Abstract:
The mobile chemical agent delivery system provides a controlled means for employing chemical agents. At least one canister located within the vehicle supplies the chemical agent to a needle through an injector line. The needle mounts to a cap receiver, which in turn mounts to a receiver on the vehicle. During use, the vehicle drives toward a building until the needle passes through a wall, door or window, permitting users in the vehicle to controllably deploy chemical agents into the building. Users can remove and replace exhausted canisters while the vehicle remains in position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of chemical delivery systems, more specifically to a vehicle-mounted chemical delivery system. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Gas injector systems allowing a tactical vehicle to inject chemical agents into a structure are currently in use by law enforcement and the government. They permit operators to administer a chemical agent such as CS gas or pepper spray into a structure without the use of potentially harmful projectile systems or the need to leave the safety of the vehicle. 
         [0005]    One such system known in the art is the Gas Injector Unit (GIU), a multi-use tool designed specifically for the dispersion of chemical agents into a hostile environment, including homes, automobiles and other hardened structures. The injector unit mounts to a vehicle ram, allowing an operator to deliver a chemical agent from the safety of a vehicle. 
         [0006]    The GIU system consists of a single pre-filled canister containing a fluid substance such as CS gas, a housing adapted to receive the canister, an actuation mechanism designed to trigger delivery of the substance within the canister and a needle designed to deliver the substance through a barrier such as a door or wall. 
         [0007]    There are several problems with this system and its use known in the art. The canister is single use and only contains a standard amount of chemical agent that may be too much or too little for a structure. For example, a single 6 oz. CS gas canister is capable of filling 23,000 cubic feet of space. This amount is insufficient for a large structure such as a warehouse, but would create hazardous CS gas concentrations in a single room of a house. Useful chemical agents such as flame retardant sprays are only useable if they are available in canisters sized to fit the GIU; many are not. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, it is frequently necessary to replace the canister due to exhaustion of the contents or the need to use a different chemical agent. Replacing the canister requires that the entire system be removed and disassembled. This is hazardous proposition during police activities, as it requires officers to exit the vehicle. Usually, officers remove the vehicle from the scene to a safe location, often several minutes away, and then replace the canister. Unfortunately, this is a time-consuming effort, which may give criminals time to don protective gear or escape the scene. 
         [0009]    Additionally, the actuator used to activate the system is complex, requiring two to three cables with appropriate connections and a remote pin actuator. Failure of a single component leaves the system useless. Moreover, the rough maneuvering of a vehicle over sidewalks, stairs, debris and other obstacles may damage or disconnect the cables and actuator, rendering the system inoperable until repaired. Again, this requires removal of the vehicle from the scene to a safe location, with no guarantee that the problem will not reoccur when the vehicle traverses the terrain once again. 
         [0010]    It is desirable to have a system that is not reliant on single use, standard issue canisters of a chemical agent, but is capable of being tailored to a wide variety of chemical agent types and quantities. 
         [0011]    It is also desirable to have a system that allows for rapid replacement of exhausted canisters without requiring that an operator leave the scene or exit the safety of the vehicle. 
         [0012]    It is further desirable to have a system that is not reliant on extended, complex, failure-prone systems for actuation. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present invention is a mobile chemical agent delivery system that includes at least one canister containing a fluid chemical agent. A main injector line connects to the canister by a coupling. A needle system connects to a cap receiver. The needle system comprises a needle having at least one needle aperture. The cap receiver comprises a mounting component and a baseplate having a chemical aperture. The mounting component is connected to a receiver. A proximal end of the needle is inserted in the chemical aperture. A jumper line connects the needle and the main injector line. A receiver couples to a vehicle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a system view of an exemplary mobile chemical agent delivery system (MCADS) installed in a vehicle. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 2 a -2 c    illustrate exploded partial system views of an MCADS. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 3 a -3 c    illustrate back, side and front views, respectively, of a cap receiver. 
       
    
    
     TERMS OF ART 
       [0017]    As used herein, the term “distal” means a location situated away from a central point. 
         [0018]    As used herein, the term “proximal” means a location situated nearer to a central point. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates a system view of an exemplary mobile chemical agent delivery system (MCADS) installed in a vehicle. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 2 a -2 c    illustrate exploded partial system views of MCADS  100 . MCADS  100  includes a canister compartment  10 , a main injector line  15 , a flow regulator  20 , a remote cable  30 , a main control unit (MCU)  40 , a needle  50 , a cap receiver  60 , at least one push bar  70  and a receiver  80 . 
