CA1204283A - Mine-field clearing apparatus mountable on a vehicle - Google Patents
Mine-field clearing apparatus mountable on a vehicleInfo
- Publication number
- CA1204283A CA1204283A CA000429692A CA429692A CA1204283A CA 1204283 A CA1204283 A CA 1204283A CA 000429692 A CA000429692 A CA 000429692A CA 429692 A CA429692 A CA 429692A CA 1204283 A CA1204283 A CA 1204283A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- orientation
- frame
- tooth
- raised
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
- F41H11/00—Defence installations; Defence devices
- F41H11/12—Means for clearing land minefields; Systems specially adapted for detection of landmines
- F41H11/16—Self-propelled mine-clearing vehicles; Mine-clearing devices attachable to vehicles
- F41H11/20—Self-propelled mine-clearing vehicles; Mine-clearing devices attachable to vehicles with ground-penetrating elements, e.g. with means for removing buried landmines from the soil
- F41H11/24—Self-propelled mine-clearing vehicles; Mine-clearing devices attachable to vehicles with ground-penetrating elements, e.g. with means for removing buried landmines from the soil the elements being ploughs
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
- F41H11/00—Defence installations; Defence devices
- F41H11/12—Means for clearing land minefields; Systems specially adapted for detection of landmines
- F41H11/16—Self-propelled mine-clearing vehicles; Mine-clearing devices attachable to vehicles
- F41H11/28—Self-propelled mine-clearing vehicles; Mine-clearing devices attachable to vehicles using brushing or sweeping means or dozers to push mines lying on a surface aside; using means for removing mines intact from a surface
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Soil Sciences (AREA)
- Soil Working Implements (AREA)
Abstract
A B S T R A C T
Mine clearing apparatus for attachment to a vehicle comprising a frame mountable onto a vehicle for selectable positioning in a raised or lowered orientation, apparatus for raising and shunting aside mines mounted onto the frame; and apparatus for selectably retaining the frame in a raised orientation and comprising control apparatus operable from inside the vehicle for releasing the frame from the raised orientation and allowing it to assume the lowered orientation.
Mine clearing apparatus for attachment to a vehicle comprising a frame mountable onto a vehicle for selectable positioning in a raised or lowered orientation, apparatus for raising and shunting aside mines mounted onto the frame; and apparatus for selectably retaining the frame in a raised orientation and comprising control apparatus operable from inside the vehicle for releasing the frame from the raised orientation and allowing it to assume the lowered orientation.
Description
~ )42~33 ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES LTD.
MINE-FIELD CLEARING APPARATUS ~lOUNTABLE ON A VEHICLE
FIELD OF THE IN~ENTION
The present in~ention relates to apparatus for clearing mines, and more particularly to mine clearing apparatus mountable on an armoured vehicle such as a tank.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
ij It is known in tank warfare to employ mine clearing apparatus mounted on a vehicle for clearing a path through a mine-field. Conventional mine clearing apparatus which is mounted on armoured vehicles is relatively cumbersome and often interferes with the fighting ability of the vehicle. This is due to a number of disadvantages. Firstly, once it is desired to pass through a mine field, lowering the mine clearing apparatus into ground engaging ~osition requires a manual operation from outside the tank. Raising of the mine clearing apparatus -' out of ground engaging position is sometimes done manuatly and sometimes done by means of a hydraulic or elcctrical lifter. The hydraulic or electric lifter is extremely susceptible to failure and may be disabled even by small-weapons fire. In such a case, the vehicle may be totally . . .
- disabled in its mobility. Another difficulty with conventional mine clearing apparatus is that in its raised position, it interferes with the field of vision of the driver of the vehicle and may also interfere with the positioning of the cannon of an armoured vehicle such as a tank.
~ZO~Z83 SU~RY OF THE IN~ENTION
The present invention seeks to overcome disadvantages and limitations of prior art mine clearing apparatus and proYides mine clearing apparatus for attachment to a vehicle comprising a Frame mountable onto a vehicle for selectable positioning in a raised or lo~ered orientation; apparatus for raising and shunting aside mines mounted onto the frame, and apparatus for selectably retaining the frame in a raised orientation and comprising control apparatus operable from inside the vehicle for releasing the frame from the raised orientation and allowing it to assume the lowered orientation.
Further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is provided mine ~learing apparatus for attachment to a vehicle comprising a frarne mountable onto a vehicle for selectable positioning in a raised or lowered orientation; apparatus for raising and shunting aside mines mounted onto the frame; and apparatus for automatically raising the frame from its lowered orientation to its raised orientation in response to backwards motion of the vehicle.
Additionally in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus for raising and shunting aside mines comprises a plurality of plow teeth which, in operation, extend below the ground surface and first and second plo~l sections, disposed one above another in hing~d engagement and operative to lie in the same plane during operation and in folded en~agement when the frame is in its raised orienta.ion, so as not to interfere with normal tank operation.
