Abstract:
Armored critical incident vehicles and methods of use are disclosed. In an aspect, an armored critical incident vehicle useful for protecting and deploying first responders (e.g., SWAT team members) comprises a tracked multi-terrain loader having an enclosed, armored cab and vehicle loader arms and an armored deployment platform attaching to the tracked multi-terrain loaded at the vehicle loader arms. The armored deployment platform has an armored vertical face and an angled deflection plate to provide protection from ballistics from the front and from above.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/755,589, filed Jan. 23, 2013, and entitled “Armored Critical Incident Vehicle And Related Methods”, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to vehicles and related methods used by the military and Special Weapons And Tactics (“SWAT”) units. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Military and law enforcement officers that are required to deal with emergency scenarios must be prepared for a worst case situation, and having the correct defensive equipment is most critical in dealing with incidents such as a hostage rescue, barricaded suspects, a riot scene or a natural disaster. In U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0120273, Eckdahl et al. disclose an armored tactical vehicle designed for use in such situations; the disclosure in the Eckdahl et al. publication is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0004]    Given the foregoing, what is needed are apparatus and methods which enable first responders to safely deal with emergency scenarios, in particular armed conflicts. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is directed to an improved armored critical incident vehicle and related methods designed to permit military personnel or law enforcement officers to approach a structure or vehicle under the threat of gunfire and to gain entry into either the first story or higher stories of the structure or into the vehicle. Additionally, the present invention is designed to permit the officers to search a structure before entering it, by utilizing a hydraulic breaching ram attachment capable of breaching blocked walls, reinforced steel doors, wood, concrete or windows that might otherwise be protected by metal bars. The ram is equipped with low light video and infrared cameras transmitted to a viewing screen inside the cab of the vehicle to permit remote viewing of the interior. 
         [0006]    The armored critical incident vehicle of the present invention is fabricated with interconnected and easily replaceable armor-plated panels, and utilizes a forward hydraulic lift and an armored deployment platform that can be raised and lowered by the lift to permit entry of the structure in either or both the first and second floors of the structure or onto the roof. Preferably, the armored deployment platform contains independent power for flood lights, and gun ports and a video camera with a video feed to the operator of the vehicle. When the object of the investigation is a vehicle, the platform can be slanted downwardly so that officers on the platform may more carefully observe the vehicle from above, and if gunfire from the platform is required, then pedestrians or other passersby are not endangered. 
         [0007]    The armored deployment platform is rapidly engagable by the armored critical incident vehicle and is attached to its hydraulic lift. The platform comprises armor plating and at least one door, and may be lifted or otherwise moved or positioned. Multiple first responders and their associated gear may be transported, moved, or positioned on the platform, thereby enabling deployment of the first responders into a dangerous area while being protected by the armor plating of the platform. 
         [0008]    The armored critical incident vehicle and the related methods of the present invention also contemplate the use of additional attachments, such as a grapple claw that permits officers to gain access to places where suspects may be attempting to hide, or to remove fortified doors, burglar bars or other obstructions. Further, a vehicle extraction tool is capable of being fitted to the vehicle to immobilize or remove a vehicle in tactical situations. 
         [0009]    Other features of the vehicle and method of the present invention contemplate the dispensing of tear gas from the front of the hydraulic breaching ram, integrated night vision or thermal imaging for the cameras, and a tactical breaching tool. 
     
    
     
       THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective front and rear views, respectively, of an armored critical incident vehicle in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are, respectively, front perspective and rear perspective views of an armored deployment platform utilized with the vehicle of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a hydraulic breaching ram attachable with the vehicle of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in accordance with this invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the armored deployment platform in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the armored deployment platform in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of an armored critical incident vehicle equipped with an armored deployment platform and multiple armaments in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The present disclosure is directed to an improved armored critical incident vehicle, related attachments and accessories and related methods of use. 
         [0017]    The present disclosure will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-8 , in which the following nomenclature is utilized: 
         [0018]    Machine  100  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  8 ) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Element  
                   
               
               
                 No. 
                 Element 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 101 
                 Removable Armor-Plated Roof panel 
               
               
                 102  
                 Armor-Plated Roof Hatch (with Ballistic Glass Window) 
               
               
                 103  
                 Roof Hatch Shield (for Protection while the roof hatch is open) 
               
               
                 104  
                 Flood Light-180 degree rotation controlled from within the cab 
               
               
                 105  
                 Removable Armor-Plated Cab Front Panel 
               
               
                 106  
                 Removable Cab Entry Door Panel (with Ballistic Glass Window) 
               
               
                 107  
                 Hydraulic and electrical connection cover 
               
               
                 108  
                 Removable Armor-Plated Lower Side panels 
               
               
                 109  
                 Armor-Plated Removable Side Panels, left and right (with Ballistic 
               
               
                   
                 Glass Window) 
               