         [0021]    Canister compartment  10  substantially encloses at least one canister  11 . In the exemplary embodiment, canister compartment  10  contains three canisters  11 . In other embodiments, canister compartment  10  contains between one and six canisters  11 . Canisters  11  are high-pressure canisters configured to hold a measured amount of a fluid chemical agent. Users can refill canisters  11  after release of all of the chemical agent. These canisters  11  may include any chemical agent, such as, but not limited to, CS gas, pepper spray, inert gas used to flush the system, an obscuring agent, such as smoke, or a safety chemical, such as flame retardant. 
         [0022]    A control valve system  12  removably and sealingly connects to canisters  11  and to main injector line  15 . Control valve system  12  controls release of the chemical agent through MCU  40 . Control valve system  12  may have a simple open/close configuration or may be configured to control and/or measure the rate of flow. Meters and gauges used to control and/or measure the rate of flow may be analog or digital. Control valve system  12  also allows removal of an exhausted canister  11  and replacement with a filled canister  11 . Safety release valve  13  vents to the exterior of the vehicle in case of emergency. 
         [0023]    Coupling  14  connects all canisters  11  to valve system  12 . In one embodiment, main injector line  15  sealingly connects to control valve system  12 . Main injector line  15  may include, but is not limited to, a flexible polymer conduit, a polymer-reinforced flexible polymer conduit, a carbon-reinforced flexible polymer conduit, a metal-reinforced flexible polymer conduit, a flexible metal conduit, a polymer-reinforced flexible metal conduit, a carbon-reinforced flexible metal conduit, and a metal-reinforced flexible metal conduit. Main injector line  15  may be a single length of conduit or multiple lengths joined together. 
         [0024]    Flow regulator  20  allows for consistent and measured flow. Meters and gauges used to control and/or measure the rate of flow may be analog or digital. In the exemplary embodiment, flow regulator  20  is connected to MCU  40 . 
         [0025]    Remote cable  30  is a quick disconnect separating canister compartment  10  from MCU  40 . Remote cable  30  allows for the removal of canister compartment  10  without the removal of MCU  40  and vice versa. 
         [0026]    MCU  40  tethers to canister compartment  10  with remote cable  30 . MCU  40  includes keyed security arming/disarming system  41 , which prevents accidental or malicious arming/disarming, and main selector switch  42 , which chooses between canisters  11 . Push button actuator  43  activates gas flow from canisters  11 . Internal timing mechanism  44  provides for a predetermined time/amount of gas that passes through each valve. MCU  40  also includes an activation LED  45  showing the opening/closing of MCADS  100  components such as control valve system  12 . 
         [0027]    Needle system  50  includes needle  51 , at least one needle aperture  52 , needle stop plate  53  and quick connect  54 . 
         [0028]    Needle  51  is an elongated, hollow structure that ends in a spike-like tip. In the exemplary embodiment, needle  51  is an approximately four-foot long hardened steel pipe with a tungsten tip. The tip may be sharp or blunt. The proximal section of needle  51  is attached to needle stop plate  53 . The distal end of needle  51  includes at least one needle aperture  52  for delivery of the chemical agent. While needle  51  of the exemplary embodiment includes three needle apertures  52 , other embodiments may include between one and twenty needle apertures  52 , depending on the type and volume of chemical agent. Needle apertures  52  may be located along one side of needle  51  or multiple sides. The outlet ports may be arranged in a line, a ring, a spiral, a grid, a staggered pattern, any other pattern configuration as required or multiples of these configurations. In the exemplary embodiment, needle apertures  52  are perpendicularly bored holes staggered along the distal 18 inches of needle  51 . 
         [0029]    In the exemplary embodiment, needle stop plate  53  is a steel stop plate measuring approximately 4 inches tall, approximately 4 inches wide and approximately 4 inches thick, located around needle  51 . In the exemplary embodiment, needle stop plate  53  is a four-sided plate; in other embodiments, needle stop plate  53  may have a configuration of between three and twelve sides. In the exemplary embodiment, needle stop plate  53  and needle  51  are attached together by means of welding. In other embodiments, the components are attached by use of adhesive or solder. In still other embodiments, the components are formed integrally through molding or casting. 
         [0030]    Quick connect  54  of the exemplary embodiment is a standard male gas quick connect fitting. In other embodiments, it may be a standard female gas quick connect fitting or an angled fitting. The distal end of main injector line  15  connects to the proximal end of quick connect  54  when quick connect  54  is inserted into cap receiver  60 . The distal end of quick connect  54  is threaded for connection to a proximal end of needle  51 . 