MINE-FIELD CLEARING APPARATUS ~lOUNTABLE ON A VEHICLE
FIELD OF THE IN~ENTION
The present in~ention relates to apparatus for clearing mines, and more particularly to mine clearing apparatus mountable on an armoured vehicle such as a tank.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
ij It is known in tank warfare to employ mine clearing apparatus mounted on a vehicle for clearing a path through a mine-field. Conventional mine clearing apparatus which is mounted on armoured vehicles is relatively cumbersome and often interferes with the fighting ability of the vehicle. This is due to a number of disadvantages. Firstly, once it is desired to pass through a mine field, lowering the mine clearing apparatus into ground engaging ~osition requires a manual operation from outside the tank. Raising of the mine clearing apparatus -' out of ground engaging position is sometimes done manuatly and sometimes done by means of a hydraulic or elcctrical lifter. The hydraulic or electric lifter is extremely susceptible to failure and may be disabled even by small-weapons fire. In such a case, the vehicle may be totally . . .
- disabled in its mobility. Another difficulty with conventional mine clearing apparatus is that in its raised position, it interferes with the field of vision of the driver of the vehicle and may also interfere with the positioning of the cannon of an armoured vehicle such as a tank.
~ZO~Z83 SU~RY OF THE IN~ENTION
The present invention seeks to overcome disadvantages and limitations of prior art mine clearing apparatus and proYides mine clearing apparatus for attachment to a vehicle comprising a Frame mountable onto a vehicle for selectable positioning in a raised or lo~ered orientation; apparatus for raising and shunting aside mines mounted onto the frame, and apparatus for selectably retaining the frame in a raised orientation and comprising control apparatus operable from inside the vehicle for releasing the frame from the raised orientation and allowing it to assume the lowered orientation.
Further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is provided mine ~learing apparatus for attachment to a vehicle comprising a frarne mountable onto a vehicle for selectable positioning in a raised or lowered orientation; apparatus for raising and shunting aside mines mounted onto the frame; and apparatus for automatically raising the frame from its lowered orientation to its raised orientation in response to backwards motion of the vehicle.
Additionally in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus for raising and shunting aside mines comprises a plurality of plow teeth which, in operation, extend below the ground surface and first and second plo~l sections, disposed one above another in hing~d engagement and operative to lie in the same plane during operation and in folded en~agement when the frame is in its raised orienta.ion, so as not to interfere with normal tank operation.
2~33 Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the raising and shunting apparatus also comprises a gliding surface which supports the frame in its lowered orientation. The gliding surface is provided with a - front mine deflector ptate for deflecting mines in the path thereof. The gliding surface may be provided with a retaining member so as to prevent inadvertent engagement of the gliding surface with treads of its supporting vehicle under certain conditions of terrain.
1~l There is also proYided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention apparatus for clearir.g mines comprising a frame mounta~le or,to a vehiclc for selec~J~le positioning in a raised or lowered orientation, plow apparatus for raising and shunting aside mines mounted onto the fra~e and i- apparatus for automatically raising the plow from its lowered orientation to its raised orientation in response to backwards motion of the vehicle and including mounting apparatus rotatably mounted onto the Yehicle, spring supporting apparatus mounted onto the mounting apparatus and attached to the plow apparatus, and tooth apparatus fixed onto the mounting apparatus and arranged for selectable engagement with a vehicl~ tread, the spring supporting apparatus being operative when the plow is in its lowered orientation to urge ~he tooth apparatus into driven ergagement with the vehicle tread whereby during backwards -'; movement of the vehicle the mounting apparatus rotates in a first direction, thereby extending the length of the spring supporting apparatus, and increasing the spring force thereof until a spring force is reached at a first position of the mounting apparatus sufficient to raise the plow to its raised ~ 4Z~3 orientation. Continued rotation oF the mounting apparatus raises the plow until it engayes a retaininy hook, and is held stationary. Continued backwards movement of ~he vehicle treads causes the mounting apparatus to continue to rotate in the first direction increasing the length and spr~nq force of the spring support until it passes a second position defining a first dead point at which the longitudinal axis of the spring supporting apparatus intersects the axis of rotation of the mounting apparatus. After it passes the second position 1~ the mounting apparatus reaches a third position at which the teeth are disengaged from the treads for free forward movement driven by the spring ~orce of the spring supporting apparatus.
The mounting apparatus then rotates under the force of the spring supporting apparatus for a fourth position at which I; the teeth are totally disengaged ~rom the treads, and the spring supporting apparatus is at a minimum length and spring force.
Further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the spring supporting apparatus comprises first and second springs having different spring constants arranged in a series arrangement.
Additionally in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the springs comprises a disk or belleville spring.
Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invent;on, the tcoth apparatus comprises two tee~h, one of which engages the vehicle treads when the frame is in the lowered orientation upon the onset of backwards motion and the other of ~04Z~3 l which becomes disengaged from the vehicle treads upon traversal of the third position, in order to permit spring driven rotation of mounting apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Fi 9 . 1 i s a top view illustration of mine clearing - lO apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a side view illustration of t~e apparatus of Fig. l in a lowered orientation;
Fig. 3 is a side view illustration of the apparatus of Figs. l and 2 in a partially lowered orientation;
Figs. 4A and 4B are respective views of a locking mechanism forming part of the apparatus of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in respective locked and unlocked orientationsi Fig. 5 is a top ~iew illustration of an alternate embodiment of mine clearing apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a side view illustration of the apparatus of Fig. 5 in a lowered orientation;
Fig. 7 is a side Yiew illustration of the apparatus of Figs. 5 and 6 in a partially raised orientation;
Fig. 8 is a side view illustration of the apparatus of Figs. 5-7 in a raised orientation with the sprin~ support apparatus at a first dead point orientation; and Fig. 9 is a side view illustration of the apparatus of Figs. 5-8 in a raised orientation.
~4~3 DETAILED DESC~IPTIO~ OF THE INVENrION
Reference i5 now made to Figs. 1 - 3 which illuctrate mine clearing apparatus constructed and operatiYe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The present description is presented with particular reference to mine clearing apparatus which ;s mountable onto a particular type of tank, the M-60 Patton. It is appreciated that this is entirely for the purpose of illustration and that the ir,vention is applicable to sLmilar types of vehi.cle.
As seen in the illustrations, the mine clearing apparatus comprises a frame 10 including a pair of identical side portions 12 which are joined at their front end by a cross bar 14 and at their rear end support an axle 16. Frame lQ
is rigidly mounted onto an armoured vehicle such as a M-60 tank in the illustrated embodiment by engagement of pins 17 located at side portions 12 with towline lugs fixed onto the tank.
Ridigity of mounting is provided by bolts 18 which engage the underside of the tank and force mounting plates 20, fixedly mounted onto side portions 12 on the opposite side of pins 17, into tight engagement with the underside hull of the tank.
First and second arms 22 and 24 are independently rotatably mo~nted onto axle 16 and extend forwardly thereof in generally parallel planes. Arms 22 and 24 are strengthened by reinforcing elements 26 and 28 respectively which are fixed at one end thereof to the respective arms and are rotatably mounted by means of clamps 30 and 32 onto axle 16.
~204Z~3 Rigidly mounted onto each of arms 22 and 24 is a mine plowing assembly 3~. Mine plowing assembly 34 comprises main plow portion 36, of generally elongate configuration and concave cross section.
The general configuration of main plow portion 36 may be similar to that of an ordinary vehicle powered sn~w plow. Disposed above main plow portion 36 and hinged thereonto is an auxiliary plow portion 38. Auxiliary plo~
portion 38 has two positions, a lowered position in which it u extends forwardly of the surface of main plow portion 36 and a raised position in which it defines an upper continuation of the surface of the main plow portion 36. This hinged construction is to obviate the problem of interference with a driver's field of vision or with the range of operation Ir, of the armament on a tank. Towards this end, the hinged auxiliary plow portion 38 may be lowered when the plowin~
assembly 34 is in its raised orientation.
Disposed below main plow portion 36 there are provided a plurality of vertically disposed planar blades 40, 2(; whieh during operation are disposed below the ground surface.
The horizontal spacing between adjacent vertical~blades is selected to be such that anti-vehicle mines will of necessity be engaged thereby. The blades are provided with an inclined forward surface, so as to raise mines located under the ground ~: surfaoe into engagement with main ~low portion 36, so that they may be plowed aside.
42~3 g I A desired depth of operation for blades 40 is determined by means of a gliding surface assembly 42 which is articulatedly mounted onto each of arms 22 and 24~
The gliding surface assembly 42 comprises a sled 44 which is - arranged to slide on the ground surface and is formed at its front with a vertical blade 47 for deflecting mines to the side thereof. Sled 44 is rotatably mounted onto a cam slot of a mounting plate 46. Mounting plate 46 is mounted in turn onto a mounting element 48. It is appreciated tha.t sled 44 ( is permitted to undergo a somewhat complex articulated motion in a single plane within limits defined by the respective cam paths. This mounting arrangement permits selectable adjustment of the penetration depth of the plowing assembly 34 and also permits the sled 44 to be folded when the plowing assembly is in its raised orientation to eliminate interference with operation of the tank.
