Multi-Part Vehicle Extraction Method and Tool

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of expanding a vehicle for extracting a person trapped therein by providing a multi-part structural bar with a plurality of receiving points, securing the structural bar to the vehicle such as by placing against the back seat of an interior of a vehicle or by chaining to structural elements of the vehicle. One end of an expansion ram is then set into one of the receiving points of the multi-part structural bar with the other end of the ram set into a point in the vehicle to be expanded, or against a structural plate placed in a vehicle. The ram is then activated or expanded, thus resulting in an expansion of the interior of the vehicle to permit a person trapped therein to be extracted.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of expanding a crushed vehicle for extracting a person trapped therein comprising:
 a) providing a structural bar comprised of multiple portions with a plurality of receiving points;   b) placing said structural bar against the back seat of an interior of a vehicle;   c) providing an expansion ram with a first end and a second end;   d) setting said first end of said expansion ram to one of said receiving points in said structural bar;   e) setting said second end of said expansion ram to a point in said vehicle to be expanded;   f) activating said expansion ram, causing linear expansion of said ram and thereby the expansion of said interior of a vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a support plate or structural bar portion is displaced between said second end of said expansion ram and said point in said vehicle to be expanded. 
     
     
         3 . A method of expanding a crushed vehicle for extracting a person trapped therein comprising:
 a) providing a structural bar comprised of multiple portions with a plurality of receiving points;   b) securing said structural bar to structural elements of a vehicle;   c) providing an expansion ram with a first end and a second end;   d) setting said first end of said expansion ram to one of said receiving points in said structural bar;   e) setting said second end of said expansion ram to a point on said vehicle to be expanded;   f) activating said expansion ram, causing linear expansion of said expansion ram and expansion of said interior of said vehicle.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the means of securing said structural bar to structural elements of a vehicle comprises the further steps of:
 a) providing end anchors at each end of said structural bar; 
 b) securing a first end anchor to a structural element of said vehicle such as though chaining; and 
 c) securing a second end anchor to a structural element of said vehicle such as through chaining 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said structural bar is secured external to said vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein a support plate or second structural bar is displaced between said second end of said expansion ram and said point in said vehicle to be expanded. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein a support plate is displaced between said second end of said expansion ram and said point in said vehicle to be expanded. 
     
     
         8 . A vehicle extraction tool comprising:
 a structural bar comprised of multiple portions with a first end portion and a second end portion; and a plurality receiving points along the length of said structural bar.   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle extraction tool of  claim 8  further comprising a central portion disposed between said first end portion and said second end portion. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle extraction tool of  claim 8  wherein affixed on said first end portion is an anchor and affixed on said second end portion is a second anchor. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle extraction tool of  claim 8  wherein said structural bar portions are is between 12 inches and 60 inches long. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle extraction tool of  claim 8  wherein said structural bar portions are between 20 inches and 40 inches long. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle extraction tool of  claim 9  wherein said structural bar is approximately 96 inches long. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle extraction tool of  claim 8  wherein said structural bar is square tubular steel. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle extraction tool of  claim 14  wherein said receiving points are holes in a wall of said structural bar. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle extraction tool of  claim 8  wherein said structural bar is solid aluminum. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle extraction tool of  claim 8  wherein said receiving points are recesses of between ¼ inch and 1 inch in depth. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle extraction tool of  claim 9  wherein said anchors are u-type anchors. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle extraction tool of  claim 9  wherein said anchors are swivel mounted u-type anchors.