Mobile inspection facility

• US RE47,686 E1
• Filed: 09/12/2017
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilson, II, Thomas Joseph, Ihm, Stephen Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K
• Application Number:
  US15/701,866
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: N/A

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure describe a wheeled vehicle having a structure attached thereto and configured to acquire within the interior of the structure a vehicle to be inspected. The structure is configured to receive the vehicle within its interior. In example implementations, the structure is located relative to the wheeled vehicle such that the vehicle to be inspected is loaded into and received within the structure during travel of the wheeled vehicle past the vehicle to be inspected. Having loaded the vehicle into the structure, the vehicle may be inspected. Once inspection is complete, the vehicle may be unloaded from the structure. In example implementations, the structure is located relative to the wheeled vehicle such that the inspected vehicle is unloaded from the structure during travel of the wheeled vehicle past the inspected vehicle. The wheeled vehicle may transport the structure to the site of another vehicle to be inspected.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle;

a housing mounted to a lateral side of the vehicle, the housing comprising being sized and shaped to house a damaged vehicle, wherein the housing comprises an interior chamber and, an area within the interior chamber at which an object the damaged vehicle is positionable, an opening sized and shaped to permit passage of the damaged vehicle into and out of the interior chamber, and one or more wheels proximate to an outer lateral wall of the housing, and wherein the housing, while mounted to the vehicle, is positionable between a raised position and a lowered position; and

a plurality of sensing devices positioned within the interior chamber of the housing and aimed at the area, each one of the plurality of sensing devices being configured to generate sensor data corresponding to the object damaged vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the object is a damaged vehicle; and

the housing is sized and shaped to house the damaged vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the housing comprises an opening sized and shaped to permit passage of the damaged vehicle into and out of the interior chamber of the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 1, wherein:

the opening has a width between about 8 feet to about 15 feet.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 1, wherein:

the opening has a width of about 12 feet.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the housing comprises one or more wheels proximate to an outer lateral wall of the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a mechanism configured to raise and lower the housing vertically between a first position at which the housing is relatively further from a ground level and a second position at which the housing is relatively closer to the ground level.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 1, further comprising:

an imaging device configured to generate a video feed of an exterior area adjacent to the opening of the housing; and

a display device positioned within the vehicle and configured to display the video feed.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the display device is further configured to display, on the video feed, an overlay image that depicts an edge of the opening of the housing relative to the exterior area.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 1, wherein:

the opening is formed in a front side wall of the housing, the front side wall being substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a second opening formed in a rear side wall of the housing disposed opposite the front side wall.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a passageway formed through the interior chamber of the housing between the opening formed in the front side wall and the second opening formed in the rear side wall; and

wherein the passageway is sized and shaped to permit passage of the damaged vehicle through the passageway.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the passageway has a width between about 8 feet to about 15 feet.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the passageway has a width of about 12 feet.

15. The apparatus of claim 3 1, further comprising:

a device configured to assist transporting the damaged vehicle into the interior chamber of the housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the device comprises one of a winch, a conveyor belt, or a series of lineshaft rollers.

17. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a platform positioned behind a cab of the vehicle and supporting the housing; and

a ramp connected to the platform and configured to extend between a rear edge of the platform to a ground level.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a damage assessment system configured to perform an analysis of the sensor data generated by one or more of the plurality of sensing devices and identify damage that has occurred to the object damaged vehicle based on the analysis of the sensor data.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the damage assessment system is further configured to estimate a cost to repair or replace the object damaged vehicle based on the damage identified.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of sensing devices comprise one or more of;

(i) a first device configured to generate one or more images of the object damaged vehicle wherein the images comprise one or more of a two-dimensional image of the object damaged vehicle, a three-dimensional image of the object damaged vehicle, a tomographic image of the object damaged vehicle, an infrared image of the object damaged vehicle, a magnetic resonance image of the object damaged vehicle, or an X-ray of the object damaged vehicle,

(ii) a second device configured to measure the object damaged vehicle using a laser,

(iii) a third device configured to measure the object damaged vehicle using pressure waves, or

(iv) a fourth device configured to detect a fluid associated with the object damaged vehicle.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a lift positioned at the area at which the object is positionable and configured to move the object between a raised position and a lowered position; and

a robotic arm positioned within the housing and configured to grasp and reposition a portion of the object.