A chain 50 e~tends from each auxiliary plow portion 38 to a location on the tank hull or onto frame 10. The length of the chain 50 is selected such that it is slack when the plowing assembly is in its raised orientation but becomes tight when the plowing assembly is lowered, thus pulling on auxiliary plow portion 38 and orienting it towards a generally vertical orientation. The full raised orientation of the auxiliary plow portion 38 is reached only when soil being plowed 'j is forced thereagainst~
Reference is now made additionally to Figs. 4A and 4B
which together with Figs. 1 - 3 illustrate apparatus for retaining the arms in their raised orientation and for :~XQ42~33 selectable release thereof. A hook member 60, is pi~otably mounted about an axis 62 onto each side portion 12 and comprises a socket portion 64 located at one end thereof and a roller portion 66 at another end thereof and ha~ing ~- mounted thereon a roller 68. A selectable release lever 7Q
is pivotably mounted onto each side portion 12 about an axis 72 and defines first and second roller su~por' shoulders 74 and 76. A spring 78 joins hook member 60 and release lever 70, urging lever 70 into seating engagement with roller l'~ 68 at one of shoulders 74 and 76. A cab1e connection 80 is pro~ided to the interior of the vehicle, such that pulling on the cable is operative to provide counter-clockwise mo~ement of lever 70 about its pivot axis 72 (as seen in Figs. 4A and 4~).
lL The operation of the apparatus described hereinabove will be understood from a consideration of Figs. 4A and 4B.
Fig. 4B shows a retainer roller 82 which is fixedly mounted onto each of arms 22 and 24 about to engage socket portion 64 and moving in an arc illustrated by an arrow 84. Engagement 7G of roller 82 with a surface 86 of the socket portion forces the hook member to pi~ot in a clockwise direction about its pi~ot axis 62 (in the sense of Figs. 4A and 4B). Due to the action of roller 68 against hook member 60, and the subsequent tendency of hook member 60 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction in response to the effect of gravity on roller 82 and the massive plowing assembly attached thereto, roller 68 seats on shoulder 76 and is thus prevented from further counterclockwise rotation into an upen orientation.
~2~Z~3 Roller 82 is thus securely engaged by hook member 60 and arms 22 and 24 are maintained in their respective raised orientation, provided that lever 70 remains in the seated position (Fig. 4A).
When it is desired to lower arms 22 and 24 to ~heir respective lowered, ground engaging orientations, it is sufficient to pull on respective cables ~0 from the safety of the driver's compartment. Pulling of cables 80 causes the lever 70 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction and out of supporting engagement with roller 68. Hook member 60 is then free to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot such that pin 82 is released, thus allowing arm 22 or 24 as the case may be and the associated mine plowing assembly 34 to fall by gravity into their respective lowered orientations ln engagement with the ground. Meanwhile, under the influence of spring 78, roller 68 seats on support shoulder 74. It is appreciated that the particular cons~ruction of the hook member 60 and of the lever 70 enable the release of the mine plowing assembly to be achieved with relatively little pull force on cable connection 80.
Reference is now made once again to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 which also illustrate apparatus for automatically lifting the mine plowlng assembly. There are provided two installations of such apparatus, corresponding to the two mine plowing assemblies. The apparatus for automatically lifting the mine plowing assembly cbmprises a freely rotatable d;sk 90 which is bearing mounted onto a mounting member 92 which is bolted onto a tension wheel 94 of a tank. Tension wheel 94 engages .
1~042~
the tread of.the tank and maintains it at a desired tension.
Mounted on an outer facing surface of disk 90 are three outer pins 95, 96 and 97 and an inner disposed pin 98.
Mounted on an inner facing surface of disk 90 is a tooth 100 'i which is disposed ordinarily out of engagement with corresponding interstices defined between pla~es of the tank trea(l.
Mounted on pin 95 is a lifting chain 99 which is attached at its other end to a location 102 fixed onto main plow portion 36. Mounted on pin 98 is a spring 104 which is attached i at its other end to main plow portion 36. Spring 104 is operative when in the orientation illustrated in Fig. 2 to urge disk to rotate about its axis 91 in a clockwise direction (in the sense of Fig. 2). This rotation brings tooth 100 into driven engagement with corresponding interstices between plates l~ of the tank tread. As soon as the tank is moving forward, this engagement produces only a clicking action as engagement with the interstices between the plates of the tank tread tend to move the tooth 100 in a counterclockwise direction, while the spring 104 snaps the tooth back in a clockwise direction.
; The apparatus for automatically lifting the mine plowing assembly described above is operative upon reYerse motion of the tank wi~h the mine plowing assembly in a lowered orientation. As the tank treads move in a backwards direction tooth 100 engages one of the interstices between adjacent plates - thereof and is driven together.. with disk 90 in a clockwise direct.ion thereby causing chain 99 to wind about pins 96 and 97, with the result that the chain pulls the plowing assenlbly 34 upwardly until roller 82 engages hook member 60 in locked engagement for retaining the arm and associated plowing assembly in a raised orientation.
