Coal Age

NOV 2015

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(multipurpose vehicle) Cassette Series, and the Mine Runner all-purpose vehi- cle. As the name suggests, the MPV fea- t u r e s a c o m m o n , c e n t e r - a r t i c u l a t e d chassis on which a range of task-orien- tated cassettes can be mounted, includ- i n g o n e f o r p e r s o n n e l . T h i s h a s s t e e l enclosed sides and provides two rows of padded bench seating, with customized deck sizes available. BTI describes the Mine Runner as "a modern-day solution for a future-focused mining operation," being neither a customized road vehicle nor a generic people carrier. Powered by an MSHA/ CANMET-compliant 3.6-liter Deutz engine, it has hydraulic-wheel drive motors, providing greater power, and extended maintenance and duty cycles, the company said. The braking system also operates through the drive motors and pump, so there are no brake pads to wear out or replace, while the use of a hydraulic drive means that there are no vulnerable mechanical drive components beneath the vehicle. Measuring 6.2 m (243 in.) long and 2.2 m wide in personnel carrier con- figuration, the Mine Runner has 318 mm (12.5 in.) of ground clearance and 180 mm (7 in.) of suspension travel, allowing it to negotiate seriously rough roadways. The three-seat driver's cab comes equipped to ROPS/FOPS standards, which can also be applied to the rear personnel unit if required. Looking nothing if not solidly built, the Mine Runner weighs in at 4.5 mt (10,000 lb) unladen, and can han- dle a 1.8-mt load at speeds of up to 40 km/h (25 mph). Mine Cruiser From Down Under Designed for transporting crews to and from the face in Australia's coal industry, GE Mining Industrea's Mine Cruiser is pow- ered by a 4.3-liter, four-cylinder diesel engine that features a number of safety modifications that permit the vehicle to operate underground. With industry regula- tions that require external surfaces to stay below 150°C (302°F), the engine incorpo- rates spark arresters while the exhaust man- ifold is encased in a water jacket to provide surface cooling. In addition, the exhaust gas is routed through a water bath for further cooling and particulates scrubbing — with the gas exiting at no hotter than 77°C (about 170°F), the company states. As an option, the engine can also be fit- ted with an advanced shutdown system that is activated if a higher than permissible concentrations of methane are detected. With more than 500 units sold to date, the Mine Cruiser is 6.4 m (21 ft) long and 2.1 m (7 ft) wide, weighing in at 5.4 mt unladen. Ground clearance to the chassis is 330 mm (13 in.). It has a 1.2-mt load capacity, and can provide seating for up to 11 people front and rear facing, or 12 with side-facing seats. The passenger compart- ment roof is designed to ROPS/FOPS stan- dards, with additional protection available as an option. Mobility for Tough Conditions According to the German manufacturer Paus, its MinCa utility vehicle has been designed specifically to work in extremely difficult mining conditions and in tunnels as narrow as 3.7 × 3.7 m (12 × 12 ft). Equipped with all-wheel drive and a sus- pension system that ensures that all four wheels remain in contact with the ground, the MinCa provides good maneuverability and driver comfort, as well as being very versatile, Paus added. Capable of carrying a payload of up to 3.8 mt, the MinCa is available in a number of different versions with different fixed cassettes, including a personnel trans- porter with a capacity of up to 18 people. Power comes from a 90-kW Deutz water- u t i l i t y v e h i c l e s c o n t i n u e d 42 www.coalage.com November 2015 BTI's Mine Runner has no vulnerable mechanical components underneath, so it can handle rough road conditions. The MinCa from Paus has a 3.8-mt payload and can carry up to 18 people.

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