         [0031]    Push bar  70  is a hollow shaft adapted to house main injector line  15 . In the exemplary embodiment, push bar  70  has a four-sided cross-section and connects at its proximal end to receiver  80  or to another push bar  70 . Other embodiments contemplate geometrical cross-sections of push bar  70  having between three and twelve sides. 
         [0032]    In use, receiver  80  mounts to the front of the vehicle. Receiver  80  receives and connects to at least one push bar  70 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 3 a -3 c    illustrate back, side and front views, respectively, of a cap receiver  60 . Cap receiver  60  includes mounting component  61 , optional reinforcing walls  62   a - 62   d,  optional plate rim  63 , plate facets  64   a - 64   h,  baseplate  65  and chemical aperture  66 . In the exemplary embodiment, mounting component  61 , reinforcing walls  62   a - 62   d,  plate rim  63 , plate facets  64   a - 64   h  and baseplate  65  are separate components attached together by means of welding. In other embodiments, the components attach by use of adhesive or solder. In still other embodiments, cap receiver  60  is formed integrally through molding or casting. In the exemplary embodiment, mounting component  61 , reinforcing walls  62   a - 62   d,  plate rim  63 , plate facets  64   a - 64   h  and baseplate  65  are made from hardened steel plates measuring approximately 1 inch thick. 
         [0034]    Mounting component  61  is an elongated component configured to partially insert into at least one push bar  70 . In the exemplary embodiment, mounting component  61  has a four-sided cross-section and connects at its proximal end to at least one push bar  70 . Other embodiments contemplate geometrical cross-sections of mounting component  61  having between three and twelve sides. Mounting component  61  is partially bored out to house quick connect  54 . 
         [0035]    Optional reinforcing walls  62   a - 62   d  interconnect mounting component  61  with plate rim  63 , plate facets  64   a - 64   h  and baseplate  65 . Reinforcing walls  62   a - 62   d  are located equidistantly about the distal end of mounting component  61  and strengthen cap receiver  60  to prevent it from bending or crumpling when subjected to force. While the exemplary embodiment uses four reinforcing walls  62   a - 62   d,  other embodiments may use between two and 24, depending on applications and the thickness of reinforcing walls and other elements of cap receiver  60 . 
         [0036]    Plate rim  63 , plate facets  64   a - 64   h  and baseplate  65  form a half shell with a substantially rhombicuboctahedron configuration attached to mounting component  61  at baseplate  65 . The optional connection to reinforcing walls  62   a - 62   d  occurs at plate rim  63  and at least one of plate facets  64   a - 64   h.    
         [0037]    Optional plate rim  63  is a multisided rim attached to plate facets  64   a - 64   h  along its distal edge. In the exemplary embodiment, the number of sides of plate rim  63  is equal to the number of plate facets  64   a - 64   h  and all of plate facets  64   a - 64   h  share at least one edge with plate rim  63 . Other contemplated embodiments include plate facets which do not share edges with plate rim  63 , and a plate rim with between three and 24 sides. 
         [0038]    Plate facets  64   a - 64   h  are angled planar components which connect along their edges to plate rim  63 , other plate facets  64   a - 64   h  and/or baseplate  65 . The exemplary embodiment includes eight plate facets  64   a - 64   h  with four-sided and three-sided configurations, each forming a 45-degree angle with plate rim  63  and baseplate  65 . Other contemplated embodiments include between three and 24 plate facets, with different geometrical configurations having between three and twelve sides, forming angles with plate rim  63  and/or baseplate  65  between 0 and 180 degrees. 
         [0039]    Baseplate  65  connects to plate facets along all edges and includes chemical aperture  66 . While baseplate  65  of the exemplary embodiment has a four-sided configuration, other contemplated embodiments include different geometrical configurations having between three and twelve sides. 
         [0040]    Chemical aperture  66  permits insertion of needle  51  through baseplate  65 , enabling passage of the chemical agent from canisters  11  to needle assembly  50 . Jumper line  67  is a high-pressure gas quick connect line joining quick connect  54  in cap receiver  60  to main injector line  15  in push bar  70 . 
         [0041]    In use, an operator drives a vehicle up to a structure and advances until needle  51  has penetrated a wall, door or window of the structure. Once all needle apertures  52  are inside the structure, the operator employs MCU  40  to release the chemical agent. Once a canister  11  is empty, an operator may remove it from canister compartment  10 , replace it with a new, filled canister  11  and repeat the deployment process without ever leaving the vehicle or disassembling MCADS  100 . Different canisters  11  may all contain the same chemical agent or each may contain a different agent to be deployed as needed. 
         [0042]    It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, procedures and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. 
         [0043]    It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale; instead, emphasis has been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, the terms “substantially” or “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related.