Communications vehicle

• US 8,576,548 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2012
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Clifton, Christopher, Pruett, James M., Myers, David, Mitchell, Philip S., Jones, Dean Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoa C
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, BINH BACH THANH
• Application Number:
  US13/626,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20130016491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 361/814, 361/600, 361/601, 361/605, 361/606, 361/614, 361/616, 361/627, 361/633, 361/644, 361/730, 454/119
• US Class Current: 361/633
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1235 Collapsible supports; Means for erecting a rigid antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49194 Assembling elongated conductors, e.g., splicing, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49959 Nonresilient fastener

Abstract

A vehicle is provided that includes a shelter thereon that includes electronics therein. The shelter includes ports on the exterior thereof that permit data and power exchange between the vehicle and another similarly configured vehicle. The vehicle further includes dedicated wiring raceways that separate wiring having different uses.

Claims

1. A communications assembly including:

a shelter housing comprising a plurality of walls comprising a first, second, third and fourth wall, wherein one of said walls comprises a moveable door adapted to enable an operator to enter or exit said shelter housing;

a first, second, and third cabling, wherein said first cabling is adapted for carrying a radio frequency transmitting signal to an antenna, said second cabling is adapted for carrying non-radio frequency data transmitting signals, said third cabling is adapted for alternating current and direct current transmitting signals;

a first cabling raceway disposed within the shelter housing, the first cabling raceway being adapted to contain and route said first cabling;

a second cabling raceway disposed within the shelter housing, the second cabling raceway being adapted to contain and route said second cabling adapted for non-radio frequency data transmitting; and

a third cabling raceway disposed within the shelter housing, the third cabling raceway being exclusively dedicated for said third cabling adapted for alternating current and direct current transmitting;

a signal interface panel assembly adapted to extend through and couple with one of said walls of said shelter housing, said signal interface panel assembly comprising an outer and inner frame members, a first and second plurality of signal interface panels each adapted to receive and mount one or more electrical signal ports, a plurality of electromagnetic interference gaskets, and a plurality of fasteners adapted to couple said first and second plurality of signal interface panels with said inner and outer frame members;

wherein said inner and outer frame members are formed with a plurality of openings each defined by mounting flanges defining gasket seats sections, said gasket seat sections are adapted couple with each of said electromagnetic interference gaskets, at least one of said plurality of electromagnetic interference gaskets are disposed between each said signal interface panels and a respective one of said gasket seat sections;

wherein said inner frame member is positioned on an opposing side of said signal interface panel assembly from said outer frame member, said outer frame member is formed with a first frame section and a second frame section, wherein said first frame section is formed at an angle relative to said second frame section, each of said first and second frame sections are each adapted to receive at least one said signal interface panel and said electromagnetic interference gaskets;

wherein said first, second and third cabling raceways are disposed along at least three of said plurality of walls.

2. The communications assembly of claim 1, wherein the first cabling being coupled to at least one radio antenna.

3. The communications assembly of claim 1, wherein the second cabling being coupled to at least one non-radio frequency data transmission source.

4. The communications assembly of claim 3, wherein the second cabling is further coupled to said signal interface assembly, the signal interface assembly providing said port accessible to the outside of the shelter housing, the port shaped and sized to receive a cable therein to electrically couple the cable to the at least one non-radio frequency data transmission source.

5. The communications assembly of claim 1, the third cabling being coupled to an electronic device, the electronic device receiving power from the third cabling.

6. The communications assembly of claim 5, wherein the third cabling is further coupled to said signal interface assembly, the signal interface assembly providing said port accessible to the outside of the shelter housing, the port shaped and sized to receive a cable therein to electrically couple the cable to the electronic device.

7. The communications assembly of claim 6, wherein the cable provides power to the electronic device.

8. The communications assembly of claim 6, wherein the cable transmits power from the electronic device.

9. The communications assembly of claim 6, wherein the cable is further coupled to a power generator.

10. The communications assembly of claim 1, wherein the first raceway extends generally parallel to a top of the shelter assembly and at a first distance from the top of the shelter assembly.

11. The communications assembly of claim 10, wherein the second raceway extends generally parallel to the top of the shelter assembly and at a second distance from the top of the shelter assembly, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

12. The communications assembly of claim 11, wherein the third raceway extends generally parallel to the top of the shelter assembly and at a third distance from the top of the shelter assembly, the third distance being greater than the second distance.

