Home | Links | Contact Us | More About Intellectual Property | Bookmark

Search patents:

Home

Navigation and GPS

Below-ground-mining-vehicle-and-method-for-converting-an-above-ground-vehicle-to-the-same

Below ground mining vehicle and method for converting an above ground vehicle to the same

Details

Inventors: Washburn, David J.;
Assignee: General Manufacturing of Utah, Inc. (Orem, UT)
Primary Examiner: Rice; Kenneth R.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Thorpe, North & Western

A below ground mining vehicle, and a method for converting an above ground vehicles into the same, which is particularly adapted for transporting workers and/or light equipment. An above ground vehicle, such as a sport utility vehicle, is modified and components are added thereto in accordance with the present invention, to arrive at the below ground mining vehicle. The vehicle includes: a speed limited engine; a transmission having its upper forward speeds disabled; fire suppression means in the vicinity of the engine; a manual fuel shut off valve in the fuel line; an engine intake air shut off valve which closes in response to a temperature sensor detecting an abnormal engine temperature; a battery box enclosing a battery; a circuit breaker serially connected with the battery; fire suppression means in the vicinity of the fuel tank; a fire suppression means in the vicinity of the exhaust muffler; and a back up alarm. The described below ground mining vehicle provides many features and better performance than previously available in below ground mining vehicles and achieves such performance and features more economically than possible with prior art vehicles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like structures will be provided with like reference designations.
A general overview of the first presently preferred embodiment of the present invention will first be provided followed by a detailed listing of the presently preferred steps used to fabricate the first presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.
A detailed description of the steps carried out to fabricate a second presently preferred embodiment of the present invention will then be provided.
Generally, the first described embodiment is adapted for use as a large capacity low profile vehicle which may be adapted to any one of a variety of end uses.
The second described embodiment is particularly intended for use as a generally purpose, or light utility, below ground mining vehicle.
1.
General Overview of the Method and Structure of the First Described Embodiment There are instances in various industries where efficient operations within the industry requires a vehicle which can maneuver under low clearances.
In this disclosure a low profile vehicle will first be described which is intended for use in mining operations.
The present invention, and also the first particular embodiment described herein, has applications and uses other than in mining operations.
FIG.
1 provides a perspective view of one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention resulting from the conversion of a large capacity normal profile vehicle chassis which was mass produced for use on city streets and highways.
It will be appreciated that a low profile vehicle used in mining operations must be able to maneuver in low clearances, for example, less than fifty-five inches.
Normal profile vehicles intended for city and highway use place the operator's cab as high as practically possible, for example eighty to one-hundred and twenty-five inches vertical height, in order to maximize the visibility of the operator.
The embodiment of the present invention is specifically intended to be used as a two man general utility low profile truck in mining operations which will maneuver on low clearance mining roadways

Related patents

	Drive arrangement for all-wheel drive vehicles invention concerns a drive arrangement for all-wheel drive vehicles with two axle groups. In drive arrangements of this type, the transfer gearbox is usually provided ...
	Power steering apparatus The present invention has been made in light of the foregoing. Specifically, overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art, the invention provides a power steering apparatus ...
	Hydrostatic steering device What is claimed is: 1. In a hydrostatic steering device having a valve member rotatably circumferentially surrounding a shaft connected valve seat to form a valve for ...
	Control scheme for power modulation of a free piston Stirling engine The present invention provides a new control system which essentially maintains a constant displacer-to-piston stroke ratio and their relative phase angle, and therefore ...

0.014
Archive: All patents - Links Copyright (c)2006 Eipa-patents.org - All rights reserved