Lowerable Rollover Protection for Military Vehicle Height Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles with rollover protection systems and directable weapons face challenges in quickly transitioning from an operational state to a transport state with reduced height, as dismantling and reassembling the weapon is time-consuming and disrupts the vehicle's usability during transport.
Innovation Solution
A lowerable rollover protection system that can be lowered together with the weapon, allowing it to be below the vehicle's highest point in the transport position, eliminating the need for component disassembly and enabling quick state transitions while maintaining weapon readiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the weapon is mounted on the rollover protection device to maximize area of effect, then the weapon can be positioned at the highest point of the vehicle, but the vehicle height increases beyond transport limits
Solution Approach 1:
The rollover protection device is designed to be movable between a raised operational position and a lowered transport position. The device includes actuation mechanisms that enable it to transition between these positions, allowing the vehicle to adapt its height according to operational or transport requirements while maintaining the weapon mounting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rollover protection device is divided into separable components that can be dismantled and stored within the vehicle when not in use. This segmentation allows the weapon to be removed from the rollover protection device and stored inside the vehicle, enabling height reduction for transport while preserving the weapon's area of effect capability when reassembled.
2Length of stationary object
If the rollover protection is lowered to reduce vehicle height for transport, then the vehicle can be loaded, but the weapon cannot be used during the transition period
Solution Approach 1:
The weapon is pre-mounted on the rollover protection device in the raised operational position. When transport is required, the entire assembly (rollover protection device with weapon mounted) is lowered or dismantled in a coordinated manner, allowing the weapon to remain in a usable configuration throughout the transition rather than being completely disassembled and stored.
Solution Approach 2:
The weapon mounting system is integrated with the movable rollover protection device, combining the weapon support function with the height-adjustment function. This merging allows the weapon to be transported as part of the lowered structure or to remain mounted on the rollover protection device during transition, maintaining operational readiness while reducing vehicle height.
3Length of stationary object
If the weapon is dismantled to reduce vehicle height, then the vehicle height is reduced, but the process is time-consuming and disrupts vehicle usability
Solution Approach 1:
The rollover protection device incorporates quick-release mechanisms and actuated movement capabilities that enable rapid transition between raised and lowered positions. This dynamic design reduces the time required for state transition compared to manual disassembly and reassembly of separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
By integrating the weapon mounting system with the movable rollover protection device, the patent combines the weapon support function with the height-adjustment function. This allows the weapon to remain mounted during the transition process, eliminating the time required for disassembly and reassembly of the weapon itself, while only the rollover protection device needs to be moved or dismantled.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle (1) having a rollover protection element (2), wherein an assembly, in particular a weapon (3) that can be aimed, is arranged on said vehicle, wherein the rollover protection element (2) can be lowered from a deployed position to a transport position in order to reduce the vehicle height. The invention further relates to a method for reducing the vehicle height of a vehicle (1) having a rollover protection element (2), wherein an assembly, in particular a weapon (3), is arranged on said vehicle, wherein the rollover protection element (2) is lowered from a deployed position to a transport position.