VEHICLE WITH DRIVING CONTROLS FOR TWO CABS

摘要

A personnel carrier for use in an underground coal mine comprises a rail vehicle having driving cabs at opposite ends thereof with driving controls in each cab. Power is supplied from a battery mounted between the cabs to an electric driving motor arranged to drive one of a pair of axles or both axles as desired through one or more respective gearboxes. Safety features include an isolating switch operable from either cab, a flameproof rotary switch disposed substantially midway between the two cabs for activating one set of driving controls or the other and operable from outside the vehicle and an emergency braking circuit. Normal braking is electrical and achieved by moving a single control lever from power to braking. The emergency brake comprises a disc brake unit on each axle urged to the on position by springs but held in the off position hydraulically providing that a foot pedal in the activated cab remains depressed.