~2Q~Z~3 Continued backwards motion of the tank tends to continue to drive tooth 100 and disk 90 in a clockwise motion.
Once plowing assembly 34 is locked by hook member 60, chain 99 cannot move forward in the clockwise direction and thus disk 90 is prevented from progressing in this direc~ion. As a result, toulh 100 repeatedly engages one of the interstices of the tread plates and is pulled forward, only to be snapped back by the action of chain 99. This iifts the tread plate slightly and bangs it down, producing a significant noise which signals !~ to the operator to terminate backwards motion.
Once forwards motion is commenced, tooth 100 enga~es one of the interstices of the tread plates and is mK)ved in a counterclockwise direction until it reaches a location at which the treads tend to disengage therewith. Since the orientation i of spring 104 has passed its dead spot due to the raised orientation of plowing assembly 34, spring 104 is operative to urge the tooth 100 and disk 90 to undertake further counter-clockwise motion until tooth 100 is totally disengacled from the tank treads. This orientation remains until the plowing 2b assembly is lowered, at which time, spring 104 is again reoriented and urges the disk 90 into the orientation shown in Fig. 2.
A limit chain 110 is provided for attachment between frame 10 and each of arms 22 and 24 to prevent arms 22 and 24 ., from falling beyond a certain limit in the event that a sudden drop in the ground level is encountered, as such a drop could otherwise bring the plowing assembly into engagement with the tank treads.
It is noted that the plowing assembly enga~es the ground surface in the Yicinity of the treads and outwardly thereof. In order to protect the intermediate portion of the tank from mine damage, a weighted chain 120 is mount:ed between ... the two plowing assemblies to engage and detonate any mines that are encountered at a safe distance from the tank.
Reference is now made to Figs. 5 - 9 which illustrate an alternate embodiment of the mine clearing apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with the 1~ present invention. Like numerals in Figs. 5 ~ g ancl Figs. 1 -4 indicate 1ike elemen~s.
The mine clcaring apparatus of Figs. 5 - 9 also comprises a frame 10 including a pair of identical side portions 12 which are Joined at their front end by a cross bar 14 and t at their rear end support an axle 16. Frame 10 is rigidly mounted onto an armoured vehicle such as an M-60 tank in the illustrated embodiment by engagement of pins 17 located at side portions 12 with towline lugs fixed onto the tank.
Rigidity of mounting is provided by bolts 18 which engaae '~' the und~rside of the tank and force mounting plates 20, fixedly .mounted onto side portions 12 on the opposite side of pins 17, into tight engagement with the underside hull of the ~ank.
First and second arms 22 and 24 are independently rotatably mounted onto axle 16 and extend forwardly thereof ~`' in generally parallel planesO Arms 22 and 24 are strengthened by reinforcing elements 26 and 28 respectively which.are fixed at one end thereof to the respective arms and are rotatably mounted by means of clamps 30 and 32 onto axle 16.
~2~4Z,~3 Rigldly mounted onto each of arms 22 and 24 is a mine plowing assembly 34. Mine plowing assembly 34 comprises main plow portion 36 which is substantially identical to that described in connection with Figs. 1 - 4. Disposed i above main plow portion 36 and hînged thereonto is an auxiliary plow portion 38, substantia71y identical with that described hereinabove.
Disposed below main plow portion 36 there are provided a plurality of vertically disposed planar blades 40, which during operation are disposed below the ground surface.
The horizontal spacing between adjacent ver~ical blades is selected to be such that anti-Yehicle mines will, of neoessity, be engaged thereby. The blades are provided with an inclined forward surface, so as to raise mines located under the ground l~ surface into engagement with main p~ow portion 36~ so that they may be ptowed aside.
A desired depth of operation for blades 40 is determined by means of a gliding surface assembly 42 which is articulatedly mounted onto each of arms 22 and 24. The ;' gliding surface assembly 42 comprises a sled 44 whioh is arranged to slide on the ground surface and is formed at its `
front with a vertical blade 45 for deflecting mines to the side thereof. Sled 44 is rotatably mounted onto a cam slot of a mounting plate 46. Mounting plate 46 ~s mounted in turn onto a mounting element 48. It is appreciated that sled 44 is permitted to undergo a somewhat complex articulated motion in a single plane within limits defined by the respective cam paths. This mounting arrangement permits selectable ~2()4Z~3 adjustment of the penetration depth of the plowing assembly 34 and also permits the sled 44 to be folded when the plowing assembly is in its raised orientation to eliminate inte~ference with operation of the tank.
A chain 50 extends from each auxiliary plow portion 38 to a location on the tank hull. The length of the chain 50 is selected such that it is slack when the plowing assembly is in its raised orientation but becomes tight when the plowing assembly is lowered, thus pulling on auxiliary plow portion 38 lu and orienting it towards a generally vertical orientation.
