WO2005023586A1

WO2005023586A1 - Equipment delivery system

Info

Publication number: WO2005023586A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/003585
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kerry Malseed; Philip Ian Ward
Original assignee: Ferno (Uk) Limited
Priority date: 2003-09-04
Filing date: 2004-08-23
Publication date: 2005-03-17
Also published as: GB0320715D0; GB0419585D0; GB2405621A

Abstract

An equipment storage pod (10) is supported by legs (11) so that the vehicle is reversed beneath the pod with the legs then being raised relative to the pod to transfer support to the vehicle so that the vehicle can then transport the pod and leave the pod at a particular location. At that location the legs (11) being used to support the pod so that equipment in the pod can be used to deal with the situation.

Description

Equipment Delivery System

The present invention relates to a pod arranged to be attached to a vehicle, a method of mounting a pod on a vehicle, a method of using a pod and a method of modifying a vehicle.

Rescue vehicles and emergency service vehicles are required to carry a large amount of rescue apparatus for a wide range of rescue situations, for example a fire rescue, water rescue, mountain rescue, road accident, chemical spillage, or natural disaster. The amount of specialist equipment required for each situation is very large and a single vehicle is unable to carry all of this equipment at one time. Either separate vehicles need to be kept with the required equipment onboard for each of the above situations or precious time must be lost to load a vehicle with the required equipment when an emergency call out comes in.

An expansion in vehicle traffic over recent times has meant large rescue vehicles are finding it increasingly difficult to attend incidents within accepted response times. Smaller rescue vehicles are more able to cut through heavy traffic but are unable to carry a wide variety of equipment and may arrive at a scene without sufficient specialised equipment for the particular situation.

It is an object of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least some of the above or other disadvantages . According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a pod arranged to be attached to a vehicle.

The pod may comprise an equipment storage pod.

The pod may be arranged to be supported on the vehicle such as by being mounte ^'on the flat bed of a vehicle. Alternatively or additionally the pod may be towed by the vehicle .

The equipment storage pod may include support means which may extend downwardly to engage the ground and support the equipment storage pod thereon.

The support means may be moveable such that the equipment storage pod may be moved from a first position in which the equipment storage pod is spaced from the ground, to a second position in which the equipment storage pod is closer to the ground.

The support means may include at least two legs each moveable from a first position to a second position, or alternatively, from a second position to a first position.

The equipment storage pod may include control means, operable by an operator, and arranged to move the equipment storage pod from the first position to the second position which movement may be arranged to attach a pod to a vehicle.

The control means may be arranged to move the equipment storage pod from the second position to the first position which movement may be arranged to detach the pod from a vehicle .

There may be a plurality of first positions in which the equipment storage pod is at different spacings from the ground.

The legs may be independently controllable by the control means .

The pod may include openable closures such as on the side or, alternatively or additionally, the rear of the pod to allow access to equipment in the pod. The pod may include equipment supports movable, such as slidably movable relative to the pod to afford access to the equipment. Such access may be afforded whilst the supports remain attached to the pod.

The pod may include at least one storage chamber

The pod may be such that, when supported by a vehicle, the support means overhang the side of the vehicle to allow the support means to be moved from the first position to the second position, or from the second position to the first position while the equipment storage pod is supported by the vehicle.

The pod may also include at least one electrical connector arranged, in use, to be connected, such as by being automatically connected when the pod is attached to a vehicle, to an electrical connection in a vehicle, the connection in the vehicle being arranged to be capable of transferring power to the equipment storage pod such as by charging a battery or equipment in the pod or both.

The present invention also includes a vehicle having a pod as herein referred to attached thereto.

The present invention also includes a vehicle modified to have a pod secured to it.

The vehicle may include retention means arranged to retain a pod as herein referred to which retention means may be arranged to be automatically engaged upon loading of the pod onto a vehicle.

The present invention also includes a method of removing a pod from a vehicle.

