All-terrain hostile environment vehicle

• US 7,478,817 B1
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carsaf, LLC
• Original Assignee: Carsaf, LLC
• Inventors: Carrier, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Winner; Tony H.
• Application Number:
  US11/161,750
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.2, 180/6.24, 180/6.48, 440/12.5, 114/364, 169/52
• US Class Current: 180/6.48
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 2301/04 pivotally
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 3/003 Parts or details of the vehicle structure; vehicle arrangements not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/08 using brakes or clutches as main steering-effecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/00 Steering deflectable wheels not otherwise provided for steering positon indicators B62D15/02
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 13/00 Equipment forming part of or attachable to vessels facilitating transport over land amphibious craft, land vehicles convertible for use on water B60F; land vehicles for carrying boats B60P; hand carts for transporting boats B62B; harnesses attachable to vessels for personal carrying A45F
• 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 7/03 Air-pressurised compartments for crew; Means for preventing admission of noxious substances, e.g. combustion gas from gun barrels, in crew compartments; Sealing arrangements

Abstract

An all-terrain vehicle equipped for quick exchange of its functional components and aid units includes a frame having a mounting platform which includes a plurality of spatially positioned open surfaces, a functional unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect to the functional unit to a first part of the mounting platform, and wherein the frame is made of a polymer-matrix and metal-matrix composite.

Claims

1. An all-terrain vehicle equipped for quick exchange of its functional components and aid units, which includes:

a frame having a mounting platform which includes a plurality of spatially positioned open surfaces;

a removable engine having a quick release connector adapted to connect said engine to a first part of said mounting platform;

a removable drive shaft having a quick release connector adapted to connect said drive shaft to a second part of said mounting platform and in an operably connected manner to said engine;

a removable transmission having a quick release connector adapted to connect said transmission to a third part of said mounting platform and in an operably connected manner to said drive shaft;

at least two removable axles each having a quick release connector adapted to connect said axles to a respective fourth part and fifth part of said mounting platform and in an operably connected manner to said transmission;

a plurality of wheels each having a quick release connector adapted to connect to one of said axles; and

a steering mechanism having wheels with a quick release connector adapted to connect said steering mechanism to a sixth part of said mounting platform and in an operably connected manner to said wheels and said transmission.

2. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a sealed hull to provide said vehicle with buoyancy and said mounting platform is formed about said hull.

3. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a weapons unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect said weapons unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.

4. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a communications unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect said communications unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.

5. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a firefighting equipment unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect to said firefighting equipment unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.

6. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a microwave impulse equipment unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect to said microwave impulse equipment unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.

7. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a water cannon unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect to said water cannon unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.

8. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a search and rescue unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect to said search and rescue unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.

9. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a firefighting equipment unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect to said firefighting equipment unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.

10. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a medical unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect to said medical unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.

11. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a surveillance unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect to said surveillance unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.

12. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a fuel tank unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect to said fuel tank unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.

13. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a cargo unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect to said cargo unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.

14. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a hatch unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect to said hatch unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.

15. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes an imaging equipment unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect to said imaging equipment unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.

16. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a field sensor unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect to said field sensor unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.

17. The all-terrain vehicle of claim 1, which includes a remote control unit having a quick release connector adapted to connect to said remote control unit to a seventh part of said mounting platform.