Multitask vehicles for military use, rescue, transport, and explosive detection and removal

• US 20100275472A1
• Filed: 04/07/2010
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Cunningham
• Original Assignee: John Cunningham
• Inventors: Cunningham, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,474,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 37/403
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/24 for particular purposes or particular vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/245 for handicapped persons
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/32 convertible for other use
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/5438 with a moveable base B60P1/5485 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/18 specially adapted for use in particular purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/28 constructed to operate at successively higher levels
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/36 mounted on road or rail vehicles; Manually-movable jib-cranes for use in workshops; Floating cranes with pneumatic or hydraulic motors B66C23/54; vehicle or ship aspects B60 - B63
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3618 with two separating hooks
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/963 Arrangements on backhoes for alternate use of different tools backhoes per se E02F3/30; quick-acting devices to connect tools to arms E02F3/3609, for arms to tractors or the like E02F3/627
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/964 of several tools mounted on one machine E02F3/962 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/166 movable, tiltable or pivoting, e.g. movable seats, dampening arrangements of cabins seats for vehicles in general B60N2/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2025 Particular purposes of control systems not otherwise provided for E02F3/16, E02F3/26, sub-groups of E02F3/43, E02F3/651, sub-groups of E02F3/84, E02F3/907, E02F5/145 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/136 Magnetic, electromagnetic, acoustic or radiation systems, e.g. ground penetrating radars or metal-detectors
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/20 with ground-penetrating elements, e.g. with means for removing buried landmines from the soil F41H11/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/22 the elements being excavation buckets
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/28 using brushing or sweeping means or dozers to push mines lying on a surface aside; using means for removing mines intact from a surface
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/005 Unmanned ground vehicles, i.e. robotic, remote controlled or autonomous, mobile platforms carrying equipment for performing a military or police role, e.g. weapon systems or reconnaissance sensors F41H11/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/02 : Land vehicles with enclosing armour, e.g. tanks endless-track vehicles, steering thereof B62D ; vehicles for placing portable or sectional bridges E01D15/127; vehicles carrying floating bridges E01D15/22
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/04 : Armour construction in general F41H5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/227 : Explosives, e.g. combustive properties thereof detecting explosives in air G01N33/0057
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 : for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 : operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/17 : operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Multitask vehicles for military use, rescue, transport, and explosive detection and removal. In one embodiment, the multitask, motorized vehicle, includes: a vehicle body having a rigid frame with a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels mounted thereon; and a rotary mounting platform disposed on top of the vehicle body and which has a mounting portion being configured to interchangeably mount and remove various secondary systems or components, thereby permitting the multitask, motorized vehicle to change functions. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A multitask, motorized vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body having a rigid frame with a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels mounted thereon; and

a rotary mounting platform disposed on top of the vehicle body and which has a mounting portion being configured to interchangeably mount and remove various secondary systems or components, thereby permitting the multitask, motorized vehicle to change functions.

2. The multitask vehicle of claim 1, wherein the secondary systems or components include at least one of a high performance gun platform, a missile platform, a speaker platform, a multi-light platform, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch platform, a robot arm, a multiple imaging platform, or a multiple gun platform.

3. The multitask vehicle of claim 1, wherein the secondary systems or components include at least one of a robot arm, an imaging platform, a camera, a water spout, or an oxygen tank for use in a mine rescue situation.

4. The multitask vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a the jib crane mounted on the multitask vehicle and for mounting/demounting the secondary systems or components or other accessories to and from the multitask vehicle.

5. The multitask vehicle of claim 4, wherein, when not in use, the jib crane is stored in a stowed position within a cut-out portion of similar shape on top of the multitask vehicle.

6. The multitask vehicle of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a front end loading bucket mounted on a front end of the multitask vehicle, or a backhoe attachment with a backhoe bucket mounted to the a rear end of the multitask vehicle.

7. The multitask vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a set of manual controls provided along with a slide out step at a rear end of the multitask vehicle for manual operation of the multitask vehicle.

8. The multitask vehicle of claim 1, further comprising indicator lights which indicate dangerous levels of specific gases including at least one of oxygen, methane, carbon-dioxide, or carbon-monoxide.

9. The multitask vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a tandem set of levers incorporated into a front and rear upper platform of the multitask vehicle and being extendable externally of the multitask vehicle, such that the levers extend and right the multitask vehicle when the multitask vehicle has flipped over.

10. The multitask vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of modular internal compartments to add or remove various vehicle systems.

11. The multitask vehicle of claim 10, wherein the plurality of modular internal compartments comprise at least one of an Oil system compartment, a fuel system compartment, a drive system compartment, or an engine compartment.

12. A lifting system in combination with a construction vehicle, for lifting a person into the construction vehicle for operation thereof, comprising:

a wheelchair compatible seat which is operative to detach from a wheelchair; and

a lifting mechanism comprising a rack and pinion mechanism that is mounted to a top portion of the construction vehicle, a rack portion of the rack and pinion mechanism being movable outwardly and inwardly with respect to a side of the construction vehicle, a crane assembly disposed on the rack portion of the rack and pinion mechanism and having a lifting cable with a clip mounted on the end, and a lifting harness connected to the wheelchair compatible seat and operative to be connected to the clip,

wherein when the clip is connected to the harness of the wheelchair compatible seat, the crane assembly of the lifting mechanism is activated and the wheelchair compatible seat is lifted up from the wheelchair, moved inwardly by the rack portion to a seat position of the construction vehicle, and then lowered into the seat position.

13. The lifting system in combination with a construction vehicle of claim 12, wherein the rack and pinion mechanism is disposed in a housing mounted onto the top of a Roll-Over Protective Structure (ROPS) of the construction vehicle.

14. The lifting system in combination with a construction vehicle of claim 12, wherein the crane comprises a motor driven winding drum for wing up and letting out the lifting cable.

15. A sensor system for detecting one of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), landmines or other buried explosives, the sensor system being mounted in place of a standard backhoe digging bucket of a backhoe vehicle, the sensor system comprising:

a mounting portion having arc swing points for hanging the sensor system on a backhoe arm, and a holding pin opening for receiving a holding pin when positioned in a mounting position on the backhoe arm; and

an electronic sensor wand arm assembly mounted to the mounting portion.

16. The sensor system of claim 15, further comprising a spring assembly including a spring mounted at one end to an outer plate adjustably disposed at a rear of the mounting portion, and an adaptor movably engaged at a front of the mounting portion and having a rod extending from an inner side thereof, the adaptor having an outer side which is connected to the electronic sensor wand arm assembly, wherein the other end of the spring is attached to the rod, such that adjustment of a tension of the spring allows for lateral movement of the electronic sensor wand arm assembly, thereby to protect the electronic sensor wand arm assembly as the backhoe arm swings from side to side.

17. The sensor system of claim 16, wherein the outer plate is held in place by a plurality of adjustable fasteners that allow the outer plate to be adjusted in order to set the tension of the spring, thereby to adjust the amount of lateral movement of the electronic sensor wand arm assembly.

18. The sensor system of claim 15, further comprising a paint marking holder system mounted to a side of the mounting portion for holding a paint can used for marking both cleared areas and possible IEDs.

19. The sensor system of claim 15, wherein mounting holders are disposed on both sides of the mounting portion for holding two paint cans for dispensing two different colors, with one color being used to mark an area clear, and another color being used to mark one of a buried explosive or a detected signal that indicates a possible explosive device.

20. The sensor system of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of indicator lights positioned on the backhoe vehicle to indicate the strength of the signal of the sensor system.