Rapid underbody kit deployment crate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12330730-B2
Application number	US-202418631313-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2024
Priority date	Jul 14, 2021
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

A method of installing an underbody kit to a vehicle comprising providing a rapid underbody kit deployment crate comprising a pallet, at least one inflatable bladder, and at least one cover; removing the at least one cover from the pallet; placing the underbody kit onto the pallet and the at least one inflatable bladder; securing the at least one cover back onto the pallet; transporting the rapid underbody kit deployment crate to an assembly location; removing the at least one cover from the pallet; driving the vehicle over the rapid underbody kit deployment crate; inflating the at least one inflatable bladder to vertically lift the underbody kit into installation position; installing the underbody kit to an underbody of the vehicle; deflating the at least one inflatable bladder by releasing the fluid from the at least one inflatable bladder; and driving the vehicle away from the rapid underbody kit deployment crate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of installing an underbody kit to a vehicle comprising:
providing a rapid underbody kit deployment crate comprising a pallet, at least one inflatable bladder attached to the pallet, and at least one cover;
removing the at least one cover from the pallet;
placing the underbody kit onto the pallet and the at least one inflatable bladder;
securing the at least one cover back onto the pallet;
transporting the rapid underbody kit deployment crate to an assembly location;
removing the at least one cover from the pallet;
driving the vehicle over the rapid underbody kit deployment crate;
inflating the at least one inflatable bladder with a fluid to vertically lift the underbody kit into installation position;
installing the underbody kit to an underbody of the vehicle;
deflating the at least one inflatable bladder by releasing the fluid from the at least one inflatable bladder; and
driving the vehicle away from the rapid underbody kit deployment crate.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein driving the vehicle over the rapid underbody kit deployment crate causes automatic lateral alignment of the underbody kit with an underbody of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein inflating the at least one inflatable bladder with the fluid comprises flowing the fluid into the at least one inflatable bladder using a fluid compressor.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the inflating and the deflating of the at least one inflatable bladder using a controller.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising aligning the underbody kit with the underbody of the vehicle during inflation of the at least one inflatable bladder using at least one alignment pin on the underbody kit and at least one alignment feature on the vehicle.

6. A method of removing an underbody kit from a vehicle comprising:
providing a rapid underbody kit deployment crate comprising a pallet, at least one inflatable bladder attached to the pallet, and at least one cover;
removing the at least one cover from the pallet;
driving the vehicle over the pallet;
inflating the at least one inflatable bladder with a fluid so that the at least one inflatable bladder reaches the underbody kit;
removing the underbody kit from the vehicle thereby releasing the underbody kit onto the at least one inflatable bladder;
deflating the at least one inflatable bladder by releasing the fluid from the at least one inflatable bladder;
driving the vehicle away from the rapid underbody kit deployment crate; and
securing the at least one cover back onto the pallet.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising storing or shipping the underbody kit in the rapid underbody kit deployment crate.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein inflating the at least one inflatable bladder with the fluid comprises flowing the fluid into the at least one inflatable bladder with a fluid compressor.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising controlling the inflation and deflation of the at least one inflatable bladder using a controller.

Assignees

• Government Of The United States As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army

Inventors

• Burguess Victor Wilhelm
• Rickert Ii Frederick Carl

Classifications

• B66F3/36 Primary

  Load-engaging elements · CPC title

• B62D21/155

  Sub-frames or underguards · CPC title

• B62D25/2072

  Floor protection, e.g. from corrosion or scratching (floor mats B60N3/04, armour F41H7/042, insulation B60R13/08, streamlining B62D35/02) · CPC title

• B66F3/35

  Inflatable flexible elements, e.g. bellows (inflatable load-engaging elements B66F3/40; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00) · CPC title

• B62D65/024 Primary

  Positioning of sub-units or components with respect to body shell or other sub-units or components · CPC title