Patent Publication Number: US-2018043953-A1

Title: Stackable disaster relief vehicle

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application is a Continuation of patent application Ser. No. 14/586,305 filed Dec. 30, 2014 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,623,922 on Apr. 18, 2017, which is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 13/582,097 filed Oct. 25, 2012 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,950,530 on Feb. 10, 2015, which is a National Stage of International patent application PCT/US2011/000298 filed Feb. 18, 2011, which claims priority to Provisional patent application 61/309,382 filed Mar. 1, 2010, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to a stackable mobile platform vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     During disasters and emergencies, in particular, normal protocols for the operation of society and infrastructure of a community may become challenged, taxed or broken, recent events in New Orleans following hurricane Katrina and the devastating earthquakes in Chile and in Haiti during  2010  are but a few examples. 
     Time is of the essence in providing relief and establishing a workable infrastructure for delivering said relief. A stackable disaster I relief vehicle platform comprises a minimal footprint for storage and shipping and is therefore well suited for storage, shipment and delivery to the scene of an emergency or disaster. 
     Providing water and electrical power in a relief situation is important for bringing calm to a situation and saving lives. The DRV platform&#39;s electrical power generator which can power the DRV with motive force for operation and use as a vehicle is switchable to export power off the DRV platform to power areas in need of assistance. The mobile platform in some implementations provides at least one of water, power and light 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned features and objects of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a stackable disaster relief vehicle “DRV” platform and electrical supply system. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a stackable disaster relief vehicle “DRV” platform. 
         FIG. 3  shows a stackable disaster relief vehicle “DRV” platform. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  show a multistack of stackable disaster relief vehicle “DRV” platforms. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  show a stackable mobile platform with rail. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  shows a stackable mobile platform with rail. 
         FIG. 7  shows a stackable disaster relief vehicle “DRV” platform with overhang rail. 
         FIGS. 8A through 8D  show a stackable mobile platform with water module and auxiliary bed. 
         FIGS. 9A through 9C  show a stackable mobile platform with water module, auxiliary bed and rails. 
         FIGS. 10A through 10C  show a stackable vehicle platform with lighting modules. 
         FIGS. 11A through 11C  show a stackable deployed vehicle platform with container module. 
         FIGS. 12A through 12D  show a deployable stackable vehicle platform with infrastructure module. 
     
    
    
     It should be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to each other for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the Figures to indicate corresponding elements. 
     DESCRIPTIONS 
     A DRV or disaster relief vehicle is a mobile platform which is uniquely adapted and adaptable for meeting emergency needs and delivering relief in situations wherein the relief providers do not have all the data points on the situation or the status of the geography, weather and population are in flux. Disclosed herein are exemplary, implementations of mobile platforms to provide at least one of relief supplies, assistance, infrastructure, communications, command, medical, electrical power generation visa vie said DRV electrical power system for output to be used for non-motive power of at least between about between about 1 and 50 KWHs, water and food. 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary implementation of stackable mobile relief platform  10 . A large flat lower deck  20  surrounds the command module  30 . The command module has an operator&#39;s seat or bench  40 , a control wheel  50 , and instrument/communication cluster  60 . Not shown are levers and/or pedals for necessary controls of acceleration, gear selection and braking. Moreover, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a steering wheel may be replaced by a joy-stick, levers or other similar controls. Additional remote control adaptations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
     The vehicle has multiple tires  70  which receive power from one or more motive force producing items such as an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, or a combination of both to power said vehicle for operation on the ground and to travel from location to location. 
     A winch  75  is shown mounted or affixed to the body  80  of the DRV. Within the frame structure of the body  80  are one or more fuel tanks  82 . The tubular farm structure is preferably implemented to have a load bearing capacity of at least about 3000 to 7000 lbs and a towing capacity of at least about 1000 to about 3000 lbs. The DRV is not constrained to meet DOT or highway safety regulations. The DRV lacks most safety features and comforts that are common place or required under highway regulations and it has high fuel capacity, high load and towing capacity. The DRV has disaster-centric functionality. 
     Also supported on the body of the DRV  80  are headlamps  85  and auxiliary front lighting  88 . One or more catches  90  which accept posts like inserts are provided in the flat lower deck  20 . One or more recessed tie down catches  92  are provided around the flat lower deck  20 . 
       FIG. 1B  shows a bottom view of a DRV and major drive train and power components are called out. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that drive train and power components are routinely modified or swapped out for different capacity, geared or powered items depending on the intended use of a mobile vehicle, the fuel available or the intended area of usage, such shop modifications are all within the scope of this disclosure. 