The method may comprise trans-ferring the support for the pod from the vehicle and then manoeuvring the vehicle away from the pod.

The support may be arranged to be transferred by a method including raising the pod from the vehicle, lowering supports from the pod to the ground, and then lowering the pod towards the vehicle.

The method may comprise lowering a part of the vehicle in order to transfer support for the pod from the vehicle. The method may comprise lowering supports for the pod into contact with a supporting surface prior to lowering a part of the vehicle. The method may comprise manoeuvring the vehicle such that the pod is able to be, or is engaged by support means separate from the vehicle. The method may comprise causing relative vertical movement between the vehicle and the support means such that support to the pod is transferred at least partially from the vehicle to the support means prior to causing relative transverse movement between the vehicle and the support means and the pod.

The method may comprise sliding the pod, for instance manually, in order to remove the pod. The method may comprise sliding the pod on rotatable means, such as rollers or balls, which rotatable means may be arranged to act between the pod and the vehicle or the pod and a separate support or both. The method may comprise sliding the pod with the pod being at least partially supported by at least one side wall of the vehicle.

The pod may be supported on the ground when the vehicle is manoeuvred away from the pod.

The method may comprise mounting the pod, prior to removing the pod by causing retention of the pod as it is mounted on the vehicle which retention may be arranged to occur automatically.

The method may comprise connection of the equipment pod to a vehicle power supply capable of transferring power to the pod which connection may be arranged to occur automatically as the pod is mounted. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of using a pod comprising attaching a pod to a vehicle and transporting the pod to the required location and then using the pod. The method may comprise a single vehicle transporting a plurality of pods in succession.

The method may comprise transporting a plurality of pods to the same location or, alternatively or additionally to different locations.

The method may comprise being alerted to a particular situation and, in dependence upon that situation, deciding which of a plurality of different pods is required to cope with that situation and then attaching the appropriate pod to the vehicle and then transporting the pod to the location where the situation is occurring.

The method may comprise manoeuvring the required pod to the region of a vehicle prior to mounting the pod on the vehicle. The method may require manoeuvring the required pod by moving a support having a plurality of pods such as by rotating the support.

The pod may be movable relative to the ground between a first position, in which the pod is spaced from the ground and a second position in which the pod is closer to the ground.

The method may comprise causing the pod to move from the first position to the second position, or alternatively or additionally, from the second position to the first position. The method may comprise causing the pod to move from the first position to the second position by actuating control means .

The method may comprise causing the control means to act on support means which may include at least two legs each independently controllable by the control means.

The method may comprise retaining the pod on a vehicle, such as by supporting the pod on a vehicle, such that the support means overhang the side of the vehicle to allow the support means to be moved from the first position to the second position, or from the second position to the first position while the pod is over at least part of the vehicle.

According to a further aspect of the present invention a method of responding to an occurrence comprises receiving information on the occurrence and selecting an appropriate pod for dealing with the occurrence from a plurality of pods each having different facilities in order to cope with different occurrences and attaching the selected pod to a vehicle and transporting the attached pod to the location of the occurrence.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of using a pod arranged to be attached to a vehicle comprises manoeuvring the pod on a support in order to effect control on the contents of the pod.

The method may comprise rotating the pod. o

The method may comprise the support being rotatable.

The method may comprise manoeuvring a plurality of spaced adjacent pods.

The present invention includes any combination of the herein referred to features or limitations.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is schematic perspective view of a modified version of Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a modified version of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic front view of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a schematic rear view of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a schematic side view of the equipment delivery pod secured to a donor vehicle;

Figure 6 is a schematic side view of a donor vehicle in a loading position and the equipment delivery pod in a raised position ready for loading onto the rear of the donor vehicle;

Figure 7 is a schematic rear view of a preferred delivery pod loaded on a donor vehicle; Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view showing one arrangement for the pod being able to slide on the floor of a vehicle;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of an elongate bar attached to the vehicle;

Figure 10 is a plan view of a pod storage table;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of an alternative pod storage holder, and

Figure 12 is a schematic rear view of a pod having cassettes.

