OMNI-DIRECTIONAL WHEELS AND METHODS AND VEHICLES EMPLOYING SAME

1 . A munitions handling vehicle adapted for loading and unloading munitions on and from military aircraft, said munitions handling vehicle comprising:

(a) a vehicle chassis;

(b) a plurality of omni wheels mounted on respective wheel axles and cooperating to induce omni-directional movement of said vehicle;

(c) a munitions carrier supported by said vehicle chassis for carrying munition loads, said munitions carrier being movable upon actuation of a lift between a weapons-transport position and an aircraft-access position, such that:

i. in said weapons-transport position, said lift is sufficiently retracted adjacent said vehicle chassis to facilitate transport of weapons in said carrier to and from the aircraft; and

ii. in said aircraft-access position, said lift is sufficiently extended to enable precision loading and unloading of weapons in the aircraft without repositioning or reconfiguring the aircraft.

2 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each of said omni wheels comprises a plurality of generally elliptical-shaped rollers.

3 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein each of said omni wheels comprises at least six of said rollers.

4 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 1 , and comprising an electric motor operatively connected to each of said omni wheels for actuating said wheels.

5 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein each electric motor is capable of generating at least five horsepower.

6 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said lift comprises a scissor lift including a plurality of cooperating, interconnected, crossing arms.

7 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said lift comprises a collapsible munitions stand including a plurality of cooperating, interconnected, folding arms.

8 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said vehicle chassis comprises a support platform.

9 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said vehicle defines a profile measured from an uppermost extremity of said vehicle to a ground surface, said profile being less than 14 inches when said mechanical lift is fully retracted.

10 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said vehicle defines a maximum reach measured from said munitions carrier to a ground surface, said maximum reach being greater than 60 inches when said mechanical lift is fully extended.

11 . A munitions handling vehicle adapted for loading and unloading weapons in military aircraft, said munitions handling vehicle comprising:

(a) a vehicle chassis;

(b) a plurality of wheel axles attached to said vehicle chassis;

(c) a plurality of omni wheels mounted on respective wheel axles and cooperating to induce omni-directional movement of said vehicle;

(d) a mechanical lift supported by said vehicle chassis; and

(e) a munitions carrier secured to a top end of said lift, and movable upon actuation of said lift between a weapons-transport position and an aircraft-access position, such that:

i. in the weapons-transport position, said lift is sufficiently retracted adjacent said vehicle chassis to facilitate transport of weapons in said carrier to and from the aircraft; and

ii. in the aircraft-access position, said lift is sufficiently extended to enable precision loading and unloading of weapons in the aircraft without repositioning or reconfiguring the aircraft; and

(f) said munitions handling vehicle defining a profile measured from an uppermost extremity of said vehicle to a ground surface, said profile being less than 14 inches when said mechanical lift is fully retracted.

12 . A munitions handling vehicle adapted for loading and unloading weapons in military aircraft, said munitions handling vehicle comprising:

(a) a vehicle chassis;

(b) a plurality of wheel axles attached to said vehicle chassis;

(c) a plurality of omni wheels mounted on respective wheel axles and cooperating to induce omni-directional movement of said vehicle;

(d) a mechanical lift supported by said vehicle chassis; and

(e) a munitions carrier secured to a top end of said lift, and movable upon actuation of said lift between a weapons-transport position and an aircraft-access position, such that:

i. in the weapons-transport position, said lift is sufficiently retracted adjacent said vehicle chassis to facilitate transport of weapons in said carrier to and from the aircraft, and in the weapons-transport position, said vehicle defines a profile of less than 14 inches measured from an uppermost extremity of said vehicle to a ground surface; and

ii. in the aircraft-access position, said lift is sufficiently extended to enable precision loading and unloading of weapons in the aircraft without repositioning or reconfiguring the aircraft, and in the aircraft-access position, said vehicle defines a maximum reach of greater than 60 inches measured from said munitions carrier to the ground surface.

13 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein each of said omni wheels comprises a plurality of generally elliptical-shaped rollers.

14 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein each of said omni wheels comprises at least six of said rollers.

15 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12 , and comprising an electric motor operatively connected to each of said omni wheels for actuating said wheels.

16 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein each electric motor comprises a minimum of 5 horsepower.

17 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein said mechanical lift comprises a scissor lift including a plurality of cooperating, interconnected, crossing arms.

18 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein said mechanical lift comprises a collapsible weapons stand including a plurality of cooperating, interconnected, folding arms.

19 . A munitions handling vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein said vehicle chassis comprises a support platform.

20 . A method for loading weapons in military aircraft, comprising the steps of:

(a) transporting a weapon to an aircraft on a munitions handling vehicle, the vehicle comprising a plurality of omni wheels cooperating to induce omni-directional movement of the vehicle;

(b) with the vehicle located at the aircraft, moving the weapon from a weapons transport position, wherein the vehicle defines a profile of less than 14 inches measured from an uppermost extremity of the vehicle to a ground surface, to an aircraft-access position, wherein the vehicle defines a maximum reach of greater than 60 inches measured from the ground surface; and

(c) in the aircraft-access position, loading the weapon in the aircraft.