System and device for surveillance, search, and rescue

Abstract

A device for moving a load across a distance having a frame, a first wheel, a second wheel, and a bias restriction portion wherein the weight of a load associated with the frame portion biases the first and second wheels against a guide disposed between the first and second wheels such that said first and second wheels engage the guide and secure the device thereto, and further wherein the bias restriction portion restricts the biasing of the first and second wheels to within predetermined limits.

1 . A device for moving a load across a distance, the device comprising:
 a frame portion;   a first wheel portion associated with said frame portion at a first position;   a second wheel portion associated with said frame portion at a second position; and   a bias restriction portion associated with said frame at a third position;   wherein the weight of a load associated with said frame portion biases said first and second wheels against a guide, at least a portion of said guide disposed between said first and second wheels, such that said first and second wheels engage said guide and secure said device thereto,   and further wherein said bias restriction portion restricts the biasing of said first and second wheels to within predetermined limits.   
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein said bias restricting portion is a bias restriction wheel. 
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein said guide comprises a first plurality of teeth disposed along a surface thereof, and further wherein at least one of said first and second wheels comprises a second plurality of teeth disposed along a surface thereof, said first plurality of teeth and said second plurality of teeth being adapted to engage one another. 
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein said guide comprises a cutout portion for receiving at least one of said first and second wheels therein. 
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1  further comprising a safety portion associated with said frame at a fourth position, said safety portion adapted to restrict movement of the present device counter to the direction of bias of said first and second wheels, said movement being restricted to within predetermined limits. 
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 5  wherein said safety portion is a safety wheel. 
   
   
       7 . A device for moving a load across a distance, the device comprising:
 a climbing portion, said climbing portion adapted to engage at least one guide and transport said device therealong;   a frame portion fixedly attached to said climbing portion; and   a plurality of wheels rotatably attached to said frame portion, said wheels allowing said device to move along a substantially smooth surface for transport of said device from a first location to a second location.   
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein said climbing portion comprises:
 a climbing frame portion;   a first climbing wheel portion associated with said climbing frame portion at a first position; and   a second climbing wheel portion associated with said climbing frame at a second position,   wherein the weight of a load associated with said climbing frame portion biases said first and second climbing wheels against said at least one guide, at least a portion of said at least one guide disposed between said first and second climbing wheels such that said first and second climbing wheels engage said at least one guide and secure said device thereto.   
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 8  further comprising a bias restriction portion associated with said climbing frame at a third position. 
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 9  further comprising a safety portion associated with said climbing frame at a fourth position, said safety portion adapted to restrict movement of the present device counter to the direction of bias of said first and second climbing wheels, said movement being restricted to within predetermined limits. 
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 8  further comprising a safety portion associated with said climbing frame at a third position, said safety portion adapted to restrict movement of the present device counter to the direction of bias of said first and second climbing wheels, said movement being restricted to within predetermined limits. 
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 8  further comprising a motor operably engaged with said device in order to move said device from a first location to a second location. 
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 8  wherein said motor is selected from the group consisting of an electric motor, an internal-combustion motor, a solar-powered motor, a fuel-cell powered motor, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 8  further comprising a cockpit portion adapted to contain a driver of said device. 
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 8  further comprising a staging portion fixedly attached to said frame, said staging portion adapted to contain at least one person and to allow ready entry into and exit from said device. 
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 15  further comprising at least one doorway associated therewith, said doorway sized, shaped, and adapted to align with an opening into a structure having said at least one guide associated therewith such that at least one person within said device may readily exit said device and enter said structure, and that said at least one person within said structure may readily enter said device. 
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 16  wherein said at least one doorway is moveable along at least one directional axis such that said at least one doorway may be selectably positioned such that said at least one doorway is aligned with an opening into a structure having said at least one guide associated therewith. 
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 14  wherein said cockpit and said climbing portion are provided in a powered portion of said device, said device further comprising;
 a motor operably engaged with said powered portion in order to move said powered portion from a first location to a second location; and   an insertion compartment, said insertion compartment having a plurality of wheels rotatably attached thereto and defining an interior space therein,   wherein said insertion compartment is removably attached to said powered portion such that said insertion compartment can be pulled by said powered portion for transport of said insertion compartment from one location to another.   
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 18  wherein said insertion compartment is adapted to receive said powered portion removably attached to an outer surface thereof, such that said climbing portion associated with said powered portion can be utilized to transport said insertion compartment along a length of said at least one guide. 
   
   
       20 . The device according to  claim 8  wherein said device is capable of independent locomotion for transporting said device from a first location to a second location, one of said first and second locations being a structure having said at least one guide associated therewith, said device further comprising a staging portion adapted for insertion of at least one person into said structure and extraction of at least one person therefrom. 
   
   
       21 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein said device is fixedly attached to a structure with respect to which said device will be used.