Referring to Figure 1 an equipment storage pod 10 is shown comprising retractable legs 11, an equipment locker 12, a coupling mechanism (not shown) and a power connection (not shown) .

As seen in figures 1 and 2 the pod dimensions and shape are such that it may easily be loaded and supported on a vehicle flatbed. The storage pod 10 has a storage section 13 which is generally cuboid in shape to maximise storage capacity. The top front portion of the storage section is extended to form overhang section 14. When the pod 10 is loaded onto a vehicle, the section 14 rests or is adjacent to the vehicle's roof. The profile of the storage section 13 can be seen in Figure 1 as area 15. It can be seen that the width X of the base of storage section 13 is less than that of the majority of section 13 which has a width of Y. The width X corresponds to the width of the vehicles flatbed such that the base 16 of pod 10 fits exactly onto the flatbed. The height Z, as seen on Figure 1, then corresponds to the height of the sides of the vehicles flatbed. It can then be seen that width Y will, therefore, be greater than that of the vehicle flatbed and as such the storage section 13 overhangs the sides 64 of the flatbed. This can be seen in Figure 7.

The attachment of the pod 10 to a vehicle is achieved by reversing the flatbed 61 beneath the pod 10. Arrow 63 in Figure 6 denotes this motion. The pods 10 are stored in a free standing position with all retractable legs 11 equally extended. The storage height above the ground give the clearance required to reverse a vehicle 60 with the flatbed 61 underneath pod 10. Once the vehicle has been reversed under the pod 10 the legs 11 are retracted to cause the pod to descend onto the flatbed. The pod then fully engages the rear of the vehicle's cab 62 with the extended portion 14 resting on the roof of the cab 62 and with the base of pod 10 being supported on the flatbed 61. The retraction of the supporting legs 11 is controlled by a member of the rescue crew via a standard hydraulics control box not shown. The legs can be operated by powered or manual hydraulics or pneumatics or manual power.

In an alternative method of disengaging the pod from the vehicle, the pod is provided with legs 11 that can be lowered manually to contact the ground. A pin can then be located through an opening, or one of a series of openings just beneath a bracket secured to the pod. These pins prevent the legs from collapsing. The vehicle suspension, or at least the suspension at the rear of the vehicle is then lowered to take the bed clear of the underside of the pod and to leave the pod solely supported on the legs. The vehicle is then driven away from the pod. Mounting of the pod is a reversal of this procedure.

In a further alternative for disengaging the pod, the pod can be provided with at least one opening. The vehicle is then reversed to allow a static support to enter that opening. The suspension can then be lowered to leave the pod supported on the static support or the support can be raised to lift the pod from the vehicle. The vehicle can then be driven away. Mounting of the pod is a reversal of either of these procedures. Alternatively or additionally a fork lift truck having at least one support can be manoeuvred to cause the support of the truck to enter the opening. The support can then be raised and the pod removed from the vehicle by the fork lift truck.

In a still further alternative for disengaging the pod, pneumatic suckers can be lowered onto the roof of the pod and activated to grip the pod. The suckers are then raised to lift the pod off the vehicle. Mounting of the pod is a reversal of this procedure.

In a still further modification, the flat bed of the truck can be provided with at least one and preferably several spaced risers. These risers may be pneumatically or hydraulically powered and, when actuated, can lift the pod relative to the bed of the vehicle. The legs of the pod can then be lowered and held by pins, for example, as previously described. The risers are then lowered to leave the pod supported on its own legs only. Mounting of the pod is a reversal of this procedure. Alternatively, J.2. the pod can be mounted on the risers after they have been raised with the risers subsequently being lowered to transfer the support from the vehicle as previously described.