               
                 110 
                 Undercarriage Cover (left and right sides) 
               
               
                 111  
                 Armor-Plated Engine Shield (left and right sides) 
               
               
                 112  
                 Deflection Shield-protecting lift arms and hydraulic lines 
               
               
                 113 
                 Rear Platform-can be folded up and out of the way when not in 
               
               
                   
                 use 
               
               
                 114  
                 Fold-Down Steps 
               
               
                 115  
                 Armor-Plated Rear Engine Shield 
               
               
                 116  
                 Armor-Plated Rear Platform Shield 
               
               
                 117  
                 Escape Hatch (with Ballistic Glass Window) 
               
               
                 118  
                 Reinforced radiator and oil cooled cover 
               
               
                 119  
                 Rear infrared camera installed 
               
               
                 120  
                 DVR and 6 way split screen for all cameras installed inside cab 
               
               
                 121  
                 Public address system installed in front 
               
               
                 122  
                 Tracks 
               
               
                 123  
                 Vertical Lift Stabilizer Bars 
               
               
                 124  
                 Pivots 
               
               
                 125  
                 Loader Arms 
               
               
                 800  
                 Armored Deployment Assembly 
               
               
                 801  
                 Mounted Armament 
               
               
                 802  
                 Secondary Platform 
               
               
                 803  
                 Side Vertical Armored Plate 
               
               
                 804  
                 Side Armament 
               
               
                 805  
                 Primary Side Port 
               
               
                 806 
                 Secondary Side Port 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0019]    Armored Deployment Platform  200  ( FIGS. 3-4  and  6 - 8 ) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Element  
                   
               
               
                 No. 
                 Element 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 201 
                 Side Swing Doors 
               
               
                 202  
                 Closeable ballistic Shooting Ports (one in each swing door) 
               
               
                 203  
                 Ballistic Glass sight window (one in each swing door) 
               
               
                 204  
                 Flood Light-top mounted 180 degree rotation controlled from 
               
               
                   
                 platform 
               
               
                 205 
                 Armor-Plated Top Deflection Plate 
               
               
                 206 
                 Ballistic Glass Window with Shoot Ports within the ballistic glass 
               
               
                 207  
                 Armor-Plated Front Sliding Door 
               
               
                 208  
                 Expanded Metal Platform 
               
               
                 209  
                 Coupler Plate 
               
               
                 210  
                 Enclosed Battery Storage Box with Hinged Cover-allows for the 
               
               
                   
                 platform to be self contained 
               
               
                 211  
                 Spring-Loaded Handle for Side Doors with locking tabs along base 
               
               
                 212 
                 2 front mounted cameras one on top and one below the expanded 
               
               
                   
                 metal platform 
               
               
                 213 
                 Stanchions 
               
               
                 214 
                 Sliding Brackets 
               
               
                 215 
                 Pivots 
               
               
                 216  
                 Support Braces 
               
               
                 217 
                 Vertical Armored Plate 
               
               
                 218 
                 Shooting Ports 
               
               
                 219 
                 Handles 
               
               
                 220 
                 Upper Armored Plates 
               
               
                 221 
                 Pin Coupler openings 
               
               
                 222 
                 Rotating Locking Collars 
               
               
                 224 
                 Shooter&#39;s Safety Panel 
               
               
                 226 
                 Panel Hinges 
               
               
                 601 
                 Lower Side Shooting Port 
               
               
                 701 
                 Grab Handles 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0020]    Hydraulic Breaching Ram  300  ( FIG. 5 ) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Element No. 
                 Element 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 301  
                 Coupler Plate 
               