     The DRV contains internal combustion engine  110  which may be gasoline or diesel. The size of the engine and output is a factor of the intended usage of the vehicle,  FIG. 1B  depicts an about 1 liter diesel engine which is not a limitation. Engine  110  is connected to an on board fuel supply (not shown) and electrical storage device (battery)  120 . The electrical supply consists of one or more batteries. Engine  110  is coupled to electrical generator  130  which provides power to a motor  140  (such as a traction motor) which is coupled to transaxle  150  to supply motive force to at least some of wheels  70 . A four wheel drive 4WD or all wheel drive “AWD” coupling  160  may be added to transfer power from the engine automatically or selectively to the front wheels  70 . 
     Electrical power generated by generator  130  may be use by such things as at least one of electrical systems on the DRV, power for the DRV traction motor, equipment requiring power outside of the DRV and modules or equipment coupled with, on or to the DRV. 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art will also recognize that hybrid power system for the motive force of the vehicle may use a combination of an internal combustion engine and electrical motor to provide motive force in a parallel hybrid arrangement. It is also within the scope of the disclosure to provide motive force to the DRV via an internal combustion engine coupled to a drivetrain which and that internal combustion engine may also can be coupled to an electrical generator to provide electrical power for non-motive systems or electrical power to export off the DRV as needed. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate another DRV or disaster relief vehicle is a mobile platform in this implementation either as a replace for, or in lieu of, the flat lower deck  20  is tire receiving flat lower deck  200  in which guides  210  are formed to receive tires of another vehicle such as a DRV on top thereof. Guides  210  have front stops  220  and rear stops  230  to seat the tires of the stacked vehicle. 
       FIG. 3  shows a six wheel DRV. The body  250  is supported on 3 axels and six tires  70 . The additional tires increase the load carrying capacity of the DRV and the length of the flat lower deck  260 . The additional axle may or may not be powered. Auxiliary front lights  88  on this DRV may be fixed or titled. Said lights are shown movable up down and around the support post  89  as indicated by arrows  1000  and  1002 . Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that additional axels and wheels may be added. Further, a tank-like tread system may also be used in those instances where the additional weight of said tank tread is not determinative. 
     Delivery of the Platform 
     The DRV platform is a platform that is stackable one DRV upon another to minimize the shipping and storage footprint of the DRV. A series of two staked DRV platforms preferably weigh less than about 4500 lbs. A series of three DRV platforms, stacked preferably weight less than about 6500 lbs. The height of each DRV is minimized to provide a strong mobile structure with both a large flat surface a low height. Low height supports storage and shipping of the stacked DRVs in various existing modalities such as aircrafts, trucks and ships. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show an exemplary implementation of three stacked DRVs  300 . DRVs  10  stack on top of each other. Stacking may be completed via ramps, or lifts. Three DRVs  10  are shown on transport pallet  310 . The bottom DRV (nearest pallet  310 ) is shown lashed down with ties  320 . The ties are connected to DRV body  80  via tie down guides  325  and ties downs  330 . The tires  70  of the second and third DRV rest on flat lower deck  20  of the DRV below. The illustration of only the bottom DRV being tied down is not a limitation. In some instances the second and third DRV may be parked on the lower DRV(s) in other instances two or more DRVs may be tied down or connected together. 
     An important feature of the DRVs is that command module  30  is set low enough to allow stacking. In some instances the command module is centered between the wheels of the above DRV. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  show an implementation wherein the lower deck  410  has collapsible tripod legs  412 ,  412 ′ and  412 ″. Tripod legs  412 ,  412 ′ and  412 ″ fold into leg guides  420 ,  420 ′ and  420 ″ for storage and to maintain the flat deck. Tripod legs  412 ,  412 ′ and  412 ″ raise and connect to form raised support  425  above the flat deck. Upon raised support  425  a variety of heads may be latched (latch not shown). Latchable items shown include pull mount  430  for a cable or line  432 . Dish mount  440  which support a communications dish (which may include a parabolic listening dish, satellite, cell or other a/v system) and rotating mount  450  which is a sub mount upon which items that may require operator rotation such as water cannons, acoustic generating devices, and weapons may be placed. 
     Included within instrument/communications cluster  60  maybe a computer or docked (removable) computer, GPS navigation, satellite radio, cellular phone, video feed, and long range radio. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show an implementation wherein rail sides  502 ,  505  and  510  are removably placed in catches  90 . Lighting may be added. Side lights  515  and front light  520  are supported on said rails. One or more power boxes  530  with plug in receptacles  540  are set in the flat lower deck  20  wherein power cords  545  with plug are connected to a power supply (which may be always “on” or switched “on”). 