As shown in Figure 8, the pod may be able to slide relative to the bed 70 of the vehicle. This is achieved by an elongate bar 72, shown in Figure 9, attached to the vehicle having a series of rollers (or balls 74 as shown) mounted along its top surface and along its opposed side surfaces. The underside of the pod is provided with a channel 76 which corresponds to the shape defined by the outer part of the balls such that the pod can glide over the bed. Sides 78 of the pod rest on the edges 80 of the vehicle. The forward end of the channel 76 of the pod may diverge outwardly to allow the pod to easily engage with the balls. The bar 72 may be slidable on the vehicle to a limited extent to allow the bar to extend over the tailgate 82 of the vehicle thereby allowing the part to be at least partially supported and guided over the tailgate and to permit the tailgate 82 to be raised and to assist in the retention of the pod when the bar 72 is clear of the tailgate.

Accordingly, a user can manually push the pod to cause it to glide on the vehicle.

The pod may be mounted on a table 84 or 86 as shown in Figures 10 or 11 respectively. The pod can be located on or removed from the table by manually pushing the pod as described in relation to Figure 8 or 9 or as described in any of the herein referred to mounting and demounting methods . In Figure 10 a series of pod mounting regions 88 are provided each having rotatable balls 90 mounted on them. The balls are able to allow a pod to be located on them by pushing the pod. The balls also allow each pod at each region to be swivelled about that region, for instance to allow access to the rear of the pod from outside of the table for controlling such as by checking the contents of the pod and, if necessary, restocking the contents. In addition, the table 84 is rotatable about a vertical axis to allow a vehicle to be reversed up to the table between fixed side gates 92. The table 84 can then be rotated until the required pod is adjacent to the vehicle. In Figure 10 the table 86 also has a series of rotatable upwardly facing balls 90. A vehicle is reversed up to the table 86 in the direction of arrow 94 and a pod may be slid on and off the vehicle. The pod, when on the table 86, can be rotated for checking the contents or restocking the pod by an operator standing on a side step 96. When the pod shown in Figure 9 is mounted on the table, the channel 76 can rest on an enlarged ball 98 at the centre of the table. This enlarged ball assists in centering the pod and in rotating the pod.

A series of tables 86 may be provided adjacent to each other, for instance against a wall of a building.

The pods may be arranged to be detachably locked on the tables .

Incorporated into both the pod and vehicle are retention means which may comprise retaining clips secured to the vehicle which automatically engage with retention means on the pod upon loading of the pod onto the vehicle. As the vehicle is reversed into the loading position, the retention means on the pod may be caused to engage with the retention means on the vehicle, automatically securing the pod to the vehicle. A similar automatic system is used to connect the pod to the vehicles power supply. As before when the vehicle is reversed into the loading position, the power supply connection is automatically engaged.

In use, the vehicle's power supply will be used to power warning lights 17 and 18 at the front and rear of the pod 10 respectively. The power supply will also be used to power internal lights inside the storage lockers 12, to recharge ancillary equipment stored on the pod and to power the supporting legs retracting and extending means (not shown) . The pod 10 will also contain a battery power supply to enable supporting legs 11 to be retracted or extended when not linked to a vehicle's power supply. This battery may also be recharged when the pod is connected to the vehicle's power supply.

In use a number of pods 10 will be stored. Each pod has equipment for a different emergency response onboard, stored in the lockers 12. When the emergency services are called to an incident they will then select which pod they require, for example if they are called to a road accident they will need the road accident response pod which may contain, for example, cutting equipment (which is powered from the pod or powered by oxycetalene cylinders in the pod) necessary to free people trapped in vehicles. Once the required pod has been identified that pod is fitted to vehicle 60. Once the vehicle has arrived at the scene of the emergency the pod can either remain secured to the vehicle 60 or it may be removed from the vehicle such that the vehicle may return to base to retrieve a further pod, or to standby for a further emergency that may require the use of one of the remaining pods. The removal of pod 10 is achieved by lowering the supporting legs 11 until they rest on the ground and raise the pod. The vehicle 60 can then be driven out from under the pod leaving it freestanding on its own supporting legs 11. The lowering of support legs 11 is controlled by a member of the rescue crew as previously described. Once the vehicle has been removed from the pod the supporting legs 11 may be retracted slightly to lower the pod to a height that is easier and safer for retrieval of equipment from lockers 12 by rescue personnel. Access may be gained to the lockers by rolling up shutters on the side and rear of the pod.

