that was not initially anticipated
when the first units shipped nearly
30 yr ago.
In 2015, the top-selling personnel
carrier model is the 15-person
rail‑mounted diesel, which features
seating for seven workers on either
end of the unit and an operator,
positioned sideways at the centre of
the vehicle. Unlike the 17-person
personnel carrier from 1991, the
units feature a more ergonomic
operator compartment with a
cushioned chair. Additionally, the
end compartments now feature 4 in.
(10 cm) cushioned bench seating,
providing a more comfortable ride
for passengers in both end
compartments.
The ease of refuelling – personnel
carriers now feature a 12 V power
take off (PTO) for fuel car operation
– has led to higher demand for
diesel-powered personnel carriers,
with 100 hp engines mated with a
powershift transmission now being
the most popular power package for
a 15-person unit. Other upgrades
include lighter and durable, yet
equally effective, removable soft-top
canopies, and brighter LED lights for
safety. The 15-person style is
designed to navigate with ease
through seam heights of 50 in.
(127 cm).
Many of the features of the early
units have withstood the test of time,
including planetary final drive and
maintenance-free wet disc brakes
with an alternate emergency manual
parking brake remaining mainstays,
but with evolutionary
improvements. Chevron suspension
provides a smoother ride and better
vehicle tracking for workers, while
two windows in either end offer an
exterior view from the inside of the
rider compartments, protected by
safety chains or optional
NASCAR‑style window netting for
back‑to‑back sideways-style seating.
Brookville also continues to
produce smaller seven-person to
10-person personnel carriers and
eight-person jeeps for smaller work
crews and operators requiring
tighter turning radiuses. Although
these have become standard
products, the company remains
dedicated to working with
customers to produce completely
customisable designs that meet
spatial demands in virtually any
mining environment.
While personnel carriers improve
daily operating efficiency, dispersing
the vehicles throughout the mine has
become an integral part of many
mines’ emergency response plan
(ERP), providing quick access to
SCSRs and efficient transportation
out of potentially hazardous areas.
The personnel carrier’s platform
has also lent itself to a range of new
applications, such as specialised
maintenance vehicles. In many cases,
one end is left covered and arranged
for passengers, while the opposite
end is cutaway to provide space for
common maintenance tools, such as
2 t electric cranes, oxygen and
acetylene storage tanks, DC
welders/220VAC generators, and air
compressors – providing an efficient
and versatile solution for mobile
maintenance crews.
Since 1986, Brookville has
designed, manufactured and rebuilt
over 950 units from the original
six-person personnel carriers to
unique maintenance units. With
safety and efficiency remaining key
concerns for mine operators,
personnel carriers are poised to
remain one of the company’s
bestselling mining product lines and
will continue to evolve as technology
and safety drivers advance to ensure
a safer environment for workers
underground.
Looking to the future
Keeping these advancements in
mind, future versions of Brookville
personnel carriers may include fully
enclosed end cabs to better protect
workers from dust and gas exposure,
while self-driving technology could
provide safer rescue operation in
addition to daily efficiency and
proximity detection sensors could
protect workers on the ground from
pinning hazards.
Brookville’s success is a product
of meeting and exceeding customer
and regulatory demands for both
haulage and transport applications.
This strategy for implementing
changes to personnel carriers will
continue into the future – with that
longstanding focus on improving
safety and efficiency for operators
through advancements in design and
technological integrations.
Figure 5. The features of Brookville personnel carriers have evolved over time to
improve safety and efficiency, while transporting coal miners comfortably and meeting
requirements for low seam heights.
30
|
World Coal
|
June 2015
