Control system and method for an equipment service vehicle
First Claim
1. An airport rescue fire fighting vehicle comprising:
- a turret system, the turret system further comprising an articulated boom assembly, a nozzle, and a penetrating probe, the nozzle and the penetrating probe being mounted at an end of the boom assembly, the penetrating probe being configured to penetrate a skin of an aircraft; and
a control system, the control system further comprising a plurality of input devices associated with the turret system, a plurality of output devices associated with the turret system, a plurality of interface modules, at least one of the plurality of interface modules being associated with the turret system, the plurality of interface modules being coupled to each other by way of a communication network, the plurality of interface modules each being coupled to respective ones of the plurality of input devices and the plurality of output devices, and the plurality of interface modules being operative to control the output devices based on input status information from the plurality of input devices.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An aircraft rescue fire fighting vehicle comprises a chassis module, a cab module, and a control system. The control system further comprises a plurality of input devices, a plurality of output devices, a plurality of interface modules, and a communication network. The plurality of interface modules is distributed throughout the fire fighting vehicle and are coupled to each other by way of the communication network. The plurality of interface modules are each coupled to the plurality of input devices and output devices. The plurality of interface modules are operative to control the output devices based on input status information from the plurality of input devices. Some of the plurality of interface modules are mounted on the chassis module and other ones of the plurality of interface modules are mounted on the cab module. The cab module is mounted on top of the chassis and is modular in construction such that the cab module is mounted on top of the chassis module as a substantially complete stand-alone unit.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An airport rescue fire fighting vehicle comprising:
-
a turret system, the turret system further comprising an articulated boom assembly, a nozzle, and a penetrating probe, the nozzle and the penetrating probe being mounted at an end of the boom assembly, the penetrating probe being configured to penetrate a skin of an aircraft; and
a control system, the control system further comprising a plurality of input devices associated with the turret system, a plurality of output devices associated with the turret system, a plurality of interface modules, at least one of the plurality of interface modules being associated with the turret system, the plurality of interface modules being coupled to each other by way of a communication network, the plurality of interface modules each being coupled to respective ones of the plurality of input devices and the plurality of output devices, and the plurality of interface modules being operative to control the output devices based on input status information from the plurality of input devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. An aircraft rescue fire fighting vehicle comprising:
-
(A) a chassis module;
(B) a cab module;
(C) a control system, the control system further comprising a plurality of input devices, a plurality of output devices, a plurality of interface modules, and a communication network, the plurality of interface modules being distributed throughout the fire fighting vehicle and being coupled to each other by way of the communication network, the plurality of interface modules each being coupled to the plurality of input devices and output devices, and the plurality of interface modules being operative to control the output devices based on input status information from the plurality of input devices;
wherein some of the plurality of interface modules are mounted on the chassis module and other ones of the plurality of interface modules are mounted on the cab module;
wherein the cab module is mounted on top of the chassis and is modular in construction such that the cab module is mounted on top of the chassis module as a substantially complete stand-alone unit. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
-
-
8. A vehicle kit for manufacturing a vehicle, comprising:
-
(A) a plurality of chassis modules including (1) a first chassis module, the first chassis module further comprising a first plurality of input devices, a first plurality of output devices, a first plurality of interface modules, and a first communication network, the first plurality of interface modules being coupled to each other by way of the first communication network, the first plurality of interface modules each being coupled to the first plurality of input devices and the first plurality of output devices, and the first plurality of interface modules being configured to control the first plurality of output devices;
(2) a second chassis module, the second chassis module having a different number of load-carrying wheels than the first chassis module, the second chassis module further comprising a second plurality of input devices, a second plurality of output devices, a second plurality of interface modules, and a second communication network, the second plurality of interface modules being coupled to each other by way of the second communication network, the second plurality of interface modules each being coupled to the second plurality of input devices and the second plurality of output devices, and the second plurality of interface modules being configured to control the second plurality of output devices;
(B) a cab module, the cab module further comprising a third plurality of input devices, a third plurality of output devices, a third plurality of interface modules, and a communication network, the plurality of interface modules being coupled to each other by way of the communication network, the plurality of interface modules each being coupled to the plurality of input devices and output devices, and the plurality of interface modules being operative to control the output devices based on input status information from the plurality of input devices;
wherein both the first and second chassis modules are configured to receive the cab module and have the cab module mounted thereon as a substantially complete stand-alone unit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. An aircraft rescue fire fighting vehicle comprising:
-
(A) a chassis module;
(B) a cab module;
(C) an articulated arm;
(D) a power distribution and control system, the power distribution and control system further including (1) a power source, (2) a power transmission link, (3) a plurality of output devices, (4) a plurality of input devices, (5) a communication network, and (6) a plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules, the plurality of interface modules being coupled to the power source by way of the power transmission link, the plurality of interface modules being interconnected to each other by way of the communication network, and the plurality of interface modules being coupled to the plurality of input devices and to the plurality of output devices by way of respective dedicated communication links; and
wherein the plurality of interface modules, the plurality of input devices, and the plurality of output devices are distributed throughout the fire fighting vehicle;
wherein each respective interface module is locally disposed with respect to the respective input and output devices to which the respective interface module is coupled so as to permit distributed data collection from the plurality of input devices and distributed power distribution to the plurality of output devices;
wherein some of the plurality of interface modules are mounted on the chassis module and other ones of the plurality of interface modules are mounted on the cab module; and
wherein the cab module is mounted on top of the chassis and is modular in construction such that the cab module is mounted on top of the chassis module as a substantially complete stand-alone unit.
-
-
20. A vehicle comprising:
-
(A) a power distribution and control system, the power distribution and control system further including (1) a power source, (2) a power transmission link, (3) a plurality of input devices, (4) a plurality of output devices, and (5) a plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules, the plurality of interface modules being coupled to the power source by way of the power transmission link, the plurality of interface modules being interconnected to each other by way of the communication network, the plurality of interface modules including first and second interface modules and a plurality of additional interface modules distributed throughout the vehicle, each of the plurality of interface modules being coupled to respective ones of the plurality of input devices and to the plurality of output devices by way of respective dedicated communication links, the plurality of interface modules cooperating to control the plurality of output devices based on input status information from the plurality of input devices;
(B) a chassis;
(C) a vehicle module, the vehicle module being mounted on the chassis and the weight of the vehicle module being supported by the chassis, the vehicle module having at least one of the plurality of interface modules mounted thereon, the vehicle module including a mechanical drive device capable of imparting motion to solid or liquid matter that is not part of the vehicle, the vehicle module being removable and replaceable with other vehicle modules having other mechanical drive devices, the interface module being connected to a subset of the plurality of input devices and to a subset of the plurality of output devices which (1) are located on the module and (2) are associated with the mechanical drive device, such that the operation of the mechanical drive device is at least partially controlled by the interface module mounted on the vehicle module.
-
Specification