EXPEDITIONARY MODULES, SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES HAVING RECONFIGURABLE MISSION CAPABILITIES PACKAGES

• US 20140008359A1
• Filed: 07/05/2013
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Minds LLC
• Original Assignee: Applied Minds LLC
• Inventors: FERREN, Bran
• Granted Patent: US 9,296,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/1.5
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0003 Adaptations for loading in or on a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/121 ISO containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/54 characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying filling or emptying features for flexible large containers B65B69/0075; construction or shape of discharge section of hoppers B65D88/28; gates or closures B65D90/54; filling or emptying bunkers, hoppers, or like containers B65G65/30
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/34884 creating a living space between several units
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 2001/1283 Small buildings of the ISO containers type
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/08 Hospitals, infirmaries, or the like; Schools; Prisons
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 5/02 Buildings or groups of buildings for industrial purposes, e.g. for power-plants or factories buildings forming part of cooling plants E04H5/10

Abstract

An expeditionary module comprises one or more mission capabilities package (MCP) carts, to provide a self-contained mission support system, such as in remote and austere environments. The exterior structure of the expeditionary module may to preferably comprise a standard shipping container. One or more MCP carts are stowable within the exterior structure, such as on a U-channel track and I-Beam rail system that runs longitudinally along the floor and ceiling of the exterior structure. The expeditionary module typically comprises a suite of standard equipment, to provide general-purpose functionality. Prior to deployment, one or more MCP carts may preferably be selected for an operation, and are loaded into the expeditionary module, via the U-channel track and I-Beam rail system. Upon arrival at the operation location, personnel readily unload the MCP carts. Additional structures allow personnel to configure one or more MCP carts and containers in a variety of configurations.

Claims

1. An expeditionary module, comprising:

a container having an interior defined therein, wherein the container extends from a first end to a second end, and wherein the container comprises

one or more doors at the first end,

a floor, and

a ceiling opposite the floor;

one or more mission capabilities package (MCP) carts, wherein the MCP carts comprise at least one retaining mechanism; and

a mechanism for stowing the MCP carts within the interior of the container, wherein the stowing mechanism comprises

an I-Beam rail affixed to the ceiling within the interior of the container, wherein the I-Beam rail extends longitudinally from the first end of the container toward the second end of the container, and

at least one retaining mechanism associated with the MCP carts that is configured to confine movement of the MCP carts along the I-Beam rail.

2. The expeditionary module of claim 1, wherein the MCP carts further comprise a plurality of casters for rolling the MCP carts into and out of the interior of the container.

3. The expeditionary module of claim 1, wherein the container is configured to be transportable by any of a fixed wing aircraft, a rotating wing aircraft, a truck, a train, or a ship.

4. The expeditionary module of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a standard shipping container.

5. The expeditionary module of claim 1, wherein the interior region comprises a first interior region extending from the first end, a utility space extending from the second end, and an interior bulkhead located between and defining the first interior region and the utility space.

6. The expeditionary module of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more U-channel tracks located on the floor of the container, wherein the U-channel tracks are configured to receive the casters of the MCP carts.

7. The expeditionary module of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking mechanism that is configured to affix the MCP carts to the floor of the container.

8. The expeditionary module of claim 1, further comprising:

a suite of standardized equipment within the interior of the container.

9. The expeditionary module of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a standard shipping container.

10. The expeditionary module of claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanism for connecting a first of the MCP carts to a second of the MCP carts.

11. The expeditionary module of claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanism for connecting at least one of the MCP carts to the container.

12. The expeditionary module of claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanism for connecting the container of the expeditionary module to a container of another expeditionary module.

13. A process, comprising the steps of:

providing one or more expeditionary modules, wherein each of the expeditionary modules comprise

a container having an interior defined therein, wherein the container extends from a first end to a second end, and wherein the container comprises

one or more doors at the first end,

a floor, and

a ceiling opposite the floor;

one or more mission capabilities package (MCP) carts, wherein the MCP carts comprise at least one retaining mechanism; and

a mechanism for stowing the MCP carts within the interior of the container, wherein the stowing mechanism comprises

an I-Beam rail affixed to the ceiling within the interior of the container, wherein the I-Beam rail extends longitudinally from the first end of the container toward the second end of the container, and

at least one retaining mechanism associated with the MCP carts that is configured to confine movement of the MCP carts along the I-Beam rail;

configuring the expeditionary modules for deployment;

transporting the expeditionary modules to an operation environment;

unloading the MCP carts from the container;

integrating the MCP carts into a system configuration; and

deploying the configured system within the operation environment.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein at least one of the MCP carts further comprises a plurality of casters for rolling the MCP carts into and out of the interior of the container.

15. The process of claim 13, wherein the step of transporting the expeditionary modules is performed by any of a fixed wing aircraft, a rotating wing aircraft, a truck, a train, or a ship.

16. The process of claim 13, wherein the container comprises a standard shipping container.

17. The process of claim 13, wherein the interior region of the container comprises a first interior region extending from the first end, a utility space extending from the second end, and an interior bulkhead located between and defining the first interior region and the utility space.

18. The process of claim 13, wherein the provided expeditionary modules further comprise one or more U-channel tracks located on the floor of the containers, wherein the U-channel tracks are configured to receive the casters of the MCP carts.

19. The process of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

locking one or more of the MCP carts to the floor of the container.

20. The process of claim 13, wherein the provided expeditionary modules further comprise a suite of standardized equipment within the interior of the container.

21. The process of claim 13, wherein the container comprises a standard shipping container.

22. The process of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

connecting a first of the MCP carts to a second of the MCP carts.

23. The process of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

connecting one of the MCP carts to the container.

24. The process of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

connecting a container of a first of the expeditionary modules to a container of a second of the expeditionary modules.

25. A system comprising one or more expeditionary modules, wherein each of the expeditionary modules comprises:

a container having an interior defined therein, wherein the container extends from a first end to a second end, and wherein the container comprises

one or more doors at the first end,

a floor, and

a ceiling opposite the floor;

one or more mission capabilities package (MCP) carts, wherein the MCP carts comprise at least one retaining mechanism; and

a mechanism for stowing the MCP carts within the interior of the container, wherein the stowing mechanism comprises

an I-Beam rail affixed to the ceiling within the interior of the container, wherein the I-Beam rail extends longitudinally from the first end of the container toward the second end of the container, and

at least one retaining mechanism associated with the MCP carts that is configured to confine movement of the MCP carts along the I-Beam rail;

wherein the expeditionary modules may be configured in a plurality of configurations.

26. An expeditionary module, comprising:

a container having an interior defined therein, wherein the container extends from a first end to a second end, and wherein the container comprises

one or more doors at the first end,

a floor, and

a ceiling opposite the floor;

one or more mission capabilities package (MCP) carts, wherein the MCP carts comprise at least one retaining mechanism; and

a mechanism for stowing the MCP carts within the interior of the container, wherein the stowing mechanism comprises

one or more tracks recessed within the floor of the container, wherein the wherein the tracks extend longitudinally from the first end of the container toward the second end of the container,

wherein the tracks are configured to receive the MCP carts; and

at least one retaining mechanism associated with the MCP carts that is configured to confine the MCP carts with respect to the tracks.