Articulated vehicle

An articulated shuttle car for hauling mined materials, comprising:

• a first tractor portion having motivating means for moving said articulated shuttle car on a surface, said first tractor portion having means for supporting an operator thereon;
• a second container portion for receiving and hauling mined material therein;
• a ball bearing assembly for interconnecting said first tractor portion to said second container portion along a longitudinal axis, said ball bearing assembly attached to said first tractor portion by a first pivot means such that said ball bearing assembly can pivot relative to said first tractor portion about a substantially horizontal axis substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis, said ball bearing assembly attached to said second container portion by a second pivot means such that said ball bearing assembly can pivot relative to said second container portion about a substantially vertical axis and enabling said first tractor portion to rotate about said longitudinal axis relative to said second container portion unrestricted by said second container portion and said second vehicle portion to rotate about said longitudinal axis unrestricted by said first tractor portion
• a first hydraulic cylinder attached to said first tractor portion and said ball bearing assembly for selectively pivoting said ball bearing assembly relative to said first tractor portion about said substantially horizontal transverse axis;
• and
• a pair of second hydraulic cylinders attached to said second container portion and said ball bearing assembly for selectively pivoting said ball bearing assembly relative to said second container portion about said substantially vertical axis.

An articulated joint for attaching a tractor portion of a shuttle car to a container portion for hauling mined materials, comprising;

• a ball bearing assembly attached to said tractor portion by a first pivot means such that said ball bearing assembly can pivot relative to said tractor portion about a substantially horizontal axis substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis extending the length of the shuttle car, said ball bearing assembly attached to said container portion by a second pivot means such that said ball bearing assembly can pivot relative to said container portion about a substantially vertical axis and enabling said tractor portion to rotate about said longitudinal axis relative to said container portion unrestricted by said container portion and said container portion to rotate about said longitudinal axis unrestricted by said tractor portion;
• a first hydraulic cylinder attached to said tractor portion and said ball bearing assembly for selectively pivoting said ball bearing assembly relative to said tractor portion about said substantially horizontal transverse axis;
• and
• a pair of second hydraulic cylinders attached to second container portion and said ball bearing assembly for selectively pivoting said ball bearing assembly relative to said container portion about said substantially vertical axis.