Vehicle for deploying a mobile surveillance module

• US 9,669,690 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2016
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TerraHawk LLC
• Original Assignee: TerraHawk LLC
• Inventors: James, Tom R., Spence, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): KNUTSON, JACOB D
• Application Number:
  US15/098,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20160229276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 2807641, 296 2606, 182 695
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/165 at least a major part of the roof being lifted on all corners
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/02 with parallel up-and-down movement of load supporting or containing element in combination with tipping B60P1/34; devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes, movable on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/06 ; suspensions with electronic levelling control during loading or unloading B60G17/0157
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 9/02 for only lifting or supporting

Abstract

A surveillance module may be deployed from a vehicle. The vehicle to deploy the surveillance module includes a first portion configured to accommodate a user to operate the vehicle. A second portion includes a module configured to accommodate the user and comprising a roof and an entrance accessible through an interior of the vehicle from the first portion. The second portion also includes a lifting mechanism coupled to the module and operable to move the module vertically from a retracted position to an extended position. A third portion defines an opening to accommodate the module, wherein the roof of the module couples to a periphery of the opening in the retracted position.

Claims

1. A vehicle for deploying a surveillance module, comprising:

a first portion configured to accommodate a user to operate the vehicle;

a second portion comprising;

the module as an enclosed housing configured to accommodate the user and comprising a roof and an entrance accessible through an interior of the vehicle from the first portion; and

a lifting mechanism coupled to the module and operable to move the module vertically from a retracted position to an extended position; and

a third portion defining an opening to accommodate the module, wherein the module is completely above the opening in the extended position.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

at least two jacks, each jack operable to extend from the vehicle to a surface to stabilize the vehicle;

a plurality of sensors operable to generate a plurality of signals responsive to a condition of the surface contacted by the jacks; and

a processor coupled to the sensors and operable to receive the signals to control the jacks, wherein the processor is further operable to initiate adjustment of the jacks after contact with the surface in response to the signals.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, further comprising a user interface mounted inside the module, wherein the processor is further operable to receive a deploy signal from the user interface before moving the module vertically from the retracted position.

4. The vehicle of claim 2, further comprising a hydraulic unit coupled to the lifting mechanism and the jacks and operable to distribute hydraulic fluid to the lifting mechanism and the jacks, wherein:

the processor is coupled to the hydraulic unit and is further operable to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid to the lifting mechanism and the jacks; and

the hydraulic unit further comprises a manifold to distribute hydraulic fluid to the lifting mechanism and the jacks, wherein the manifold comprises a plurality of control valves and is operable to distribute the hydraulic fluid through a control valve to a selected one of the lifting mechanism and the jacks.