The pod may include sliding cassettes 100 that can be partially slid out of the pod, for instance to allow easy access for an operative to pieces of kit 102 supported by the cassette 100. This enables an operator to approach the kit from the side, for instance of the open tailgate, at a convenient height.

Pods may also contain water and a lightweight pump. These pods could be delivered, for instance by a single vehicle making repeat trips, to strategic locations during wilderness fires and used by fire fighting teams to prevent the spread of fire to residential areas. They may also be used while attached to vehicles, for small car fires, for instance. The top of the pod may include a spine board that extends over the roof of the cab.

The supporting legs 11 are arranged to allow independent raising or lowering such that the pod may be safely stood on uneven ground. Uneven ground requires one or more legs to be lowered by an amount differing from one or more other legs to keep pod 10 level.

In an alternative embodiment the pods could be towed.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, . each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s) . The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

DCLAIMS

A method of using a pod comprising: transporting a pod with a vehicle to a required location and then using the pod.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising using the pod by using equipment located within the pod.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 comprising using cutting equipment located in the pod.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 or 3 comprising lighting fire with equipment located in the pod.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising the vehicle leaving the pod at the required location .

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which a part of the pod is located over the drivers cab of the vehicle when the pod is being transported.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising: a single vehicle transporting a plurality of pods in succession.

8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising : transporting a plurality of pods to the same location.

9. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising: transporting a plurality of pods to different locations .

10. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising: mounting the pod on the vehicle prior to transporting the pod.

11. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising: an alert being given to a particular situation and, in dependence upon that situation, deciding which of a plurality of different pods is required to cope with that situation and then transporting the appropriate pod to the location where the situation is occurring.

12. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising: manoeuvring the required pod to the region of a vehicle prior to mounting the pod on the vehicle.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 comprising: manoeuvring the required pod by moving a support having a plurality of pods supported thereon.

14. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising locating a pod on a support and pivoting the support .

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 comprising pivoting the pod relative to the support.

16. A method as claimed in claim 8 comprising: manoeuvring the support by rotating the support.

17. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising: mounting the pod on a vehicle by moving the pod relative to the ground between a first position, in which the pod is spaced from the ground, and a second position in which the pod is closer to the ground in which, in the second position, the pod is lowered onto the vehicle.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 comprising: support means for the pod overhanging the sides of a vehicle such that the vehicle can be manoeuvred beneath the pod when the pod is in the first position and subsequently causing the support means to be lowered to mount the pod on the vehicle.

19. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the power required to raise or lower supports by the pod is provided by power means provided by the pod.

20. A method as in any preceding claim in which the pod is supported on the ground at the required location with the position of the pod relative to the ground at that location being adjustable.

21. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising : operating equipment supports of the pod which equipment supports are moveable relative to the pod.

22. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising: connecting at least one electrical connector of the pod to the vehicle when the vehicle is transporting the pod in order that the pod can receive the electricity from the vehicle when being transported.

23. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising: lowering a part of the vehicle in order to transfer support for the pod from the vehicle.

24. A method as claimed in claim 15 comprising: lowering supports for the pod into contact with a supporting surface prior to lowering part of the vehicle in order to transfer support for the pod from the vehicle.

25. A vehicle and pod system in which, in use: the pod is arranged to be transported by the vehicle to a required location with the pod then being used.

26. A system as claimed in claim 25 including a plurality of different pods any one of which can, in use, be selected and transported to a required location.

27. A system as claimed in claims 25 or 26 when the pod is arranged to be used by a method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 24.