Seat module for a mining vehicle

#It is common in underground mining to use shuttle cars that tram on underground roadways. The underground roadways are typically limited in width, and there can be insufficient space for the shuttle cars to turn around. Thus, the shuttle cars tram forward when proceeding in one direction along a roadway, and rearward when proceeding in the opposite direction along the road. The role of the shuttle cars is to efficiently remove the cut material from the working face. To this end, a shuttle car typically employs a heavy-duty, high-power drive train that enables it to haul loads in arduous conditions.

#In some embodiments, a seat module is provided for a mining shuttle car that includes a loading end, a discharge end, and a conveyor extending between the loading end and the discharge end. The seat module includes an enclosure, a rotatable platform positioned within the enclosure, and a seat supported by the rotatable platform and rotatable therewith between a first secured position facing generally toward the loading end, a second secured position facing generally toward the discharge end, and at least one secured position between the first and second positions.

#In other embodiments, a mining shuttle car includes a loading end, a discharge end, and a conveyor system extending between the loading end and the discharge end. A seat module is positioned adjacent the conveyor system and includes a rotatable seat. The seat is rotatable between a first secured position facing generally toward the loading end, a second secured position facing generally toward the discharge end, and at least one secured position between the first and second positions.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mining shuttle car that includes an operator's compartment.

#FIG. 2 is a side view of the operator's compartment of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a top view of the operator's compartment of FIG. 1 with a canopy removed.

#It should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the above-described drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mining shuttle car 10 generally of the type used for maneuvering in underground roadways during mining operations. The mining shuttle car 10 includes an operator's compartment or cab 12 and a plurality of wheels 14 that support the shuttle car 10 on a roadway surface. A cable reel 13 reels in and pays out cable that connects to nearby plug-in stations along the underground roadway and supplies power to the shuttle car 10. The shuttle car 10 defines a loading end 17 where the mined material is loaded, and a discharge end 19 where the material is discharged. A central channel 15 includes a conveyor system 18 that extends between the loading and discharge ends 17, 19. In the illustrated construction, the operator's compartment 12 is positioned adjacent to the conveyor system 18 near the discharge end 19 of the shuttle car 10.

#In underground mining, the shuttle car 10 is powered through the cable 16 and moves or “trams” forwardly and rearwardly along the roadway. During typical operation, the operator maneuvers the car 10 such that the loading end 17 is positioned proximate a working face of the mine, where mined material can be loaded onto the conveyor system 18. Once sufficient material has been loaded, the operator maneuvers shuttle car 10 away from the working face to another location, where the loaded material can be discharged via the conveyor system 18. Because underground roadways frequently are very narrow, the shuttle car 10 is designed so that it need not turn around. Material can be loaded and/or discharged from either the loading end 17 or the discharge end 19, and the shuttle car 10 can tram in either direction.