       FIG. 7  shows a stackable disaster relief vehicle “DRV” platform with overhang rail  550 . A front rail  560  supporting auxiliary front rail lights  565  and the overhang rail are removable. Overhang rail  550  is raised on legs  570  which mate within catches  90  in flat lower deck  200 . An upper section  575  of the overhang rail  550  cantilevers from the supported section  580  of the overhang rail  550  and provides a “U” shaped rail shelf  585  comprising supported section  580  and cantilever section  575  attached to upper cross member  588 . 
       FIGS. 8A through 8D  show a stackable disaster relief vehicle “DRV” platform with water modules and auxiliary lower support deck. The assembly view shown in  FIG. 8C  indicates that water modules  610  with valves  612  being placed onto flat lower deck  20 . Above the water modules is an auxiliary lower deck  615 . The auxiliary lower deck  615  has a deck top  620  shown as a grid mesh (however, depending on usage and weight requirements it may be wood, plastic, metal, tubular, or other materials and shapes). The auxiliary lower deck  615  is supported over the water modules with deck legs  625 . Each deck leg has a latching end  630  which fits within the catches  90  formed in the flat lower deck  20  of the DRV. The auxiliary lower deck may also have pass through catches  640  formed therein wherein additional decks, legs, supports, rails and the like may be added. Said pass through catches are shown as being aligned with the deck legs  625 . The illustration of the alignment while preferred in this implementation is not a limitation and said pass through catches may be positioned unaligned with said deck legs. Note, auxiliary lower deck when constructed of material to allow for the weight of the DRV may be used as portable bridge for drive over by DRV. 
     Within the auxiliary lower deck  615  is surround cut-out  650  to allow the driver in the command module  30  to enter and see. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that with respect to rails and the auxiliary lower deck that sizes and heights may vary within the scope of this disclosure. Moreover the auxiliary deck may be a partial deck which does not extend over the complete lower flat deck  20 . 
       FIGS. 9A through 9C  show a stackable disaster relief vehicle “DRV” platform with water modules, auxiliary lower support deck and overhang rail  570 .  FIG. 9A  is an assembly view of the DRV implantation showing aspects of the DRV. The assembly indicates that water modules  610  with valves  612  are placed onto flat lower deck  20 . Above the water modules is auxiliary lower deck  615 . The auxiliary lower deck  615  is supported over the water modules with deck legs  625 . Each deck leg has a latching end  630  which fits within the catches  90  formed in the flat lower deck  20  of the DRV. The auxiliary lower deck also has pass through catches  640  formed therein wherein the legs  570  via latch ends  572  removably mate with the pass through catches  640  in deck legs  625 . Additional pass through catches may be provided. In particular rail assemblies including but not limited to the overhang rail  550  shown in  FIG. 9B  (as well as non-over hang rails) may provide a pass through catch. In  FIG. 9B  a series of pass through rail catches are indicates as  590 . 
       FIGS. 10A through 10C  show a stackable mobile platform  700  with lighting modules. A mobile platform such as those shown in  FIGS. 1A through 3  are suitable for mobile lighting. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that specific illustrations of mobile platforms or DRVs are not limiting. Further, illustrations of a mobile platform with lighting support on a lower deck absent an auxiliary lower deck is not a limitation and such lighting could also be supported on an auxiliary lower deck or even from a pass through rail catch (such a pass through rail catch  590  shown in  FIG. 9B ) as appropriate. 
     Removable raised lighting posts are shown. Lamp post  710  with a mating latch  712  to mate with catch  90  in the lower deck supports a removable lighting head  715  which connects to contacts (not shown and is wired within also not shown) said lamp post  710 . Pole light  720  with mating latch  722  that fits within catch  90  in said flat lower deck  20  illustrates a built in lighting unit  725  containing one or more illumination elements  728 . Built in lighting unit  725  is also wired within said post (not shown). However, the wiring on lighting units may be external to the post as appropriate. A wiring harness  730  (as shown) or multiple wiring harnesses (in parallel—not shown) are used to provide electrical power to lighting/illumination. Wiring harness  730  may at least be partially threaded through the recessed tie down catches  92  to generally hold said wiring harness in place. 
     Each lamp post  710  is shown with power jack  740  and each pole light is supplied with a power jack  745  wherein electrical power is supplied to illumination providing units within lighting heads and lighting units. A junction box which may also be a switching box  750  and which may contain an inverter or other switching components t 6  selectively control and power illuminations is connected to the wiring harness  730 . 
     Illumination is not limited to visible spectrum light. In those instances wherein stealth is required UV or IR (non visible) light may be emitted by lighting elements of the appropriate frequency (including LEDs, lasers and filtered light bulbs). Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that wavelength specific lighting may also be used to generate topography data to be received by receivers (known in the art) which are located at the mobile platform. The data stream from such receivers can be processed by a computer to generate an image of the surrounding area. Additionally, receivers may also be used to measure noise levels, and to measure heat signatures surrounding the mobile platform. 
