Dynamic Fluid Vehicle System

Abstract

A Dynamic Fluid Vehicle System that provides a multiple functions based on the beneficial properties of the transfer of volumes of fluids through fluid compartments arranged at various locations throughout a vehicle. Volumes of liquid fluids are employed in place of hard plate armor to protect against certain High Velocity Threats and are transferred from fluid compartments enabling lower vehicle weight. Vehicle stability is increased by transferring volumes of fluids to compensate for undesirable locations of the center of gravity of vehicle. Vehicle heat signatures are reduced by cooling fluids and cycling the cooler fluids into external fluid compartments.

1 . A dynamic fluid vehicle system, comprising
 an occupant compartment having an exterior;   two or more fluid compartments, at least one of the fluid compartments covering a portion of the exterior; and   a transfer mechanism operatively connecting the two or more fluid compartments.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one fluid compartment has a fluid volume, the system further comprising a volume adjustment mechanism for adjusting the fluid volume of at least one fluid compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid contained in at least one of the fluid compartments, the fluid of a type that protects against an anticipated threat. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one fluid compartment containing the fluid covers a portion of the exterior where an impact of the anticipated threat is most probable. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid contained in at least one of the fluid compartments, the fluid is a sheer-thickening fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an engine fluid system wherein the fluid transfer means is operatively connected to the engine fluid system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one fluid compartment covers a significant portion of the exterior. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fluid compartments is in the form of an underbody v-hull. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid temperature control system operatively connected to the transfer mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a processor operatively connected to the transfer mechanism; and   a machine-accessible storage medium operatively connected to the processor, the machine-accessible storage medium having instructions encoded thereon for enabling the processor to perform the operations of (a) receiving information about a threat, (b) selecting a fluid that protects against the threat, and (c) transferring the selected fluid into at least one of the fluid compartments.   
     
     
         11 . A method for configuring protection levels of the dynamic fluid vehicle system, the dynamic fluid vehicle system comprising an occupant compartment having an exterior, two or more fluid compartments, at least one of the fluid compartments covering a portion of the exterior, and a transfer mechanism operatively connecting the two or more fluid compartments; the method comprising
 receiving information about a threat;   selecting a fluid that protects against the threat; and   transferring the selected fluid into at least one of the fluid compartments.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of selecting a location that protects against the threat and wherein the transferring step is performed into a fluid compartment that covers the selected location. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , the system further comprising a fluid volume in at least one fluid compartment and a volume adjustment mechanism;
 the method further comprising the steps of determining a thickness of the selected fluid that will protect against the threat; and   adjusting the fluid volume such that it creates the determined thickness.   
     
     
         14 . A method for adjusting the weight distribution of a vehicle, the vehicle having two or more fluid compartments and a transfer mechanism operatively connecting the two or more fluid compartments; the method comprising
 determining a desired weight distribution;   determining what fluid volume is needed in each fluid compartment to create the desired weight distribution; and   transferring fluid between each fluid compartment until each fluid compartment contains the determined fluid volume.   
     
     
         15 . A dynamic fluid vehicle system, comprising
 a vehicle having two or more fluid compartments;   a transfer mechanism operatively connecting the two or more fluid compartments;   one or more sensors;   a processor operatively connected to the transfer mechanism and the one or more sensors; and   a machine-accessible storage medium operatively connected to the processor, the machine-accessible storage medium having instructions encoded thereon for enabling the processor to perform the operations of (a) monitoring the vehicle status using the sensors, (b) calculating a roll-over parameter, (c) determining whether the roll-over parameter has reached a roll-over threshold, (d) determining, if the roll-over parameter has reached the roll-over threshold, what fluid volume is needed in each fluid compartment to bring the roll-over parameter below the roll-over threshold, and (e) transferring fluid between each fluid compartment until the roll-over parameter is below the roll-over threshold.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising an engine fluid system wherein the transfer mechanism is operatively connected to the engine fluid system. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the two or more fluid compartments functions as a fluid reservoir for the engine fluid system. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a fluid temperature control system operatively connected to the transfer mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . A dynamic fluid vehicle system, comprising
 a vehicle having an exterior;   two or more fluid compartments, at least one of the fluid compartments covering a portion of the exterior;   a transfer mechanism operatively connecting the two or more fluid compartments; and   a fluid temperature control system operatively connected to the transfer mechanism.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising an engine fluid system wherein the transfer mechanism is operatively connected to the engine fluid system.