The full raised orientation of the auxiliary plow portion 38 is reached only when soil being plowed is forced therea~ainst.
The locking mechanism of Figs. 4A and 4B also act as described hereinabove with the apparatus of Fj95Q 5 - 9 l~ to retain the arms in their'rais~d orientation and to selectably release them.
Reference is now made again to Figs. 5 - 9 which illustrite an apparatus for automatical'ly lifting the mine plowing assembly. ~here are provided two installations of 2fi such apparatus, corresponding to the two mine plowing assemblies. The apparatus for automatically lifting the mine plowing assembly comprises a freely rotatable disk segment l90 which is bearing mounted onto a mounting member 192 which is bolted onto a tension wheel 194 of a tank. Tension wheel 194 engages the tread of the tank and maintains it as a desired tension,. Mnunted on an outer facing surface of disk segment l90 at a first radius from the pi~ot,location 193 about which the disk segment rotates, is a mounting pin 195. Mounted on an 12~2~3 edge surface of disk segment 190 are first and second spaced teeth 196 and 198 which selectably engage the interstices defined between plates of the tank tread in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
,Spring supporting apparatus 199 comprises a spring housing 200 which is rotatably mounted at a first end thereof onto mounting pin 195.and a spring compressing rod 205 which is connected at an exterior end thereof to a location 202 fixed onto the main plow portion 36. Spring supporting apparatus i' 199 may be generally described as comprising a spring loaded extensible support member formed of elemen~s 200 and 205 and comprising first and second springs 201 and 203 arranged in a series arrangement. Springs 201 and 203 preferably have greatly di~ferent spring forces. Typically, spring 201 is l'~ an ordinary hea~y duty co;l spring while spring 203 comprises a series of independent disk or belleville springs which are characterized in that they undergo complete compression at a compressive force of about 7 ton. It is appreciated that any other suitable spring arrangement may be employed alternatiYely , . . .
and that the arrangement of apparatus 199 is such that extension of apparatus 199 produces compression of springs 201 and 203.
The operation of spring supporting apparatus 199 and of the entire apparatus for aùtomatically lifting the mine plowing assembly will now be described with reference to Figs. 5 - 9.
~ 4Z~3 In order to understand the operation of the automatic lifting apparatus, it is necessary to appreciate the details of construction of disk segment 190 and the relati~e positions of teeth 196 and 198 and pin 195 thereon As seen in the drawings, the direction of motion of the tank treads during reverse motion of the tank is indicated by an arrow 204. Upon engagement of at least one teeth 196 and 198 with the tank treads, the disk segment 190 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction, indicated by an arrow 206 about pivot location 193. ~ith respect to this direction of rotation, indicated by an arrow 207, pin 195 leads tooth 196 by about 20 and tooth 196 leads tooth 198 by about 90.
Fig. 6 shows the plowing assembly in a fully lowered plowing orientation prior to enga~ement of tooth 196 with the tank treads. In this orientation, spring 201 is compressed to about one-half of its maximum length. This is the orientation during forward mine clearing operation of the tank.
When it is desired to raise the mine clearing apparatus to a raised orientatlon, the tank simply shifts to reverse motion. Due to the position of tooth 196 which is pressed against the tank tread during motion in a forward direction as illustrated in Fig. 6, reverse motion of the tank tread in a direction indicated by arrow 204, tends to draw tooth 196 into driven engagement therewith, causing clockwise rotation of ~isk segment 190 in a direction indicated by arrow 207. An initial backwards movement of the tank causes the blades 40 to lie on the ground surface instead of being buried partially therebelow.
~Z(~2~33 Continued backward motion of the tank and consequent clockwise rotation of disk segment 190 causes the length of supporting apparatus 199 to increase until sprina 201 is fully compressed, as seen in Fig. 7. It is a particular feature of the invention that the force required to fully connpress spring 203 is greater than the force required to lift the plowing apparatus. Consequently9 further backwards n~tion of the tank and clockwise rotation of disk se~ment 190 causes lifting of the plowing apparatus to a fully raised orientation.
At the fully raised orientation roller 82 engages hook member 80 in locked engagement for retainîng the arm and associated plowing assembly in the raised orientation and preventing further upward movement thereof.
It may ~e apprecia~ed that a series combination of a relatively weak spring 201 and a relativeiy stronn spring 203 are employed in spring support apparatus 199 for a number of reasons. One reason is to present a relatively weak spring force during plowing operation so as not to force tooth 196 against the tank tread with excessive force during plowing ,........ .
operations which could cause excessive wear of tooth 196.