22. A method comprising:

driving an apparatus to a location of a damaged vehicle, the apparatus comprising;

(i) a vehicle,

(ii) a housing mounted to a lateral side of the vehicle, the housing comprising an interior chamber, an opening sized and shaped to permit passage of the damaged vehicle into the interior chamber, and an area within the interior chamber at which the damaged vehicle is positionable, and a wall that forms the opening of the housing and is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle, wherein the housing, as mounted to the vehicle, is positionable between a raised position and a lowered position, and

(iii) a plurality of sensing devices positioned within the interior chamber of the housing and aimed at the area, each one of the plurality of sensing devices being configured to generate sensor data corresponding to the damaged vehicle;

receiving the damaged vehicle through the opening and into the interior chamber of the housing wherein the receiving comprises aligning the opening with the damaged vehicle and driving the apparatus in a direction that causes the damaged vehicle to pass through the opening and into the interior chamber of the housing;

positioning the damaged vehicle at the area; and

performing an inspection of the damaged vehicle using one or more of the plurality of sensing devices to generate sensor data corresponding to the damaged vehicle.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the housing further comprises a wall that forms the opening of the housing and is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle; and

receiving the damaged vehicle within the interior chamber of the housing comprises aligning the opening with the damaged vehicle and driving the apparatus in a direction that causes the vehicle to pass through the opening and into the interior chamber of the housing.

24. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle;

a housing mounted to the vehicle and positioned on a lateral side of the vehicle, the housing comprising;

an interior chamber sized and shaped to house a damaged vehicle,

an area within the interior chamber at which the damaged vehicle is positionable,

a front side wall that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle, the front side wall forming a first opening sized and shaped to permit passage of a damaged vehicle into and out of the interior chamber,

a rear side wall that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle and disposed opposite to the front side wall, the rear side wall forming a second opening sized and shaped to permit passage of the damaged vehicle into and out of the interior chamber,

a lower surface extending between the front side wall and the rear side wall;

a passageway formed through the lower surface and extending between the first opening and the second opening, the passageway being sized and shaped to permit passage of the damaged vehicle through the interior chamber of the housing,

a lateral wall extending between the front side wall and the rear side wall and disposed opposite the lateral side of the vehicle, and

one or more wheels positioned proximate to the lateral wall;

a plurality of sensing devices positioned within the interior chamber of the housing and aimed at the area, each one of the plurality of sensing devices being configured to generate sensor data corresponding to the damaged vehicle; and

a damage assessment system configured to identify damage that has occurred to the damaged vehicle based on an analysis of the sensor data and estimate a cost to repair or replace the damaged vehicle based on the damage identified.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle;

a housing adjacent to a lateral side of the vehicle, the apparatus being sized and shaped to house a damaged vehicle, wherein the apparatus comprises an interior chamber, an area within the interior chamber at which the damaged vehicle is positionable, an opening sized and shaped to permit passage of the damaged vehicle into and out of the interior chamber of the apparatus, wherein the housing comprises one or more wheels proximate to an outer lateral wall of the housing, and wherein the housing, while adjacent to the vehicle, is positionable between a raised position and a lowered position; and

a plurality of sensing devices positioned within the interior chamber of the apparatus and aimed at the area, each one of the plurality of sensing devices being configured to generate sensor data corresponding to the damaged vehicle.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein:

the opening has a width between about 8 feet to about 15 feet.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein:

the opening has a width of about 12 feet.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

an imaging device configured to generate a video feed of an exterior area adjacent to the opening of the housing; and

a display device positioned within the vehicle and configured to display the video feed.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein:

the display device is further configured to display, on the video feed, an overlay image that depicts an edge of the opening of the housing relative to the exterior area.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein:

the opening is formed in a front side wall of the apparatus, the front side wall being substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:

a second opening formed in a rear side wall of the apparatus disposed opposite the front side wall.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:

a passageway formed through the interior chamber of the apparatus between the opening formed in the front side wall and the second opening formed in the rear side wall; and

wherein the passageway is sized and shaped to permit passage of the damaged vehicle through the passageway.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein:

the passageway has a width between about 8 feet to about 15 feet.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein:

the passageway has a width of about 12 feet.

35. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a device configured to assist transporting the damaged vehicle into the interior chamber of the apparatus.

36. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a damage assessment system configured to perform an analysis of the sensor data generated by one or more of the plurality of sensing devices and identify damage that has occurred to the damaged vehicle based on the analysis of the sensor data.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein:

the damage assessment system is further configured to estimate a cost to repair or replace the damaged vehicle based on the damage identified.

38. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the plurality of sensing devices comprise one or more of:

(i) a first device configured to generate one or more images of the damaged vehicle wherein the images comprise one or more of a two-dimensional image of the damaged vehicle, a three-dimensional image of the damaged vehicle, a tomographic image of the damaged vehicle, an infrared image of the damaged vehicle, a magnetic resonance image of the damaged vehicle, or an X-ray of the damaged vehicle,

(ii) a second device configured to measure the damaged vehicle using a laser,

(iii) a third device configured to measure the damaged vehicle using pressure waves, or

(iv) a fourth device configured to detect a fluid associated with the damaged vehicle.

39. A method comprising:

driving an apparatus to a damaged vehicle analysis location, the apparatus comprising;

(i) a vehicle,

(ii) a housing adjacent to a lateral side of the vehicle, the apparatus further comprising an interior chamber, an opening sized and shaped to permit passage of the damaged vehicle into the interior chamber, an area within the interior chamber at which the damaged vehicle is positionable, and a wall that forms the opening of the housing and is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle, wherein the housing, as adjacent to the vehicle, is positionable between a raised position and a lowered position, and

(iii) a plurality of sensing devices positioned within the interior chamber of the apparatus and aimed at the area, each one of the plurality of sensing devices being configured to generate sensor data corresponding to the damaged vehicle;

receiving the damaged vehicle through the opening and into the interior chamber of the apparatus wherein the receiving comprises aligning the opening with the damaged vehicle and driving the apparatus in a direction that causes the damaged vehicle to pass through the opening and into the interior chamber of the apparatus;

positioning the damaged vehicle at the area; and

performing an inspection of the vehicle using one or more of the plurality of sensing devices to generate sensor data corresponding to the damaged vehicle.

40. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle;

a housing adjacent to the vehicle and positioned on a lateral side of the vehicle, wherein the housing comprises;

an interior chamber sized and shaped to house a damaged vehicle, an area within the interior chamber at which the damaged vehicle is positionable,

a front side wall that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle, the front side wall forming a first opening sized and shaped to permit passage of a damaged vehicle into and out of the interior chamber,

a rear side wall that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle and disposed opposite to the front side wall, the rear side wall forming a second opening sized and shaped to permit passage of the damaged vehicle into and out of the interior chamber,

a lower surface extending between the front side wall and the rear side wall;

a passageway formed through the lower surface and extending between the first opening and the second opening, the passageway being sized and shaped to permit passage of the damaged vehicle through the interior chamber of the apparatus,

a lateral wall extending between the front side wall and the rear side wall and disposed opposite the lateral side of the vehicle, and

one or more wheels positioned proximate to the lateral wall;

a plurality of sensing devices positioned within the interior chamber of the apparatus and aimed at the area, each one of the plurality of sensing devices being configured to generate sensor data corresponding to the damaged vehicle; and

a damage assessment system configured to identify damage that has occurred to the damaged vehicle based on an analysis of the sensor data and estimate a cost to repair or replace the damaged vehicle based on the damage identified.