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When it comes to personnel carriers, today's mine manager now has a much wider range of options from which to choose. Some suppliers have gone down the route of producing combi-type utility vehicles that can be equipped with different load carriers, depending on the job at hand. Versatility is the selling point here, with the same power unit available to handle, for example, materials transport or a scissor-lift platform or personnel as required. Another approach has been to take existing standard designs and make them stronger, as well as adapting engines to suit underground emissions require- ments. A major benefit here is that most spares will be readily available from local dealers since the basic chassis is an "off- the-shelf" product. And finally, there are those manufac- turers who have analyzed the challenge in depth, and have come up with a new gen- eration of people-carriers that are designed specifically to handle the physi- cal mine environment. Heavily built, and often with a fairly minimalist approach to design, they offer the ultimate in durabili- ty when driving conditions are tough and roadway surfaces are rough. There is, of course, a quid pro quo here: built-in dura- bility carries a substantial cost premium over the lighter-weight alternative. Customized Rams and Jeeps Utah-based Classic Motors Inc. (CMI) has more than 20 years of experience in modi- fying standard U.S.-produced vehicles for use underground, citing conversions of the heavy-duty Ram and Jeep J8 pickups as its core products. L a s t y e a r , C h r y s l e r G r o u p a n - nounced the production of a version of its Jeep J8, specifically for underground mining, for sale exclusively in the North A m e r i c a n m a r k e t . E q u i p p e d w i t h a n Italian-built, 147-kW (197 hp) 2.8-liter turbo diesel engine, the underground J8 has a five-speed automatic transmission a n d f o u r - w h e e l d r i v e . T h e e n g i n e i s a p p r o v e d b y b o t h t h e Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and CAN- MET for use in both hard rock and coal mining underground. CMI reported that it can provide min- ing-grade vehicles based on the J8 in both two- and four-door formats, offering pay- loads of up to 1.2 metric tons (mt) or 2,566 lb. Its Ram and J8 conversions can provide carrying capacity for up to 10 people and, in the case of an emergency, can also pro- vide stretcher transport. The company noted that converting standard vehicles to meet MSHA and CAN- MET underground specifications involves a raft of modifications to both the fuel and electrical systems, as well as the installa- tion of a fire suppression system. Included in the package is upgrading and protecting the truck's fuel lines, installing protection beneath the fuel tank and installing a man- ual fuel shut-off valve. The engine control system is also adjusted to derate the engine to meet regulatory standards. For the electrical system, cable harnesses that are potentially vulnerable to damage need to be rerouted through conduits, while all connections have to be sealed to reduce the potential for corrosion. A master switch is fitted to enable the power to be turned off if needed, with a special circuit that will shut down the engine should the fire-suppres- sion system be activated. The Unbreakable From BTI From Canada, Breaker Technology Inc. (BTI) offers underground mines with two options for personnel transport: its MPV u t i l i t y v e h i c l e s November 2015 www.coalage.com 41 B Y S I M O N W A L K E R , E U R O P E A N E D I T O R The People Movers For years the mining industry had to make do with staff transport vehicles that were, frankly, not up to the job. Today, there is a much wider choice of robust, custom-build carriers. Utah-based Classic Motors Inc. offers both Ram and Jeep 4×4s — including the Jeep J8 — modified to meet underground mining compliance standards.