United States Patent
US Patent 6668950: Omni-directional munitions handling vehicle
US 6668950 · granted 2003-12-30
Abstract
A munitions handling vehicle is adapted for loading and unloading weapons in military aircraft. The munitions handling vehicle includes a vehicle chassis and a plurality of wheel axles attached to the chassis. A plurality of omni wheels are mounted on respective wheel axles, and cooperate to induce omni-directional movement of the vehicle. A mechanical lift is supported by the vehicle chassis. A munitions carrier is secured to a top end of the lift, and is movable upon actuation of the lift between a weapons-transport position and an aircraft-access position. In the weapons-transport position, the lift is sufficiently retracted adjacent the vehicle chassis to facilitate transport of weapons in the carrier to and from the aircraft. In the aircraft-access position, the lift is sufficiently extended to enable precision loading and unloading of weapons in the aircraft without repositioning or reconfiguring the aircraft.
| Patent Number | 6668950 |
|---|---|
| Title | Omni-directional munitions handling vehicle |
| Filed | 2002-05-09 |
| Granted | 2003-12-30 |
| Inventor(s) | Park; Andrew D. |
| Number of Claims | 32 |
Abstract
A munitions handling vehicle is adapted for loading and unloading weapons in military aircraft. The munitions handling vehicle includes a vehicle chassis and a plurality of wheel axles attached to the chassis. A plurality of omni wheels are mounted on respective wheel axles, and cooperate to induce omni-directional movement of the vehicle. A mechanical lift is supported by the vehicle chassis. A munitions carrier is secured to a top end of the lift, and is movable upon actuation of the lift between a weapons-transport position and an aircraft-access position. In the weapons-transport position, the lift is sufficiently retracted adjacent the vehicle chassis to facilitate transport of weapons in the carrier to and from the aircraft. In the aircraft-access position, the lift is sufficiently extended to enable precision loading and unloading of weapons in the aircraft without repositioning or reconfiguring the aircraft.
Claim 1
A munitions handling vehicle adapted for loading and unloading weapons in military aircraft, said munitions handling vehicle comprising: (a) a vehicle chassis; (b) a plurality ofwheel axles attached to said vehicle chassis; (c) a plurality of omni wheels mounted on respective wheel axles and cooperating to induce omni-directional movement of said vehicle; (d) a mechanical lift supported by said vehicle chassis; and (e) amunitions carrier secured to a top end of said lift, and comprising an elongated trough adapted for holding weapons in a generally prone position, said munitions carrier being movable upon actuation of said lift between a weapons-transport position andan aircraft-access position, such that: i. in the weapons-transport position, said lift is sufficiently retracted adjacent said vehicle chassis to facilitate transport of weapons in said carrier to and from the aircraft; and ii. in the aircraft-accessposition, said lift is sufficiently extended to enable precision loading and unloading of weapons in the aircraft without repositioning or reconfiguring the aircraft.
Claims
32 totalA munitions handling vehicle adapted for loading and unloading weapons in military aircraft, said munitions handling vehicle comprising: (a) a vehicle chassis; (b) a plurality ofwheel axles attached to said vehicle chassis; (c) a plurality of omni wheels mounted on respective wheel axles and cooperating to induce omni-directional movement of said vehicle; (d) a mechanical lift supported by said vehicle chassis; and (e) amunitions carrier secured to a top end of said lift, and comprising an elongated trough adapted for holding weapons in a generally prone position, said munitions carrier being movable upon actuation of said lift between a weapons-transport position andan aircraft-access position, such that: i. in the weapons-transport position, said lift is sufficiently retracted adjacent said vehicle chassis to facilitate transport of weapons in said carrier to and from the aircraft; and ii. in the aircraft-accessposition, said lift is sufficiently extended to enable precision loading and unloading of weapons in the aircraft without repositioning or reconfiguring the aircraft.