초록 ▼

A system and method for deploying, extracting, and storing vehicles. The system and method provide for implementation of at least one primary storage module, and optionally, one or more secondary storage modules. Each module includes a clamp dog and tiltable tray which has a pair of clamping arms. T

A system and method for deploying, extracting, and storing vehicles. The system and method provide for implementation of at least one primary storage module, and optionally, one or more secondary storage modules. Each module includes a clamp dog and tiltable tray which has a pair of clamping arms. The system and method provide for clamp down and vertical stowage of vehicles. When more than one module is implemented, the modules are serially connected together to provide for vertical stowage of multiple vehicles, with one or no vehicle in each module.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system (1000) for performing extract and store, and deploy operations of at least one vehicle (100), the system comprising: a primary module (1102), wherein the primary module comprises a primary base (1220), a primary cover (1208), and a primary module support tray (1230), wherein, the primary

1. A system (1000) for performing extract and store, and deploy operations of at least one vehicle (100), the system comprising: a primary module (1102), wherein the primary module comprises a primary base (1220), a primary cover (1208), and a primary module support tray (1230), wherein, the primary module support tray is tiltably mounted to the primary base, and the primary module support tray is tiltable from a vertical position that is under the primary cover to a deployed position where the primary module support tray is outside of the primary cover and is at an angular range that extends to sub-horizontal; anda system control apparatus (2000) that is electrically coupled to the primary module, wherein the control sub-system comprises an operator control unit (2012) that is operated by a user, wherein,when the primary module is empty and the primary module support tray is at the deployed position, in response to a primary extract signal presented from the system control apparatus to the vehicle and the primary module, the vehicle is driven on to the primary module support tray by the user, and the primary module support tray is tilted to the vertical position to store the vehicle; andwhen the primary module contains the vehicle and the primary module support tray is at the vertical position, in response to a primary deploy signal presented from the system control apparatus to the vehicle and the primary module, the primary module support tray is tilted to the deployed position, and the vehicle is driven off the primary module support tray by the user. 2. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising at least one secondary module (1104), wherein the secondary module comprises a secondary base (1222), a secondary cover (1208), and a secondary module support tray (1240), wherein, the secondary module support tray is tiltably mounted to the secondary base, and the secondary module support tray is tiltable from the vertical position that is under the secondary cover to a deployed position where the secondary module support tray is outside of the secondary cover and is at the horizontal position; the secondary module is serially, mechanically coupled to the primary module via (a) alignment pins (1286) and mating holes (1288), and (b) draw latches (1280) and clasps (1282), the secondary module is serially, electrically coupled to the primary module and thereby electrically coupled to the system control apparatus, and, when deployed, the secondary module support tray overlaps into the adjacent primary or secondary module;when the primary module is empty and the primary module support tray is deployed and the secondary module is empty and the secondary module support tray is deployed, in response to a secondary extract signal presented by the system control apparatus to the vehicle, the primary module, and the secondary module, the vehicle is driven on to the primary module support tray, through the primary module and on to the secondary module support tray by the user, and the secondary module support tray is tilted to the vertical position to store the vehicle; andwhen the secondary module contains the vehicle and the secondary module support tray is at the substantially vertical position and the primary module is empty and the primary module support tray is deployed, in response to a secondary deploy signal presented by the system control apparatus to the vehicle, the primary module and the secondary module, the secondary module support tray is tilted to the deployed position, and the vehicle is driven off the secondary module support tray, through the primary module and off the primary module support tray by the user. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the primary module further comprises a primary clamp dog (1350) that is mounted to the primary base, the primary module support tray further comprises left and right primary clamping arms (1232), and the vehicle further comprises a nose (120) and left and right tracks (110); during the tilting of the extract and the deploy operations and during storage of the vehicle in the primary module, the primary clamp dog holds the vehicle at the nose and the left and right primary clamping arms hold the vehicle at the tracks against the primary module support tray;the secondary module further comprises a secondary clamp dog that is mounted to the secondary base, the secondary module support tray further comprises left and right secondary clamping arms; andduring the tilting of the extract and the deploy operations and during storage of the vehicle in the secondary module, the secondary clamp dog holds the vehicle at the nose and the left and right secondary clamping arms hold the vehicle at the tracks against the secondary module support tray. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the primary module further comprises a primary tray lever operated limit switch (1500) that is mounted to the edge of the primary module support tray distal to the primary base, a primary nose position limit switch (1510) that is mounted to the inner edge of the primary module support tray, a primary clamp dog limit switch (1514) that is mounted to the primary base, and a primary optical nose position sensor (1294) that is mounted inside of the primary cover; the primary tray lever operated limit switch (1500) is electrically coupled to the control apparatus and presents a primary tray deployed position signal to the system control apparatus when the primary support tray reaches the deployed position, the primary nose position limit switch (1510) is electrically coupled to the system control apparatus and presents a primary nose position signal to the system control apparatus when the nose reaches a clamping position, the primary clamp dog limit switch (1514) is electrically coupled to the system control apparatus and presents a primary clamp dog horizontal position signal when the primary clamp dog reaches a horizontal position, and the primary optical nose position sensor is electrically coupled to the system control apparatus and presents a primary over-run position signal when the nose of the vehicle exceeds the clamping position;the secondary module further comprises a secondary tray limit switch (1516) that is mounted to the secondary base, a secondary nose position limit switch (1510) that is mounted to the inner edge of the secondary module support tray, a secondary clamp dog limit switch (1514) that is mounted to the secondary base, and a secondary optical nose position sensor (1294) that is mounted inside of the secondary cover; andthe secondary tray limit switch (1516) is electrically coupled to the system control apparatus and presents a secondary tray deployed position signal to the system control apparatus when the secondary support tray reaches the deployed position, the secondary nose position limit switch is electrically coupled to the system control apparatus and presents a secondary nose position signal to the system control apparatus when the nose reaches the clamping position, the secondary clamp dog limit switch is electrically coupled to the system control apparatus and presents a secondary clamp dog horizontal position signal when the secondary clamp dog reaches the horizontal position, and the secondary optical nose position sensor is electrically coupled to the system control apparatus and presents a secondary over-run position signal when the nose of the vehicle exceeds the clamping position. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein, the primary module further comprises a first primary visual indicator (1290) and a second primary visual indicator (1292) that are positioned on the inside upper edge of the primary cover for viewing by the user, wherein the first primary visual indicator and the second primary visual indicator are electrically coupled to the system control apparatus and are visible to the user; andthe secondary module further comprises a first secondary visual indicator (1290) and a second secondary visual indicator (1292) that are positioned on the inside upper edge of the second cover for viewing by the user, wherein the first secondary visual indicator and the second secondary visual indicator are electrically coupled to the system control apparatus and are visible to the user, wherein,when illuminated, the first primary visual indicator, the second primary visual indicator, the first secondary visual indicator, and the second secondary visual indicator provide information visually to the user. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the primary module further comprises a primary lifting linear actuator (1310) having a primary module controller (2112_PM) that is electrically coupled to the system control apparatus via a modules supervisory controller (2110), a primary main drive shaft (1320) having a primary lift arm (1360) affixed thereto, a primary intermediate shaft (1330), a clamping linear actuator (1340) that is electrically coupled to the system control apparatus, left and right primary rocker cantilevers (1380), a primary rocker cantilever pin (1382), left and right slider plates (1390), a primary rocker cross pin (1400), left and right rocker torsion springs (1404), a primary clamp linkage (1410), left and right primary clamp lugs (1430), left and right primary clamp link bars (1436) and left and right primary link fingers (1440), and the primary clamp dog (1350) further comprises left and right primary clamp dog lugs (1406), the primary base (1220) further comprises a primary partition (1206) and a primary actuator truss (1270) that are fixed thereto in the vertical direction, andthe primary module support tray further comprises left and right primary module tray support arms (1344) that are secured to the bottom of the primary module support tray and fixed to the primary main drive shaft, and the primary lifting linear actuator is mechanically rotatably coupled at a first end between the primary partition (1206) and the primary actuator truss (1270) and rotatably coupled at a second end to the second end of the primary lift arm to provide rotation of the primary main drive shaft and thereby rotation of the primary module support tray when the primary lifting linear actuator extends in response to the primary deploy signal and retracts in response to the primary extract signal received by the primary module controller from the system control apparatus; wherein,the clamping linear actuator (1340) is coupled at a first end to the primary module support tray (1230) and at a second end between the left and right primary rocker cantilevers (1380) via the primary rocker cantilever pin (1382), the primary rocker cantilevers (1380) are coupled to the primary intermediate shaft (1330) via the primary rocker cross pin (1400) through the slider plates (1390), the primary clamp dog is rotatable about the primary main drive shaft, the primary clamp linkage (1410) is coupled between the primary cantilever rockers (1380) and the primary clamp dog at the primary clamp dog lugs (1406), the left and right primary clamp lugs (1430) are fixed to the primary intermediate shaft, the primary rocker cross pin is mounted laterally through holes in the left and right primary rocker cantilevers, the left and right rocker torsion springs are mounted around the primary intermediate shaft and are positioned to provide angular force between the left and right slider plates and the primary rocker cross pin and, thereby to the left and right primary rocker cantilevers, the left and right primary clamp arm link bars (1436) and the left and right primary clamp arm link fingers (1440) are coupled together and between the left and right primary clamp lugs (1430) and the left and right primary clamping arms (1232); andthe user drives the vehicle on to the primary module support tray;the nose (120) activates the primary nose position limit switch (1510) which presents the primary nose position signal to the system control apparatus, and the second primary visual indicator is illuminated;when the primary over-run position signal is absent, the user activates the operator control unit to generate the primary extract signal and, in response to the primary extract signal;the clamping linear actuator (1340) extends and thereby rotates the primary rocker cantilevers (1380) thereby rotating the primary intermediate shaft (1330) which simultaneously moves the primary clamp arm link bars and the primary clamp arm link fingers which in turn simultaneously rotates the first and second primary clamping arms to clamp the tracks (110) against the primary module support tray (1230), and also simultaneously positions the primary clamp dog (1350) against the nose (120);when the primary clamp dog rests against the nose, the clamping linear actuator (1340) presents a clamping linear actuator position feedback signal to the system control apparatus and the primary clamp dog limit switch (1514) presents a primary clamp dog off-horizontal position signal to the system control apparatus indicating that the primary clamp dog (1350) has moved from the horizontal position, and the primary module controller stops extending the clamping linear actuator (1340); andthe system control apparatus powers off the clamping linear actuator, and powers on the primary lifting linear actuator;the primary lifting linear actuator (1310) retracts, thereby pulling the primary lift arm (1360) thus rotating the primary main drive shaft (1320), thereby rotating the primary module support tray (1230) from the deployed position to the vertical position;the primary clamp dog limit switch (1514) presents the primary clamp dog horizontal position signal to the system control apparatus indicating that the primary clamp dog (1350) has returned to the horizontal position, and the primary tray lever operated limit switch (1500) presents a primary tray off-deployed position signal to the system control apparatus indicating that the primary module support tray (1230) has moved from the deployed position; andin response to the primary clamp dog horizontal position signal and the primary tray off-deployed position signal, the system control apparatus (2000) stops the primary lifting linear actuator (1310) from rotating the primary main drive shaft (1320) and the system control apparatus (2000) presents a vehicle primary stored status signal to the user indicating that the vehicle (100) is stored. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein, in response to the primary deploy signal: the primary lifting linear actuator (1310) extends, pushing the primary lift arm (1360) and, thereby, rotating the primary main drive shaft (1320) which rotates the primary module tray (1230) from the vertical position to the deployed position;the primary tray lever operated limit switch (1500) presents the primary tray deployed position signal to the primary module controller (2112_PM) indicating that the primary module tray (1230) is in the deployed position and primary lifting linear actuator (1310) stops extending;the clamping linear actuator (1340) retracts, thereby rotating the primary rocker cantilevers (1380) which simultaneously moves the primary clamp arm link bars (1436) and the primary clamp arm link fingers (1440), and, thereby, simultaneously rotates the left and right primary clamp arms (1232) to unclamp the tracks (110), while simultaneously positioning the primary clamp dog (1350) into the horizontal position; andwhen the left and right primary clamp arms (1232) reach a fully unclamped position before the primary clamp dog (1350) reaches the horizontal position, the left and right primary clamp arms (1232) stop rotation, and the torsion springs (1404) are subjected to added torsional force;when the primary clamp dog (1350) reaches the horizontal position, the primary clamp dog limit switch (1514) presents the primary clamp dog horizontal position signal to the system control apparatus indicating that the primary clamp dog (1350) is fully open, and the tray lever operated limit switch presents the primary tray deployed position signal to the system control apparatus indicating that the primary module support tray (1230) is in the deployed position; andwhen the primary module has the vehicle thereon, the vehicle is driven out of the primary module by the user. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein, the secondary module further comprises: a secondary lifting linear actuator (1310) having a secondary module controller (2112) that is electrically coupled to the system control apparatus (2000), a secondary main drive shaft (1320) having a secondary lift arm (1360) affixed thereto, a secondary intermediate drive shaft (1330), left and right secondary cantilever rockers (1380), a secondary cantilever rocker pin (1382), a secondary rocker cross pin (1400), left, center, and right secondary clamp linkages (1410L, 1410C, 1410R), left and right lug arms (1470);the secondary clamp dog (1350) further comprises left and right secondary clamp dog lugs (1406); the secondary base (1222) further comprises a secondary partition (1206) and a secondary actuator truss (1270) that are fixed thereto in the vertical direction;the secondary module support tray (1240) further comprises left and right secondary clamping arms (1232), left and right secondary support tray lift arms (1344), that are secured to the bottom of the secondary module support tray and fixed to the secondary main drive shaft (1320), a tray rod compression spring (1480), left and right tray arm extension springs (1482), a lug arm to link pin (1384), a guide rod (1490), a support tray clearance hole (1492) that is located in a lateral flange on the bottom of the secondary module support tray (1240), and left and right mechanical stops (1522) that are mounted on the bottom of the secondary module support tray at the edge distal to the secondary base (1222); wherein,the secondary lifting linear actuator is mechanically rotatably coupled at a first end between the secondary partition (1206) and the secondary actuator truss (1270) and rotatably coupled at a second end to the second end of the secondary lift arm to provide rotation of the secondary main drive shaft (1320) and thereby rotation of the secondary module support tray when the secondary lifting linear actuator (1310) extends in response to the secondary deploy signal and retracts in response to the secondary extract signal received by the secondary module controller from the control-sub-system;the lug arms (1470) are laterally fixed to the secondary main drive shaft (1320) between the secondary clamp dog lugs (1406) and the secondary support tray lift arms (1344), the secondary cantilever rockers (1380) include three holes and are fixed to the secondary intermediate shaft (1330) at the first hole, the secondary rocker cross pin (1400) extends laterally through the second hole in the secondary cantilever rockers (1380), the secondary cantilever rocker pin (1382) extends laterally through the third hole in the secondary cantilever rockers (1380);the center secondary clamp linkage (1410C) is rotatably pinned at a first end by the secondary rocker cross pin (1400) between the secondary cantilever rockers (1380), and is rotatable pinned through the holes in the secondary clamp dog lugs (1406) at a second end, the left and right secondary clamp linkages (1410L, 1410R) are rotatably pinned at a first end by the secondary cantilever rocker pin (1382) outboard of the secondary cantilever rockers (1380), and are rotatably pinned through holes in the lug arms (1470) at a second end via the lug arm to link pin (1384);the guide rod (1490) is rotatably pinned at a first end by the secondary cantilever rocker pin (1382) inboard of the secondary cantilever rockers (1380), and a second end of the guide rod (1490) extends slidably through the clearance hole (1492), the tray rod compression spring (1480) is coaxially mounted over the guide rod (1490) and is captured between the secondary cantilever rockers (1380) and the secondary module support tray (1240) at the clearance hole (1492), and the tray arm extension springs (1482) are attached at first and second ends between the inboard sides of the secondary support tray lift arms (1344) and the secondary base (1222); andthe user drives the vehicle on to the secondary module support tray;the nose (120) activates the secondary nose position limit switch (1510) which presents the secondary nose position signal to the system control apparatus, and the second secondary visual indicator is illuminated;when the secondary over-run position signal is absent, the user activates the operator control unit to generate the secondary extract signal and, in response to the secondary extract signal;the secondary