Inventors:
William H. Williams - Pensacola FL
International Classification:
B61B 1300
Abstract:
An emergency life saving vehicle (ELSV) for providing emergency services on a bridge independently of traffic conditions thereon. In particular, the ELSV conforms to the particular configuration of a bridge so as to ride along an otherwise unused portion of the bridge, and thereby circumvent any traffic which may have accumulated on the bridge. There are at least three different embodiments of the ELSV, each embodiment corresponding to a particular bridge structure. A first embodiment has a raised center portion so that the ELSV is able to straddle a lane dividing wall on a single span bridge; a second embodiment is adapted to straddle a space between two adjacent and parallel spans of a two span bridge by simultaneously riding on the interior walkways of each span; and a third embodiment rides along the interior walkways and retaining walls of a two span bridge. The ELSV can be controlled remotely and, among other things, carries emergency medical equipment, rescue equipment, and firefighting equipment to the scene of an incident on the bridge. In addition, the ELSV also carries cots for transporting injured victims of an incident, such as a personal injury automobile accident or a car fire.