       FIGS. 11A through 1C  illustrate a DRV platform  10  with removable container module  800 . The container module may have container legs  810  which mate with catches  90  to hold the container  800  in place. Said container legs may also be retractable to allow for easier loading of a container on and off said flat lower deck  20  in those instance when said container  800  is unloaded. Ropes, cables or straps may also be used to secure the container via tie down guides  325 . The absence of an auxiliary lower deck or water modules is not a limitation. 
       FIGS. 12A through 12D  show a deployable stackable vehicle platform with an infrastructure support module “ISM”. ISMs include but are not limited to command, medical, pharmacy, communications, office, utility control (water, power, etc.), armory, kitchen, surgical center, medical diagnostic, bio lab and biohazard lab) and water module and auxiliary lower deck  600 .  FIG. 12A  shows an assembly view of a mobile relief, emergency or disaster vehicle with water and ISM. On top of a DRV mobile platform  10  as series of water modules  610  are placed. Above the water modules an auxiliary lower deck  600  with deck legs  625  and pass through catches  640  is located, said auxiliary deck mates over said water modules via latching ends  630  that fit into said pass through catches in flat lower deck  20 . ISM  900  is placed on top of auxiliary lower deck  600 . 
     The ISM in this implementation has entry passage  910 , optional window  920 , vent  930  drain  932  water supply in  932  and drain extending from the interior of the infra structure module. Connections for the water supply  932  are accessible from the outside of the infra structure module. Power connection  935  for receiving power for the infra structure module  900  is shown on the side of the infra structure module  900 . The configuration of the ISM shown in  FIGS. 12A-D  is not a limitation. 
     A staircase  940  may be attached to a non-moving platform to facilitate entry of the ISM when said module is located on said mobile platform. Module legs  950 , which may be retractable, are shown extended form the bottom of the ISM  900  and which mate with pass through catches  640  auxiliary lower deck  600 . 
     When assembled ( FIG. 12C ) a water connection line  933  to supply water from the water modules  610  may be used in those instance when alternate water supply is not available. Although not shown an electric or mechanical water pump either in the platform DRV or within the ISM is used to draw water. Power to the ISM is received at the power connection  935  box and may be supplied either externally (not shown) or via the mobile platform through a power line  936 . 
     A mobile platform equipped with batteries and/or a generator is capable of producing power for on-demand use by at least said ISM. 
     While the method and agent have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all embodiments of the following claims. 
     It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the disclosure. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. They still fall within the scope of this disclosure. It should be understood that this disclosure is intended to yield a patent covering numerous aspects of the invention both independently and as an overall system and in both method and apparatus modes. 
     Further, each of the various elements of the disclosure and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of an implementation of any apparatus implementations, a method or process implementations, or even merely a variation of any element of these. 
     Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the invention, the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms—even if only the function or result is the same. 
     Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. 
     It should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action. 
     Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. 
     Any patents, publications, or other references mentioned in this application for patent are hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood as incorporated for each term and all definitions, alternative terms, and synonyms such as contained in at least one of a standard technical dictionary recognized by artisans and the Random House Webster&#39;s Unabridged Dictionary, latest edition are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Finally, all referenced listed in the Information Disclosure Statement or other information statement filed with the application are hereby appended and hereby incorporated by reference; however, as to each of the above, to the extent that such information or statements incorporated by reference might be considered inconsistent with the patenting of this/these invention(s), such statements are expressly not to be considered as made by the applicant(s). 
     In this regard it should be understood that for practical reasons and so as to avoid adding potentially hundreds of claims, the applicant has presented claims with initial dependencies only. 
     Support should be understood to exist to the degree required under new matter laws—including but not limited to United States Patent Law 35 USC 132 or other such laws—to permit the addition of any of the various dependencies or other elements presented under one independent claim or concept as dependencies or elements under any other independent claim or concept. 
     To the extent that insubstantial substitutes are made, to the extent that the applicant did not in fact draft any claim so as to literally encompass any particular exemplary implementations, and to the extent otherwise applicable, the applicant should not be understood to have in any way intended to or actually relinquished such coverage as the applicant simply may not have been able to anticipate all eventualities; one skilled in the art, should not be reasonably expected to have drafted a claim that would have literally encompassed such alternative exemplary implementations. 
     Further, the use of the transitional phrase “comprising” is used to maintain the “openend” claims herein, according, to traditional claim interpretation. Thus, unless the context requires otherwise, it should be understood that the term “compromise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, are intended to imply the inclusion of a stated element or step or group of elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps. 
     Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive forms so as to afford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible.