GB2123762A - Security vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A security vehicle includes a rearwardly-open, load-carrying volume into which can be located a shock-proof container (2) of generally box-like shape. A plurality of connecting means (14) selectively operable from within the container (2) enable the container (2) to be removably secured to the chassis of the vehicle, while the cash-chute (16) also operable from within the container (2) extends from the container (2) to an aperture in a sidewall of the vehicle to provide communication between the interior of the container (2) and the exterior of the vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Security vehicle This invention relates to security vehicles and has particular, though not exclusive, application to such vehicles for carrying loads of small to medium cash value, typically up to of the order of 50,000.

Purpose-built security vehicles specifically designed to carry substantial sums of money are well-established, the extremely secure nature of their construction resulting in adequate insurance for the sums involved being readily available.

However the cost of such vehicles is itself substantial, even a modest security van of this type costing of the order of 25,000 to 30,000.

It is often necessary to transport small to medium sized sums, say between 10,000 and 50,000 in the form of pay-rolls and the like, to, for example, locations for the on-site payment of the employees involved. In such situations, the use of a specialist security vehicle is either not warranted or cannot be afforded, and consequently these sums are often carried by hand or in ordinary motor vehicles, in both cases without insurance.

Clearly this can lead to robbery and it would be desirable to be able to produce a relatively cheap security vehicle which was an acceptable insurance risk for the sums involved.

According to the present invention there is provided a security vehicle comprising a rearwardly-open, load-carrying volume in the rear regions thereof, and a substantially box-like container for location in said volume, the container including a plurality of connecting means selectively operable from within the container to extend through corresponding apertures in the floor of the vehicle each for releasable attachment to the chassis of the vehicle to anchor the container to said chassis, the container further including a cash-chute movable from within the container to extend from the container to a corresponding aperture in a sidewall of the vehicle to provide communication between the interior of the container and the exterior of the vehicle.

Such an arrangement permits a relatively conventional vehicle such as a long-wheelbase Land Rover to be selectively converted to a security vehicle by appropriate location therein, as and when desired, of the security container or module, which module is of sufficient size to accommodate a security guard and whatever valuables are to be transported therein. When located in the vehicle, the container is securely connected to the chassis of the vehicle by means only operable from within the container, while the only physical communication with the exterior i.e. the cash chute - is also only operable from within the container. The secure nature of the vehicle will thus be appreciated.

Conveniently the floor of the load-carrying volume of the vehicle is provided with guide rails extending longitudinally of the vehicle, the container being provided with co-operating guide means, for example castors, for location on said rails to enable controlled movement of the container into the vehicle.

Preferably stop means are provided to determine the operable position of the container within said volume, in which position the connecting means of the container are aligned with the corresponding apertures in the floor of said volume.

The connecting means may each comprise a bolt adapted to engage with the chassis of the vehicle and capable of being screwed from within the container into an operative position securely connected to said chassis.

Conveniently the aperture in the sidewall of the vehicle is provided with a removable cover.

Preferably the front end of the container, as considered relative to the vehicle, is provided with a door operable from within the container.

The container is constructed from shot-proof material such as sheets of aluminium alloy and is conveniently reinforced by means of lengths of top-hat section stiffeners of, for example, aluminium alloy secured to the internal faces of the walls of the container.

Conveniently the container includes a safety harness for use by an occupant during movement of the vehicle, a forced ventilation system including inlet vents in the roof of the container and outlet ports in the floor of the container which are each offset from a corresponding outlet port in the floor of the vehicle, a short-wave communication system with the driver of the vehicle and/or a control centre, an audible alarm system and emergency oxygen and breathing equipment.

Conveniently the roof of the container is provided with an emergency hatch operable from within the container and aligned with a removable panel in the roof of the rear regions of the vehicle.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in vertical section, of a security vehicle according to the invention with the container partially within the vehicle; Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, of the vehicle of Fig. 1 with the container within the vehicle, and Fig. 3 is a rear view of the vehicle of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated vehicle is based upon a conventional long wheel-base, hard-topped Land Rover provided, to the rear of the front seats, with a load-carrying volume closed by a rear door. Said volume is adapted to receive a box-like container or security module indicated generally at 2 and fabricated from shot-proof aluminium alloy sheet the inside faces of which are reinforced with stiffeners 4 in the form of tophat section aluminium alloy struts. The module 2 is of sufficient size to house a security officer as can be seen from Fig. 1 and as will be referred to in more detail below.

A pair of parallel guide rails 6, in the form of lengths of angle-section aluminium alloy, are located on the floor of the load-carrying volume of the vehicle to extend fore and aft of said vehicle. A series of nylon rollers 8 secured to the underside of the module 2 and adapted to ride along the rails 6 enable the module to be guided into the rear regions of the vehicle.

Prior to location in the vehicle, the module 2 is supported on a parking stand or stillage 10 the height of the supporting surface of which is adjustable, said surface being provided with a pair of parallel guide rails 12 similar to, and adapted to form continuations of, those in the vehicle. With the container 2 on the stillage 10, the vehicle is reversed against the stillage 10 and the level of the supporting platform is adjusted until the rails 12 and 6 form continuations of each other. The container 2 can then be pushed into the vehicle as shown in Fig. 1.

Stop means are provided adjacent the front ends of the rails 6 for abutment by the container 2 to define the operative position of the container within the vehicle. in this position, a series of plunger bolts or anchor clamps 14 mounted on, to extend through the floor of the container 2 are each aligned with a corresponding aperture formed in the floor of the load-carrying volume of the vehicle. These bolts 14 are operable from within the container 2 and can each be hooked into associated sockets on the chassis of the vehicle and thence tightened by screwing to secure the container to the chassis.

The container 2 further includes a cash-chute 16 which, with the container in its operative position, extends from a sidewall of the container to a receiving aperture formed in a sidewall of the vehicle, said aperture being covered with a slidable cover plate when not in use. A cash drawer 1 8 provided with a safety strap is slidable in the chute under operation from within the container 2.

A forced ventilation system is provided for the container 2, ventilation ports 20 being fixed in the roof of the container and outlet ports being formed in the floor of the container. Said outlet ports are each offset from an associated ventilation hole provided in the floor of the vehicle and capable of being closed by the occupant of the container 2.

The container 2 is provided with electrical piugs and sockets to enable radio contact with the driver of the vehicle and/or a control centre, as well as to enable operation of lighting facilities within the container, the ventilation system and emergency switches to actuate audible warning devices in the vehicle.

The front end of the container or module 2 is provided with a stable-type door 22 both sections of which are only lockable from within the container, the upper section of said door, as indicated in Fig. 2, opening above the centre front seat of the vehicle to permit emergency exit from the container 2.

Conveniently the container includes a rear seat 24 and a safety harness 26 for use by the occupant during movement of the vehicle, while straps are provided within the container to secure cash bags, boxes and the like to the floor of the container.

The roof of the container 2 is provided with an emergency escape hatch which, with the container in its operative position within the vehicle, lies adjacent an emergency panel in the roof of the Land Rover. This can only be opened by the occupant of the module 2 and not from the outside of the vehicle.

The operating procedure of the described arrangement is as follows. With the container 2 supported on the parking stand or stillage 10, and as aforementioned, the Land Rover is reversed into position adjacent the stand to receive the container and any necessary adjustment is made to the level of the supporting surface of the stand.

The occupant then enters the container 2 and secures the doors 22 from within by means of inside clamp fastenings. The cover plate is removed from the vehicle sidewall.

The container is then rolled into the vehicle until it abuts the stop means on the rails 6 and the occupant then fixes the anchor clamps 14 so that the container is secured to the chassis of the vehicle. The drawer 1 8 is then inserted into the cash-chute 1 6 and the occupant secures himself in the safety harness 26.

Such a security vehicle is particularly useful as a wages payout vehicle in that it would enable companies to pay out payrolls on site with a larger degree of safety than is at present common practice. Further, it will be appreciated that, when not in use as a security vehicle, the basic Land Rover can be used in conventional manner. Thus the only costs involved in providing the security aspect to the vehicle are those for the container and allied equipment itself and the relatively minor modifications to be made to the vehicle. It is estimated that such costs will typically be of the order of 3,000 to 4,000. This can be compared with the above-mentioned cost of specialist security vehicles. Further, the described arrangement has proved itself an acceptable insurance risk up to 50,000.

Although described in relation to a Land Rover, other vehicles, such as vans, are also suitable for the described conversion.

Claims (11)

1. A security vehicle comprising a rearwardlyopen, load-carrying volume in the rear regions thereof, and a substantially box-like container for location in said volume, the container including a plurality of connecting means selectively operable from within the container to extend through corresponding apertures in the floor of the vehicle each for releasable attachment to the chassis of the vehicle to anchor the container to said chassis, the container further including a cash-chute movable from within the container to extend from the container to a corresponding aperture in a sidewall of the vehicle to provide communication between the interior of the container and the exterior of the vehicle.

2. A security vehicle as claimed in ciaim 1 in which the floor of the load-carrying volume of the vehicle is provided with guide rails extending longitudinally of the vehicle, the container being provided with co-operating guide means for location on said rails to enable controlled movement of the container into and out of the vehicle.

3. A security vehicle as claimed in claim 2 in which stop means are provided to determine the operable position of the container within said volume, in which position the connecting means of the container are aligned with the corresponding apertures in the floor of said volume.

4. A security vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the connecting means each comprise a bolt adapted to engage with the chassis of the vehicle and capable of being screwed from within the container into an operative position securely connected to said chassis.

5. A security vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the aperture in the sidewall of the vehicle is provided with a removable cover.

6. A security vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 and including a cash drawer movable along the chute.

7. A security vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the front end of the container, considered relative to the vehicle, is provided with a door operable from within the container.

8. A security vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the container is constructed from shot-proof sheet aluminium alloy reinforced by stiffeners of aluminium alloy secured to the internal faces of the walls of the container.

9. A security vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the container includes one or more of: a safety harness for use by an occupant during movement of the vehicle; a forced ventilation system including inlet ports in the roof of the container and outlet ports in the floor of the container which are then offset from a corresponding outlet port in the floor of the vehicle; a short-wave communication system with the driver of the vehicle and/or a control centre: an audible alarm system; emergency oxygen and breathing equipment.

10. A security vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 in which the roof of the container is provided with an emergency hatch operable from within the container and aligned with a removable panel in the roof of the rear regions of the vehicle.

11. A security vehicle substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.