Motorized vehicle

• US 7,565,941 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2005
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John P. Cunningham
• Original Assignee: John P. Cunningham
• Inventors: Cunningham, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P
• Assistant Examiner(s): EBNER, KATY MEYER
• Application Number:
  US11/078,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20050230163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 180/167, 180/89.12, 89 3607- 3609
• US Class Current: 180/167
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 23/34 on wheeled or endless-track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/16 Self-propelled mine-clearing vehicles; Mine-clearing devices attachable to vehicles
• 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

Abstract

A motorized vehicle includes a vehicle body having a rigid frame in a shape of a tractor; and a plurality of audio and visual devices disposed on the vehicle body, including a camera. The vehicle can be remote-controlled, and the vehicle body may be armored and may include a weapon system. The camera may be one of a motion, thermal, digital, and near infrared camera, and may be retractable into a housing. In another embodiment, the motorized vehicle, which may be remote-controlled, includes a vehicle body having a rigid frame in a rectangular shape with sloped sides; at least one storage unit accessed by doors, disposed within the vehicle body; and a camera disposed on the vehicle body.

Claims

1. A motorized military vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body having a rigid, tractor-shaped frame and a personnel enclosure, said tractor-shaped frame having a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels rotatably mounted thereon with corresponding front and rear tires, said rear wheels/tires being larger in diameter than said front wheels/tires;

attachments disposed on the vehicle body that are operable via remote control;

a retractable camera disposed on said vehicle body, the camera being operable via remote control;

a weapon system that is disposed on said vehicle body, wherein the weapon system is adapted to emit solid projectiles that are guided toward an intended target;

a backhoe and loader disposed on said vehicle body and operative to dig into the earth to clear explosives or landmines;

a control system to control the motorized military vehicle;

a control panel that enables a user to access said control system, said control panel comprising a power button, a status button, a track control for controlling forward and reverse movement, and a swing control for controlling left and right movement of said backhoe and loader to aid in explosive or landmine clearance;

a sensor disposed on said vehicle body; and

a remote controller which remotely controls the vehicle,

wherein the vehicle is operative in a first mode manually by a user positioned within the personnel enclosure, or in a second mode via the remote controller by the user positioned at a location away from the motorized military vehicle,

wherein said sensor is operative to provide readings to the user in the first mode when the user is positioned within the personnel enclosure, or in the second mode when the user is controlling the motorized military vehicle remotely, and

wherein the remote controller is operative to place the motorized military vehicle in an autonomous mode for clearance of explosives and landmines.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said vehicle body is armored, the armor comprising appliqué

armor applied to the tractor-shaped frame of the vehicle body.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna disposed on said vehicle body.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein said antenna includes a GPS system.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

strap down rings disposed on said vehicle body, to fasten the vehicle in place.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

an outrigger assembly disposed on said vehicle body, to provide stabilization and rigidity to the vehicle when halted.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said sensor detects at least one of a biological substance or a chemical substance.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a reflector disposed on said vehicle body.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a PA system disposed on said vehicle body.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

an alarm disposed on said vehicle body.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said retractable camera is one of a motion, thermal, digital, and near infrared camera.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said retractable camera is retractable into a housing.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

an HVAC system.

14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said vehicle body includes clamps for air transport.

15. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the weapon system includes at least one of a rotary cannon or a machine gun.

16. A motorized military vehicle for use in explosives clearance and transportation of personnel and equipment, comprising:

a tractor body having a rigid, tractor-shaped frame and a personnel enclosure, said tractor-shaped frame having a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels rotatably mounted thereon with corresponding front and rear tires, said rear wheels/tires being larger in diameter than said front wheels/tires;

a backhoe with loader disposed on the tractor body, said backhoe with loader which is operative for explosives clearance and earth removal;

a hydrastatic steering system;

a control system to control the vehicle including said hydrastatic steering system;

a control panel that enables a user to access said control system, said control panel comprising a power button, a status button, a track control for controlling forward and reverse movement, and a swing control for controlling left and right movement of said backhoe with loader to aid in explosive or landmine clearance;

a remote control transmitter and receiver, which operate the motorized military vehicle by remote control;

an outrigger assembly having independently controlled linkages to elevate and lower the motorized military vehicle over terrain;

a retractable camera disposed on said tractor body, the camera being operable by said remote control;

a remote antenna including a GPS system for location of the motorized military vehicle;

a weapon system disposed on the vehicle, said weapon system which emits solid projectiles towards an intended target; and

a sensor disposed on said vehicle body and which detects at least one of a biological substance or a chemical substance,

wherein the vehicle is operative in a first mode manually by a user positioned within the personnel enclosure, or in a second mode via the remote control transmitter and receiver by the user positioned at a location away from the motorized military vehicle,

wherein said sensor is operative to provide readings to the user in the first mode when the user is positioned within the personnel enclosure, or in the second mode when the user is controlling the motorized military vehicle remotely, and

wherein the remote control transmitter and receiver are operative to place the motorized military vehicle in an autonomous mode for clearance of explosives and landmines.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein said vehicle body is armored, the armor comprising appliqué

armor applied to the tractor-shaped frame of the vehicle body.

18. The vehicle of claim 16, further comprising:

a communication system disposed within the personnel enclosure for communication between a manual user of the motorized military vehicle and personnel at a location away from the motorized military vehicle.

19. A motorized military vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body having a rigid, tractor-shaped frame;

a personnel enclosure disposed in said vehicle body, said personnel enclosure including a canopy;

a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels rotatably mounted on said vehicle body with corresponding front and rear tires, said wheels having an RPM control which controls a tractive effort and gradability of said vehicle;

an explosives clearing and minesweeping mechanism, disposed on said vehicle body;

a control system to control operation of said vehicle, including a track control for controlling forward and reverse movement, and a swing control for controlling left and right movement of said explosives clearing and minesweeping mechanism;

a remote control system to control operation of said vehicle, including multiple radio channels for said control system, and a power source for said remote control system, wherein the remote control system is operative to place the motorized military vehicle in an autonomous mode for clearance of explosives and landmines;

a transmitter disposed on said vehicle to transmit a signal to said remote control system, and a receiver for receiving said signal at said remote control system;

a motor and hydraulic system for the motorized military vehicle, and a proportional controller including a single component interface and analog proportional inputs for the hydraulic system;

attachments disposed on the vehicle body, said attachments including a remote antenna, an alarm, a retractable camera, a GPS system, a weapon system, and a communications system, said weapon system being disposed on said vehicle body, and said weapon system being operative to emit solid projectiles that are guided toward an intended target; and

a sensor disposed on said vehicle body and which detects at least one of a biological substance or a chemical substance,

wherein said sensor is operative to provide readings to the user in a first mode when the user is positioned within the personnel enclosure, or in a second mode when the user is controlling the vehicle remotely.