Below ground mining vehicle and method for converting an above ground vehicle to the same
First Claim
1. A method of converting an above ground vehicle to a below ground mining vehicle, the above ground vehicle comprising a diesel engine, a pair of front wheels used to steer the vehicle, a pair of rear driving wheels, and a transmission having a plurality of forward speeds connected between the engine and the pair of rear driving wheels, the method comprising the steps of:
- disconnecting a portion of the drive train between the engine and rear wheels;
disassembling the transmission;
modifying the transmission to disable at least one of the highest forward gears so that the maximum speed attainable by the vehicle is no greater than 50 percent of the original maximum speed; and
reassembling the transmission and reconnecting the engine and the rear wheels so that the vehicle can propel itself.
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Accused Products
Abstract
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.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of converting an above ground vehicle to a below ground mining vehicle, the above ground vehicle comprising a diesel engine, a pair of front wheels used to steer the vehicle, a pair of rear driving wheels, and a transmission having a plurality of forward speeds connected between the engine and the pair of rear driving wheels, the method comprising the steps of:
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disconnecting a portion of the drive train between the engine and rear wheels; disassembling the transmission; modifying the transmission to disable at least one of the highest forward gears so that the maximum speed attainable by the vehicle is no greater than 50 percent of the original maximum speed; and reassembling the transmission and reconnecting the engine and the rear wheels so that the vehicle can propel itself. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of converting an above ground vehicle capable of highway speeds to a below ground mining vehicle, the above ground vehicle comprising a drive train having a diesel engine and a transmission, the method comprising the steps of:
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modifying the engine to limit engine speed to not greater than about 90% of the original maximum engine speed; and modifying the transmission so that at least one the highest forward speed is disabled. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of converting an above ground vehicle comprising a diesel engine including an fuel injection pump with a governor, a fuel tank and a fuel line connecting the fuel tank and the fuel line, and a transmission having at least four forward speeds, to a below ground mining vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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modifying the injection pump governor to limit engine speed to not more than about 3500 r.p.m.; modifying the transmission to eliminate the fourth and any higher forward speeds; installing at least one fire suppression nozzle and at least one fire sensor in the engine compartment of the vehicle; installing a manual fuel shut off valve in the fuel line; and installing an engine air intake shutoff valve and a temperature sensor in the engine compartment, the engine air intake shutoff valve being actuated when the temperature detects a temperature above a threshold temperature. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A below ground mining vehicle comprising:
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a chassis; a body mounted on the chassis, the body including an operator'"'"'s compartment; a diesel engine, the engine including means for limiting the maximum engine speed to not greater than about 3500 r.p.m.; a first pair of wheels, the first pair of wheels used for steering the vehicle; a second pair of wheels, the second pair of wheels being always driven by the engine; a transmission, the transmission comprising a highest forward speed which propels the below ground mining vehicle at no more than about 25 miles per hour when the engine is operating at its maximum speed. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A below ground mining vehicle comprising:
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a chassis; a pair of front wheels; a pair of rear wheels; a diesel engine comprising means for limiting engine speed to about 3500 r.p.m. or less; a transmission, the transmission conveying power from the diesel engine to at least the pair of rear wheels, the transmission having at least one reverse gear and no more than first, second, and third operable forward gears; fire suppression means in the vicinity of the engine; a fuel tank; a fuel line connecting the fuel tank to the engine; a manual fuel shut off valve in the fuel line; and an engine intake shut off valve and a temperature sensor positioned adjacent to the engine, the engine intake shut off valve closing in response to the temperature sensor detecting an abnormal temperature. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A method of converting an above ground vehicle to a below ground mining vehicle, the above ground vehicle comprising a pair of front steering wheels, a diesel engine having a fuel injection pump, and a pair of rear driving wheels, the method comprising the steps of:
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disconnecting a portion of the drive train between the engine and rear wheels; modifying the drive trains so that the maximum speed attainable by the vehicle is no greater than 50 percent of the original maximum speed; reconnecting the portion of the drive train between the engine and the rear wheels including the modified drive train; and modifying the fuel injection pump to limit the maximum speed of the engine to not greater than about 90 percent of the previous maximum speed of the engine.
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34. A method of converting an above ground vehicle to a below ground mining vehicle, the above ground vehicle comprising a pair of front steering wheels, a diesel engine having a fuel injection pump, and a pair of rear driving wheels, the method comprising the steps of:
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disconnecting a portion of the drive train between the engine and rear wheels; modifying the drive train so that the maximum speed attainable by the vehicle is no greater than 50 percent of the original maximum speed; reconnecting the portion of the drive train between the engine and the rear wheels including the modified drive train; and modifying the fuel injection pump to limit the maximum speed of the engine to not greater than about 3500 r.p.m.
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35. A below ground mining vehicle comprising:
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a chassis; a body mounted on the chassis, the body including an operator'"'"'s compartment; a diesel engine, the engine including means for limiting the maximum engine speed to not greater than about 3500 r.p.m.; a first pair of wheels, the first pair of wheels used for steering the vehicle; a second pair of wheels, the second pair of wheels being always driven by the engine; a transmission, the transmission comprising a highest forward speed which propels the below ground mining vehicle at no more than about 25 miles per hour when the engine is operating at its maximum speed; a temperature sensor positioned adjacent to the engine; an engine intake shut off valve, the engine intake shut off valve closing in response to the temperature sensor detecting an abnormal temperature.
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Specification