This disclosure relates to roll cage assemblies and, more particularly, to quick-release roll cage assemblies that facilitate maintenance of the vehicles to which they are attached.
Roll cage assemblies are often used to protect the occupants and/or components of a vehicle in the event of e.g., a rollover condition or an accident. Typically, roll cage assemblies are structural components that are rigidly attached to the vehicle.
In order to facilitate such rigid connection to the vehicle, roll cage assemblies are often bolted and/or welded to the vehicle. Unfortunately, a roll cage assembly may make it difficult to maintain the vehicle, as it may complicate the process of accessing the various serviceable components within the vehicle. Further, due to the manner in which the roll cage assembly is rigidly connected to the vehicle, the roll cage assembly may be quite difficult to remove from the vehicle.
In one implementation, a roll cage assembly, for use on a vehicle, includes one or more structural components. At least one roll cage displacement assembly is coupled to the one or more structural components and the vehicle. The at least one roll cage displacement assembly is configured to allow for displacement of the one or more structural components with respect to the vehicle.
One or more of the following features may also be included. The at least one roll cage displacement assembly may include one or more pivoting assemblies for allowing at least a portion of the one or more structural components to pivot with respect to the vehicle. The pivoting assembly may include at least one hinge assembly.
The roll cage may further include one or more armored panel assemblies coupled to at least one of the one or more structural components and configured to protect the vehicle from attack. The one or more armored panel assemblies may be constructed of a material chosen from the group consisting of: plate steel; Kevlar; and reactive armor material. The roll cage assembly may further include one or more protective panel assemblies coupled to at least one of the one or more structural components and configured to shield one or more devices included within the vehicle. The one or more protective panel assemblies may be constructed of a material chosen from the group consisting of: steel metal; plate steel; and plastic. The vehicle may be an unmanned vehicle, such as a law enforcement/military unmanned vehicle.
The at least one roll cage displacement assembly may include one or more toolless mounting assemblies for releasably coupling at least a portion of the one or more structural components to the vehicle. The one or more toolless mounting assemblies may include at least one pin assembly.
The one or more structural components may form a first roll cage assembly portion and a second roll cage assembly portion. The at least one roll cage displacement assembly may include a first roll cage displacement assembly coupled to the first roll cage assembly portion and the vehicle. The first roll cage displacement assembly may be configured to allow for displacement of the first roll cage assembly portion with respect to the vehicle. The at least one roll cage displacement assembly may include a second roll cage displacement assembly coupled to the second roll cage assembly portion and the vehicle. The second roll cage displacement assembly may be configured to allow for displacement of the second roll cage assembly portion with respect to the vehicle.
In another implementation, a roll cage assembly, for use on a vehicle, includes one or more structural components. At least one pivoting assembly allows at least a portion of the one or more structural components to pivot with respect to the vehicle.
One or more of the following features may also be included. The one or more structural components may form a first roll cage assembly portion and a second roll cage assembly portion. The at least one pivoting assembly may include a first pivoting assembly coupled to the first roll cage assembly portion and the vehicle. The first pivoting assembly may be configured to allow for displacement of the first roll cage assembly portion with respect to the vehicle. The at least one pivoting assembly may include a second pivoting assembly coupled to the second roll cage assembly portion and the vehicle. The second pivoting assembly may be configured to allow for displacement of the second roll cage assembly portion with respect to the vehicle.
In another implementation, a roll cage assembly, for use on an unmanned vehicle, includes a first roll cage assembly portion, and a second roll cage assembly portion. A first pivoting assembly, which is coupled to the first roll cage assembly portion and the unmanned vehicle, is configured to allow for displacement of the first roll cage assembly portion with respect to the unmanned vehicle. A second pivoting assembly, which is coupled to the second roll cage assembly portion and the vehicle, is configured to allow for displacement of the second roll cage assembly portion with respect to the unmanned vehicle.
One or more of the following features may also be included. The roll cage assembly may include one or more armored panel assemblies coupled to at least one of the first and second roll cage assembly portions and configured to protect the vehicle from attack. The one or more armored panel assemblies may be constructed of a material chosen from the group consisting of: plate steel; Kevlar; and reactive armor material. The unmanned vehicle may be a law enforcement/military unmanned vehicle.
The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
Referring to
Vehicle 12 may include a plurality of drive axle assemblies. For example, in the embodiment shown in
Referring also to
Roll cage assembly 10 may include one or more roll cage displacement assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, each of which may be coupled to the one or more structural components and the vehicle. Each of the roll cage displacement assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 may be configured to allow for displacement of the one or more structural components (and, therefore, the one or more roll cage assembly portions 24, 26) with respect to vehicle 12, thus allowing access to the various devices (e.g., electric motors, batteries, controllers, transceiver circuitry, etc.) included within vehicle 12.
One or more of the roll cage displacement assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 may include one or more pivoting assemblies that allow at least a portion of the structural components to pivot with respect to vehicle 12. For example and in the embodiment shown in
Roll cage assembly 10 may include one or more armored panel assemblies (e.g., armored panel 44) coupled to one or more of the structural components (e.g., structural component 24). The armored panel assemblies may be configured to protect vehicle 12 from attack. Accordingly, the armored panel assemblies may be positioned about the periphery of vehicle 12 to protect the sensitive/vulnerable devices (e.g., laser sensor 46) positioned within vehicle 12. The armored panel assemblies may be constructed of a material strong enough to provide the required level of protection, such as: plate steel; Kevlar; and reactive armor material.
Roll cage assembly 10 may include one or more protective panel assemblies (e.g., protective panel assemblies 48, 50) coupled one or more of the structural components (structural component 24). The protective panel assemblies may be configured to shield devices (e.g., electric motors, batteries, controllers, transceiver circuitry, etc.) included within vehicle 12 from e.g., mud, snow, and rain. The protective panel assemblies may be constructed of various materials, such as steel metal; plate steel; and plastic.
One or more of the roll cage displacement assemblies 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 may include one or more toolless mounting assemblies for releasably coupling at least a portion of the one or more structural components to the vehicle. For example and in the embodiment shown in
While roll cage assembly 10 is described above as including one or more pivoting assemblies that allow at least a portion of the structural components of roll cage assembly 10 to pivot with respect to vehicle 12, other configurations are possible and are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. For example, all roll cage displacement assemblies may be toolless mounting assemblies for releasably coupling at least a portion of the one or more structural components to the vehicle. Therefore, the entire roll cage assembly 10 may be releasably coupled to vehicle 12. Accordingly, roll cage assembly 10 may be a single or multi-piece roll cage assembly that is releasably coupled to vehicle 10 using e.g., pin assemblies. Upon removal of these pin assemblies, the entire roll cage assembly 10 (or a portion thereof) may be removed from vehicle 10, thus allowing for access to the various devices (e.g., electric motors, batteries, controllers, transceiver circuitry, etc.) included within vehicle 12.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/885,782, filed 19 Jan. 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60885782 | Jan 2007 | US |