support chassis and a suspension bar partially mounted on the chassis, the pair of supporting wheels being mounted on the suspension bar.
4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 3, in which the pivotal connection means provided on each drive unit are mounted on the support chassis.
5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, in which each pivotally mounted suspension bar is resiliently connected to the associated drive unit chassis.
6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5, in which the resilient connection means are remote from the pivotal mounting.
7. A vehicle as claimed in any preceding claims 2 to 6, in which guide means are provided for guiding each pivotally mounted suspension bar throughout its pivotal movement.
8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 7, in which each guide means comprises a guideway extending downwardly from the associate chassis and a tongue element provided on the pivotally mounted suspension bar and guidably engaged with the guideway.
9. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which control means are provided such that at any particular time the vehicle can be driven only from one selected drive unit.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08600557A GB2185222B (en) | 1986-01-10 | 1986-01-10 | Vehicles |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08600557A GB2185222B (en) | 1986-01-10 | 1986-01-10 | Vehicles |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8600557D0 GB8600557D0 (en) | 1986-02-19 |
| GB2185222A true GB2185222A (en) | 1987-07-15 |
| GB2185222B GB2185222B (en) | 1989-01-18 |
Family
ID=10591179
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08600557A Expired GB2185222B (en) | 1986-01-10 | 1986-01-10 | Vehicles |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2185222B (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE4036303A1 (en) * | 1990-11-14 | 1992-05-21 | Liebherr Werk Bischofshofen | CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE, PREFERABLY WHEEL LOADER, WITH ARTICULATED FRAME STEERING |
| GB2319233A (en) * | 1996-11-11 | 1998-05-20 | Multidrive Ltd | Articulated transporter |
| FR2965521A1 (en) * | 2010-10-05 | 2012-04-06 | Envision Vehicle Engineering Novasio Technology Event | TRANSPORT VEHICLE, IN PARTICULAR PORT. |
| EP2933172A1 (en) * | 2014-04-14 | 2015-10-21 | Iveco France S.A. | Articulated vehicle for transporting passengers with an improved driving system |
| EP2914797A4 (en) * | 2012-10-30 | 2016-07-27 | Atlas Copco Rock Drills Ab | Drilling rig and method of manoeuvring a drilling rig |
| US20170100905A1 (en) * | 2015-10-07 | 2017-04-13 | Exodus Machines Incorporated | Heavy duty mobile metal scrap compactor, shear and baler |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB885031A (en) * | 1959-03-02 | 1961-12-20 | Jean Jacquemond | Improvements in and relating to motor vehicles |
| GB1124190A (en) * | 1965-09-16 | 1968-08-21 | Lockheed Aircraft Corp | Articulated vehicle |
| GB1131651A (en) * | 1966-05-04 | 1968-10-23 | Eaton Yale & Towne | Double articulated vehicles |
| GB1493309A (en) * | 1974-08-08 | 1977-11-30 | Secmafer Sa | Crosscountry vehicle |
-
1986
- 1986-01-10 GB GB08600557A patent/GB2185222B/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB885031A (en) * | 1959-03-02 | 1961-12-20 | Jean Jacquemond | Improvements in and relating to motor vehicles |
| GB1124190A (en) * | 1965-09-16 | 1968-08-21 | Lockheed Aircraft Corp | Articulated vehicle |
| GB1131651A (en) * | 1966-05-04 | 1968-10-23 | Eaton Yale & Towne | Double articulated vehicles |
| GB1493309A (en) * | 1974-08-08 | 1977-11-30 | Secmafer Sa | Crosscountry vehicle |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE4036303A1 (en) * | 1990-11-14 | 1992-05-21 | Liebherr Werk Bischofshofen | CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE, PREFERABLY WHEEL LOADER, WITH ARTICULATED FRAME STEERING |
| GB2319233A (en) * | 1996-11-11 | 1998-05-20 | Multidrive Ltd | Articulated transporter |
| FR2965521A1 (en) * | 2010-10-05 | 2012-04-06 | Envision Vehicle Engineering Novasio Technology Event | TRANSPORT VEHICLE, IN PARTICULAR PORT. |
| WO2012045990A1 (en) * | 2010-10-05 | 2012-04-12 | Envision Vehicle Engineering Novasio Technology Event | Transport vehicle, in particular for a port |
| EP2914797A4 (en) * | 2012-10-30 | 2016-07-27 | Atlas Copco Rock Drills Ab | Drilling rig and method of manoeuvring a drilling rig |
| EP2933172A1 (en) * | 2014-04-14 | 2015-10-21 | Iveco France S.A. | Articulated vehicle for transporting passengers with an improved driving system |
| US20170100905A1 (en) * | 2015-10-07 | 2017-04-13 | Exodus Machines Incorporated | Heavy duty mobile metal scrap compactor, shear and baler |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2185222B (en) | 1989-01-18 |
| GB8600557D0 (en) | 1986-02-19 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |