Armored tactical vehicle with modular apparatus

Abstract

The invention described herein is a tactical assault and rescue vehicle system, in which the base vehicle is preferably a tracked multi-terrain loader with modular attachments that can be added and removed to the lifting unit of the base vehicle. The modular attachments comprise an assault and rescue platform, a powered extensible ram unit, and a vehicle extraction device. The system also provides a trailer for towing the base vehicle and acting as a mobile tactical operations center.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to a tactical assault vehicle system, and more particularly to an armored tactical assault vehicle system with modular apparatus including a transportation unit, a mobile tactical operations center and tactical holding area, a deployable armored assault platform, and an armored structural breaching ram.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The need for enhanced protection and tactical capabilities in police, fire, military and homeland security operations is widely known and well documented. As Kropf cites in his U.S. Pat. No. 6,711,980, “In recent years, there have been frequent situations in which a school, place of business, home or residence is occupied or taken over by an armed individual or individuals, such as, a deranged student, disgruntled employee or unhappy lover. In many cases there are hostages involved. The police authorities are faced with a difficult problem. In order to obtain access to the premises and arrest...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]Another aspect of the invention provides a variety of attachments to the base vehicle which are modular to the front, rear, roof and sides of the base unit. One such attachment is a cargo box for holding medical supplies or other equipment. Another attachment is a gurney or backboard for carrying injured patients. The gurney is able to incline, decline and tilt in any one or more directions to control blood flow to different regions of the body, and has removable and configurable panels that can protect the patient while still allowing access for medical treatment.

[0016]The ram unit contains multiple cameras, allowing the ram to simultaneously breach a wall, and view and record the interior of the structure. The ram makes a controlled structural breach with minimal damage and minimal exposure. The ram may also be fitted with additional sensors such as air quality, x-ray or radiation detection devices.

[0017]An additional aspect of the invention is an armored blast shield that can be added to the front of the vehicle. This unit can be attached with either the assault platform or the modular ram unit in place, and can also attach directly to the ram or assault platform. This blast shield provides additional protection to the vehicle and its operator from weapons fire, radiation, bomb blast, high heat, or shrapnel.

[0022]Yet another aspect of the invention is a tactical acoustic or public address system with microphones. Such a system could be used to perform an automated knock and announce procedure that is controlled by the vehicle operator, as well as recording the events before, during and after the procedure. The knocking sound could be pre-recorded, or performed by a physical knocking device on the ram attachment. The knock and announce system provides for scripting, pre-recording, playback, and documentation of a knock and announce procedure meeting all statutory and regulatory requirements, without directly exposing the vehicle occupants to danger.

Problems solved by technology

The police authorities are faced with a difficult problem.

In order to obtain access to the premises and arrest the perpetrators, they must risk personal injury or death.

These devices, however, are not completely satisfactory, in that they do not, for example, deal with the problems of transporting the system to the site of a hostage incident over public roadways, placing a tactical team in position to breach a hostile building, performing the breach in a controlled and legal manner, providing protected ingress and egress to the building for the tactical team, and removing the team and hostages following the incident.

Further, these devices do not, for example, deal with the problems of transporting the system to the site of a fire or hazardous materials incident over public roadways, clearing unoccupied civilian vehicles from the site rapidly and without damage, establishing a tactical command center at the site, transporting personnel safely to the source of the fire or other hazard, neutralizing the hazard, and then returning the personnel safely from the site.

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