               
                 302  
                 Storage Box 
               
               
                 303  
                 Ram Outer Tube 
               
               
                 304  
                 Ram Head with piercing cross points 
               
               
                 305  
                 Infrared Camera installed center of Ram Head 
               
               
                 306  
                 Bullet Cameras installed in all sides of Ram Head 
               
               
                 307  
                 Ram Inner Tube hydraulically extends to an additional 48″ 
               
               
                 308  
                 Optional attached electronically actuated Gas Dispensing Tool 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       The Vehicle Machine  100  (FIGS. 1,  2  and  8 ) 
       [0021]    First noting  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vehicle machine  100  preferably utilizes a standard multi-terrain tracked loader such the Caterpillar 287C, which typically has an engine with 84 gross horsepower. In accordance with this invention, a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Level IV armored cab reinforcement plating is fitted to the machine  100 , including a removable armor-plated roof panel  101 , and armor-plated roof hatch  102  (preferably with a ballistic glass window) as well as other armored features described below. The machine  100  is preferably mounted on tracks  122 . 
         [0022]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 1 , the machine  100  also comprises a removable armor-plated cab front panel  105  and a removable cab entry door panel  106  (also preferably with a ballistic glass window). A cover  107  provides protection for the hydraulic and electrical connections, and removable armor-plated side panels  108  and  109  provide protection for the machine  100 . The five armor-plated panels  101 ,  105 ,  106 ,  108  and  109  are coupled together rigidly, but in such a way that a damaged panel may be easily and quickly removed and replaced. Likewise, the ballistic glass windows are coupled in a manner that permits easy removal and replacement. Left and right side undercarriage covers  110  are fitted outwardly from the tracks  122  and left and right armor-plated engine shields  111  are also fitted with the machine  100 . An armor-plated deflection shield  112  provides protection to the lift arms  123  and the associated hydraulic lines. The machine  100  also includes loader arms  125  for lifting and supporting the armored deployment platform  200  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , as well as the hydraulic breaching ram  300 , described below in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the machine  100  includes an armor-plated rear engine shield  115  that also protects the lift arms  123  and the associated hydraulic lines. A rear platform  113  is designed to be folded manually at pivots  124  against the rear engine shield  115 , with fold-down steps  114  properly positioned against rear platform shields  116 . The cab of the machine  100  also preferably comprises an escape hatch  117  (with ballistic glass window), an armor-reinforced radiator and oil cooling cover  118  and a rear infrared camera  119 . 
         [0024]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the machine  100  also includes a DVR and 6-way split screen  120  for the cameras installed inside the cab, and a public address system  121 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , an armored deployment assembly  800  comprises the combination of the machine  100  and the armored deployment platform  200  (described in greater detail below). The armored deployment platform  200  is removably attached to the machine  100  and may be vertically positioned via actuation of loader arms  125 . Armored deployment platform  200  comprises a mounted armament  801 . The mounted armament  801  may be remotely controlled or operated from within armored deployment platform  200 . The machine  100  includes one or more secondary platforms 802. Each secondary platform  802  includes a side vertical armored plate  803 , a primary side port  805  and a secondary side port  806 . Side armament  804  may be deployed through primary side port  805  and secondary side port  805  may be used to view the surroundings, aim side armament  804 , deploy additional devices and armaments, and the like. 
       The Armored Deployment Platform  200  (FIGS. 3,  4 ,  6  and  7 ) 
       [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the armored deployment platform  200  comprises a metal platform  208  supported by stanchions  213 . Opposing vertical swing doors  201  are fitted to the metal platform  208  with slide brackets  214 . Each of the swing doors  201  rotates around a generally vertical pivot  215 . Each of the doors  201  has a closeable ballistic shooting port  202  and a ballistic glass sight window  203 . 
         [0027]    Noting  FIGS. 4 and 7 , a pair of support braces  216  extends upwardly vertically from the rear of the metal platform  208  and then across and into engagement with an armor-plated deflection plate  205  that is angled rearwardly and across the platform  208  to provide protection for officers standing upon the platform. A pair of flood lights  204  are mounted onto a corresponding pair of locking collars  222  rotatably fitted to the respective support brace  216  in order to rotate downwardly for transport. A generally vertical armored plate  217  extends from the horizontal platform upwardly into engagement with the deflection plate  205  with a ballistic glass window  206  just under the deflection plate  205 , with shooting ports  218  in the window  206 . A rotatable shooter&#39;s safety panel  224  is attached with hinges  226  between the shooting ports  218  and across window  206  to reduce exposure of officers positioned on the platform  200 . An armor-plated front sliding door  207  is positioned in the front armored panel  217 , with opposing handles  219  permitting sliding of the door  207  into the open or closed positions. 
         [0028]    The platform  200  further includes armored wing walls  220  that extend upwardly and rearwardly from the top of each of the swing doors  201 . 
         [0029]    With specific reference to  FIG. 4 , the platform  200  further includes a coupler plate  209  for engagement by the machine  100  using two spaced pin coupler openings  221 . 
         [0030]    With specific reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the platform  200  further includes lower port  601  for deployment and aiming of firearms such as a sniper rifle. The interior of the platform  701  further includes grab handles  701  usable by individuals riding on the platform  200  for stability. 
       Hydraulic Breaching Ram  300  (FIG. 5) 
       [0031]    Noting  FIG. 5 , the vehicle further includes a hydraulic breaching ram  300  that employs a coupler plate  301  for attachment to the machine lift arms  125 , shown in  FIG. 1 . The breaching ram  300  also preferably includes a storage box  302  fitted between the coupler plate  301  and a cylindrical ram outer tube  303 . An extendable inner ram tube  307  is hydraulically operable to extend beyond the forward extremity of the outer tube  303 , the hydraulics being fed through tubing at the coupler plate  301  connected to the machine  100  at hydraulic connections under cover  107 . A ram head  304  is positioned on the outer extremity of the inner ram tube  307 , and is designed to permit the breaching of block walls, reinforced steel doors, wood, concrete and windows protected by metal burglar bars. To that end, it is suitable for the hydraulic breaching ram  300  deliver on the order of 6,500 pounds per square inch of pressure. To further assist the officers in remotely determining the internal status of a structure being breached, the ram  300  is provided with four low-light video and infrared forward view cameras  305 ,  306  that permit the operator within the machine  100  to select each camera view individually or to divide the screens into multiple views and to see all ram cameras simultaneously. 
         [0032]    In addition to the features described above, the vehicle may also be provided with a grapple claw and a vehicle extraction tool as additional features to assist officers in an appropriate emergency situation. 
         [0033]    While various aspects of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above described aspects, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 
         [0034]    In addition, it should be understood that the figures, which highlight the structure, methodology, functionality and advantages of the present disclosure, are presented as examples only. The present disclosure is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be implemented in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures. 
         [0035]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the relevant art(s) who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of this technical disclosure. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present invention in any way.