13. A communications vehicle, including:

a vehicle frame;

a first shelter housing supported by the frame, the first shelter housing defining an interior and an exterior;

a first communication device located within the interior of the first shelter housing; and

a first signal interface positioned on the first shelter housing, the first signal interface including an inner frame member and outer frame member positioned on opposing sides of said first signal interface, said signal interface further comprising a first and second plurality of ports disposed respectively in a plurality of first and second removable panels coupled respectively to said inner and outer frame members, each one of said first plurality of ports is coupled to a corresponding one of said second plurality of ports by at least one or more conductive member between said inner and outer frame members, at least one pair of said first and second said ports are adapted to be in communication with the first communication device;

wherein the first communication device includes software therein that permits the first communication device to control and operate a second communication device that is substantially similar to the first communication device, that is located in a second shelter housing separate from the first shelter housing containing the first communication device, and that is electrically coupled via a wire to the signal interface.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first and second communication devices are radios.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein each radio independently provides four channels of radio frequency communication.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first radio, when coupled to the second radio, controls all provided channels of radio frequency communication.

17. A vehicle array including:

a first vehicle including a first signal interface comprising a first power input interface and a first power output interface;

a second vehicle including a second signal interface comprising a second power input interface and a second power output interface;

a power generator having a third power output interface;

a first power cable linking the third power output interface of the power generator to the first power input interface of the first vehicle; and

a second power cable linking the first power output interface of the first vehicle to the second power input interface of the second vehicle;

wherein the first and second signal interfaces each further comprise an inner frame member and outer frame member, each of said inner and outer frame members are positioned on opposing sides of said first and second signal interfaces, each of said inner and outer frame members further comprise a plurality of removable plates coupled to each of said inner and outer frames by a plurality of removable fasteners, at least one of said first power input interfaces and said first power output interfaces are coupled to one of said plurality of removable plates;

a plurality of conductive members, wherein at least one of said conductive members are coupled to each of said first power input interfaces and said first power output interfaces at a first section, each of said conductive members are further attached to an interface section one of said plurality of removable plates, wherein said interface sections are adapted to permit an electrical power signal to pass through said removable plates;

wherein said first and second vehicles further respectively comprise a first and second power section, wherein said first power section is adapted to receive power from said first power input coupled to said power generator by said first power cable and transfer power from said power generator to said second vehicle from said first power output through said second power cable.

18. The vehicle array of claim 17, wherein the power input interfaces and power output interfaces of the first and second vehicles are each disposed in exterior walls of respective housings that are disposed on frames of the respective first and second vehicles.

19. The vehicle array of claim 18, wherein the housings of each vehicle contain communications equipment in electrical communication with the respective power input interface.

20. The vehicle array of claim 19, further including a data cable linking a signal interface of the housing of the first vehicle to a signal interface of the second vehicle.

21. A vehicle array as in claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of electromagnetic interference gaskets;

wherein said inner and outer frame members are formed with a plurality of openings each defined by mounting flanges defining gasket seats sections, said gasket seat sections are adapted couple with each of said electromagnetic interference gaskets, said plurality of removable panels are formed so edges of said removable panels do not extend beyond said gasket seat sections, at least one of said plurality of electromagnetic interference gaskets are disposed between each said plurality of removable panels and a respective one of said gasket seat sections.

22. A vehicle array as in claim 17, wherein said outer frame member is formed with a first frame section and a second frame section, each said first frame section and said frame section are formed with at least one said removable plate, wherein said first frame section is formed at an angle relative to said second frame section.

23. A vehicle including:

a frame,

an engine supported by the frame, the engine operatively coupled to ground engaging members and capable of imparting motion to at least one of the ground engaging members;

a shelter housing coupled to the frame and dependent upon the frame for supporting the shelter housing;

a first communication device located within the interior of the shelter housing; and

a signal interface adapted to extend through and couple with the shelter housing, the signal interface including an outer and inner frame members, a plurality of removable panels, a first and second plurality of signal interface panels each adapted to receive and mount one or more ports thereon in communication the first communication device, each said inner and outer frame is formed with a plurality of openings defined by an interface flange surrounding said openings, each of said removable panels are formed having edges that do not extend past said opening flanges, each of said removable panels are coupled to said inner or outer frame by a plurality of removable fasteners, said inner frame member and said outer frame member are positioned on opposing sides of said signal interface, wherein at least one said port is disposed in each of said removable panels;

wherein the first communication device includes software therein that permits the first communication device to control and operate a second communication device that is substantially similar to the first communication device, that is located in a shelter housing separate from the shelter housing containing the first communication device, and that is electrically coupled via a wire to the signal interface.

24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein the position of the engine relative to the shelter housing is fixed.

25. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein all ground engaging members providing support to the shelter housing also provide support for the engine.

26. A power and communications system including:

a power generator having a first power output interface;

a first vehicle frame and a second vehicle frame;

a first and second engine respectively supported by the first vehicle and second vehicle frame, the engine operatively coupled to ground engaging members and capable of imparting motion to at least one of the ground engaging members;

a first shelter housing and a second shelter housing supported respectively by the first and second vehicle frames, each said shelter housing defining an interior and an exterior, wherein said first shelter housing further comprising a first interface assembly comprising a first power input interface and second power output interface, said second shelter housing further comprising a second interface assembly comprising a second power input interface and a third power output interface;

a first power cable linking the first power output interface of the power generator to the second power input interface of the first vehicle; and

a second power cable linking the second power output interface of the first vehicle to the second power input interface of the second vehicle;

a first cabling raceway disposed within each of the first and second shelter housings, the first cabling raceway being exclusively dedicated for radio frequency transmitting cabling;

a second cabling raceway disposed within each of the first and second shelter housings, the second cabling raceway being exclusively dedicated for non-radio frequency data transmitting cabling;

a third cabling raceway disposed within each of the first and second shelter housings, the third cabling raceway being exclusively dedicated for alternating current and direct current transmitting cabling;

a first communication device located within the interior of the first shelter housing;

a second communication device located within the interior of the second shelter housing; and

a first and second signal interface disposed respectively into the first and second interface assembly, the first and second signal interfaces including an outer and inner frame members, a plurality of removable panels, a first and second plurality of signal interface panels each adapted to receive and mount one or more ports therein respectively in communication the first communication device;

wherein the first communication device includes machine readable software encoded on a machine readable storage medium therein that enables the first communication device to control and operate the second communication device and that is electrically coupled via a wire to the first signal interface;

wherein the first and second communication devices are radios or electromagnetic wave communication devices, each first and second communication devices independently provides a plurality of channels for communication.

27. A power and communications system as in claim 26, the first cabling being coupled to at least one radio antenna.

28. A power and communications system as in claim 26, the second cabling being coupled to at least one non-radio frequency data transmission source.

29. A power and communications system as in claim 26, wherein each of the first raceways extends generally parallel to a top of the first and second shelter housing and at a first distance from the top of each of the first and second shelter assemblies.

30. A power and communications system as in claim 29, wherein each of the second raceways extends generally parallel to the top of the shelter assembly and at a second distance from the top of each of the first and second shelter assemblies, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

31. A power and communications system as in claim 30, wherein each of the third raceways extends generally parallel to the top of each of the first and second shelter housing and at a third distance from the top of each of the shelter assemblies, the third distance being greater than the second distance.

32. A power and communications system as in claim 26, wherein the communication device, when coupled to the second communication device, controls all provided channels of communication.

33. A power and communications system as in claim 32, wherein the power input interfaces and power output interfaces of the first and second vehicle frames are each disposed in exterior walls of respective shelter housings that are disposed on the frames of the respective first and second vehicle frames.

34. A power and communications system as in claim 26, further comprising:

a plurality of electromagnetic interference gaskets;

wherein said inner and outer frame members are formed with a plurality of openings each defined by mounting flanges defining gasket seats sections, said gasket seat sections are adapted couple with each of said electromagnetic interference gaskets, said plurality of removable panels are formed so edges of said removable panels do not extend beyond said gasket seat sections, at least one of said plurality of electromagnetic interference gaskets are disposed between each said plurality of removable panels and a respective one of said gasket seat sections.

35. A power and communications system as in claim 26, wherein said outer frame member is formed with a first frame section and a second frame section, each said first frame section and said frame section are formed with at least one said removable plate, wherein said first frame section is formed at an angle relative to said second frame section.