module controller (2112) powers on the secondary lifting linear actuator (1310);the secondary lifting linear actuator (1310) retracts and thereby rotates the secondary main drive shaft (1320), and the secondary main drive shaft (1320) simultaneously rotates the secondary rocker cantilevers (1380) and the secondary intermediate shaft (1330), wherein,rotation of the secondary intermediate shaft (1330) simultaneously moves the left, center and right secondary clamp linkages (1410L, 1410R, 1410C) and thereby decompresses the tray rod compression spring (1480);rotation of the intermediate shaft (1330) also simultaneously rotates the left and right secondary clamping arms (1232) to clamp the tracks (110) into place against the secondary module support tray (1240), and simultaneously positions the secondary clamp dog (1350) into place against the nose (120) via a cantilever motion that is reverse to and opposite the rotation of the secondary main drive shaft (1320);the secondary clamp dog limit switch (1514) presents a secondary clamp dog off-horizontal position signal indicating that the secondary clamp dog (1350) has moved from the horizontal position;the secondary clamp dog (1350) and the secondary cantilever rockers (1380) continue to rotate in opposite directions to each other until the rotational extension limit of the secondary clamp linkages (1410) between the secondary clamp dog (1350) and the secondary cantilever rockers (1380) is reached;the secondary module support tray (1240) rotates from a horizontal to vertical position around the secondary main drive shaft (1320), the left and right tray arm extension springs (1482L and 1482R), are extended until the secondary clamp dog limit switch (1514) is closed and presents the secondary clamp dog horizontal position signal to the secondary module controller (2112);in response to the secondary clamp dog horizontal position signal, retraction of the secondary lifting linear actuator (1310) is stopped, thus, rotation of the secondary main drive shaft (1320) is also stopped, the secondary tray limit switch (1516) presents a secondary tray off-deployed position signal to the system control apparatus that indicates the secondary module support tray (1240) has moved from the horizontal position; andin response to the secondary clamp dog horizontal position signal and the secondary tray off-deployed position signal, the system control apparatus presents a vehicle secondary stored status signal to the user indicating that the vehicle (100) is stored. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein, in response to the secondary deploy signal: the secondary lifting linear actuator (1310) extends, thus pushing the secondary lift arm (1360) and, thereby, rotating the secondary main drive shaft (1320) which rotates the secondary module support tray (1240) from the vertical position to the deployed position, simultaneously, the left and right tray arm extension springs (1482L and 1482R) retract;the coupled rotational motion of the secondary module support tray (1240), the left and right secondary clamp arms (1232), and the secondary clamp dog (1350) around the secondary main shaft (1320), is maintained until the secondary module support tray (1240) reaches the horizontal position and contacts the secondary tray limit switch (1516) which presents the secondary tray deployed position signal to the system control apparatus, and the mechanical stops (1522) rest against an adjacent primary or secondary module thereby stopping rotational motion of the secondary module support tray (1240);the secondary lifting linear actuator (1310) continues to extend, thereby rotating the main drive shaft (1320) which simultaneously rotates the secondary rocker cantilevers (1380), the secondary rocker cantilevers (1380), in turn, simultaneously move the secondary clamp linkages (1410L, 1410R, 1410C) thereby compressing the tray rod compression spring (1480), the rotation of the secondary main drive shaft (1320) also simultaneously rotates the left and right secondary clamp arms (1232) to an unclamped position away from the tracks (110), and the rotation of the secondary main drive shaft (1320) also simultaneously rotates the secondary clamp dog (1350) into the horizontal position via a cantilever motion that is reverse to and opposite the rotation of the secondary main drive shaft (1320), and the secondary clamp dog limit switch (1514) presents the secondary clamp dog horizontal position signal to the secondary module controller (2112) indicating that the secondary clamp dog (1350) has moved to the open position;the secondary lifting linear actuator (1310) continues to extend and thereby continues to rotate the secondary main drive shaft (1320), the secondary clamp dog (1350) and the secondary cantilever rockers (1380) continue to rotate in opposite directions to each other and compress the tray rod compression spring (1380);when the secondary module controller (2112) receives both of the secondary tray deployed position signal and the secondary clamp dog horizontal position signal, the secondary module controller (2112) stops the secondary lifting actuator (1310), thereby stopping the motion of the left and right secondary clamp arms (1232), the secondary clamp dog (1350), the secondary rocker cantilevers (1380), and the secondary main drive shaft (1320); andwhen the secondary module has the vehicle thereon, the vehicle is driven out of the secondary module by the user. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the nose (120) further comprises a push-button toggle power switch (140) that alternately turns vehicle battery power on and off; the primary clamp dog (1350) further comprises a primary switch plunger (1370) that is aligned with the toggle power switch (140) when the nose is clamped;the primary module (1102) further comprises a primary shuttle switching assembly (1530) that is mounted within a primary recess (1222) in the primary base (1220) and is aligned with the primary switch plunger (1370) when the vehicle (100) is in the vertical position; andthe primary shuttle switching assembly (1370) is electrically coupled to the system control apparatus; andwhen the vehicle (100) is in the vertical position, in response to a primary power control signal from the system control apparatus, the primary shuttle switching assembly is actuated thereby toggle switching the vehicle battery power on and off; andthe secondary clamp dog further comprises a secondary switch plunger (1370) that is aligned with the toggle power switch (140) when the nose is clamped;the secondary module further comprises a secondary shuttle switching assembly (1530) that is mounted within a secondary recess (1222) in the secondary base (1222) and is aligned with the secondary switch plunger when the vehicle (100) is in the vertical position; andthe secondary shuttle switching assembly is electrically coupled to the system control apparatus; andwhen the vehicle (100) is in the vertical position, in response to a secondary power control signal from the system control apparatus, the secondary shuttle switching assembly is actuated thereby toggle switching the vehicle battery power on and off. 11. A method (3000) for a user to manage extracting and storing, and deploying operations of at least one vehicle (100) from a modular handling and stowage system (1000) having (i) a primary module (1102), wherein the primary module comprises a primary base (1220), a primary cover (1208), and a primary module support tray (1230), wherein, the primary module support tray is tiltably mounted to the primary base, and the primary module support tray is tiltable from a vertical position that is under the primary cover to a deployed position where the primary module support tray is outside of the primary cover and is at an angular range that extends to sub-horizontal; and (ii) a system control apparatus (2000) that is electrically coupled to the primary module, wherein the system control apparatus comprises an operator control unit (2012) that is operated by the user, wherein, the method comprises:when the primary module is empty and the primary module support tray is at the deployed position, in response to a primary extract signal presented from the system control apparatus to the vehicle and the primary module;driving the vehicle on to the primary module support tray by the user, andtilting the primary module support tray to the vertical position to store the vehicle; andwhen the primary module contains the vehicle and the primary module support tray is at the vertical position, in response to a first deploy signal presented from the system control apparatus to the vehicle and the primary module;tilting the primary module support tray to the deployed position; anddriving the vehicle off the primary module support tray by the user. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein, the system further comprises at least one secondary module (1104), wherein the secondary module comprises a secondary base (1222), a secondary cover (1208), and a secondary module support tray (1240), wherein, the secondary module support tray is tiltably mounted to the secondary base, and the secondary module support tray is tiltable from the vertical position that is under the secondary cover to a deployed position where the secondary module support tray is outside of the secondary cover and is at the horizontal position; the secondary module is serially, mechanically coupled to the primary module via (a) alignment pins (1286) and mating holes (1288), and (b) draw latches (1280) and clasps (1282), the secondary module is serially, electrically coupled to the primary module and thereby electrically coupled to the system control apparatus, and, when deployed, the secondary module support tray overlaps into the adjacent primary or secondary module; and,the method further comprises:when the primary module is empty and the primary module support tray is deployed and the secondary module is empty and the secondary module support tray is deployed, in response to a secondary extract signal presented by the system control apparatus to the vehicle, the primary module, and the secondary module;driving the vehicle on to the primary module support tray, through the primary module and on to the secondary module support tray by the user; andtilting the secondary module support tray to the vertical position to store the vehicle; andwhen the secondary module contains the vehicle and the secondary module support tray is at the substantially vertical position and the primary module is empty and the primary module support tray is deployed, in response to a secondary deploy signal presented from the system control apparatus to the vehicle, the primary module and the secondary module;tilting the secondary module support tray to the deployed position; and driving the vehicle off the secondary module support tray, through the primary module and off the primary module support tray by the user.