A second reason is not to cause inadvertent disengagement of the plowing apparatus from the soil due to the force of spring support apparatus 199. The strong spring 203 is, however, predominant during the lifting operation. As seen in Fig. 7, the weak spring 201 is quickly fully compressed at the beginning of the lifting operation and this is neutralized, allowing the spring force of the strong spring 203 to predominate.
12~4283 It is also appreciated that the provision of a spring element such as spring 203 is very desirable in the apparatus since it provides the needed flexibility in the couplin~ apparatus to enable locking of the plowing apparatus in its raised position under different conditions, such as different positions of the tank tension wheel and thus of pivot location 193 during operation.
With continued backwards movement of the tank treads, the disk segment 190 continues to rotate due to ~he engagement of tooth 198 with the treads, even after tooth 196 becomes dlisengaged therefrom. This continued rotation combined with the immobility of the plowing assembly due to its raised locked orientation cuases spring 203 to become compressed. Maximum compression occurs at an orientation iliustndted in Fig. 8, wherein the longitudinal axis of spring supporting apparatus l99 intersects the axis of rotation of disk segment l90 at pivot location l93. The orientation illustrated in Fig. 8 represents a dead point at which the spring supporting apparatus does not urge rotation of the disk segment l90 in either direction. Once disk segment l90 moves even slightly oYer the dead point orientation of Fig. 8, the spring force of the spring supporting apparatus 199 urges clockwise rotation of the disk segment l90. Further rotation of the disk segment l90 in response to further movement of the tank tread in a backwards direction is operative to permit disengagement of tooth 198 from the tread. The spring force of springs 201 and 203 is then operative to snap the disk segment l90 in further clockwise motion to a final orientation, -illustrated in Fig. 9, wherein the spring force of t;he sprins supporting apparatus 199 is at a minimum and the teeth 196 and 198 are fully disengaged from the tank tread. Rod 205 defines the minimum length of apparatus 199.
The click of decompression of the springs 2Ql and 203 provides a noise sensible to the driver of t;he tank, indicating to him that he can commence forward motion of the tank with the plowing assembly in a raised orientation.
A limit chain is provided for attachment between frame 10 and each of arms 22 and 24 to prevent arms 22 and 24 from falling beyond a certain limit in the event that a sudden drop in the ground level is encountered, as such a drop could otherwise bring the plowing assembly in~o engagement with the tank treads.-It is noted that the plowing assembly engagesthe ground surface in the vicinity of the treads and outwardly thereof. In order to protect the intermediate portion of the tank from mine damage, a weighted chain 120 is mounted between the two plowing assemblies to engage and detonate any mines that are encountered at a safe distance from the tank.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art th~t the invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinaboYe. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined only by the claims which follow:
1~l There is also proYided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention apparatus for clearir.g mines comprising a frame mounta~le or,to a vehiclc for selec~J~le positioning in a raised or lowered orientation, plow apparatus for raising and shunting aside mines mounted onto the fra~e and i- apparatus for automatically raising the plow from its lowered orientation to its raised orientation in response to backwards motion of the vehicle and including mounting apparatus rotatably mounted onto the Yehicle, spring supporting apparatus mounted onto the mounting apparatus and attached to the plow apparatus, and tooth apparatus fixed onto the mounting apparatus and arranged for selectable engagement with a vehicl~ tread, the spring supporting apparatus being operative when the plow is in its lowered orientation to urge ~he tooth apparatus into driven ergagement with the vehicle tread whereby during backwards -'; movement of the vehicle the mounting apparatus rotates in a first direction, thereby extending the length of the spring supporting apparatus, and increasing the spring force thereof until a spring force is reached at a first position of the mounting apparatus sufficient to raise the plow to its raised ~ 4Z~3 orientation. Continued rotation oF the mounting apparatus raises the plow until it engayes a retaininy hook, and is held stationary. Continued backwards movement of ~he vehicle treads causes the mounting apparatus to continue to rotate in the first direction increasing the length and spr~nq force of the spring support until it passes a second position defining a first dead point at which the longitudinal axis of the spring supporting apparatus intersects the axis of rotation of the mounting apparatus. After it passes the second position 1~ the mounting apparatus reaches a third position at which the teeth are disengaged from the treads for free forward movement driven by the spring ~orce of the spring supporting apparatus.
The mounting apparatus then rotates under the force of the spring supporting apparatus for a fourth position at which I; the teeth are totally disengaged ~rom the treads, and the spring supporting apparatus is at a minimum length and spring force.
Further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the spring supporting apparatus comprises first and second springs having different spring constants arranged in a series arrangement.
Additionally in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the springs comprises a disk or belleville spring.
Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invent;on, the tcoth apparatus comprises two tee~h, one of which engages the vehicle treads when the frame is in the lowered orientation upon the onset of backwards motion and the other of ~04Z~3 l which becomes disengaged from the vehicle treads upon traversal of the third position, in order to permit spring driven rotation of mounting apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Fi 9 . 1 i s a top view illustration of mine clearing - lO apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a side view illustration of t~e apparatus of Fig. l in a lowered orientation;
Fig. 3 is a side view illustration of the apparatus of Figs. l and 2 in a partially lowered orientation;
Figs. 4A and 4B are respective views of a locking mechanism forming part of the apparatus of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in respective locked and unlocked orientationsi Fig. 5 is a top ~iew illustration of an alternate embodiment of mine clearing apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a side view illustration of the apparatus of Fig. 5 in a lowered orientation;
Fig. 7 is a side Yiew illustration of the apparatus of Figs. 5 and 6 in a partially raised orientation;
Fig. 8 is a side view illustration of the apparatus of Figs. 5-7 in a raised orientation with the sprin~ support apparatus at a first dead point orientation; and Fig. 9 is a side view illustration of the apparatus of Figs. 5-8 in a raised orientation.
~4~3 DETAILED DESC~IPTIO~ OF THE INVENrION
Reference i5 now made to Figs. 1 - 3 which illuctrate mine clearing apparatus constructed and operatiYe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The present description is presented with particular reference to mine clearing apparatus which ;s mountable onto a particular type of tank, the M-60 Patton. It is appreciated that this is entirely for the purpose of illustration and that the ir,vention is applicable to sLmilar types of vehi.cle.
As seen in the illustrations, the mine clearing apparatus comprises a frame 10 including a pair of identical side portions 12 which are joined at their front end by a cross bar 14 and at their rear end support an axle 16. Frame lQ
is rigidly mounted onto an armoured vehicle such as a M-60 tank in the illustrated embodiment by engagement of pins 17 located at side portions 12 with towline lugs fixed onto the tank.
Ridigity of mounting is provided by bolts 18 which engage the underside of the tank and force mounting plates 20, fixedly mounted onto side portions 12 on the opposite side of pins 17, into tight engagement with the underside hull of the tank.
First and second arms 22 and 24 are independently rotatably mo~nted onto axle 16 and extend forwardly thereof in generally parallel planes. Arms 22 and 24 are strengthened by reinforcing elements 26 and 28 respectively which are fixed at one end thereof to the respective arms and are rotatably mounted by means of clamps 30 and 32 onto axle 16.
~204Z~3 Rigidly mounted onto each of arms 22 and 24 is a mine plowing assembly 3~. Mine plowing assembly 34 comprises main plow portion 36, of generally elongate configuration and concave cross section.
The general configuration of main plow portion 36 may be similar to that of an ordinary vehicle powered sn~w plow. Disposed above main plow portion 36 and hinged thereonto is an auxiliary plow portion 38. Auxiliary plo~
portion 38 has two positions, a lowered position in which it u extends forwardly of the surface of main plow portion 36 and a raised position in which it defines an upper continuation of the surface of the main plow portion 36. This hinged construction is to obviate the problem of interference with a driver's field of vision or with the range of operation Ir, of the armament on a tank. Towards this end, the hinged auxiliary plow portion 38 may be lowered when the plowin~
assembly 34 is in its raised orientation.
Disposed below main plow portion 36 there are provided a plurality of vertically disposed planar blades 40, 2(; whieh during operation are disposed below the ground surface.
The horizontal spacing between adjacent vertical~blades is selected to be such that anti-vehicle mines will of necessity be engaged thereby. The blades are provided with an inclined forward surface, so as to raise mines located under the ground ~: surfaoe into engagement with main ~low portion 36, so that they may be plowed aside.
42~3 g I A desired depth of operation for blades 40 is determined by means of a gliding surface assembly 42 which is articulatedly mounted onto each of arms 22 and 24~
The gliding surface assembly 42 comprises a sled 44 which is - arranged to slide on the ground surface and is formed at its front with a vertical blade 47 for deflecting mines to the side thereof. Sled 44 is rotatably mounted onto a cam slot of a mounting plate 46. Mounting plate 46 is mounted in turn onto a mounting element 48. It is appreciated tha.t sled 44 ( is permitted to undergo a somewhat complex articulated motion in a single plane within limits defined by the respective cam paths. This mounting arrangement permits selectable adjustment of the penetration depth of the plowing assembly 34 and also permits the sled 44 to be folded when the plowing assembly is in its raised orientation to eliminate interference with operation of the tank.
A chain 50 e~tends from each auxiliary plow portion 38 to a location on the tank hull or onto frame 10. The length of the chain 50 is selected such that it is slack when the plowing assembly is in its raised orientation but becomes tight when the plowing assembly is lowered, thus pulling on auxiliary plow portion 38 and orienting it towards a generally vertical orientation. The full raised orientation of the auxiliary plow portion 38 is reached only when soil being plowed 'j is forced thereagainst~
Reference is now made additionally to Figs. 4A and 4B
which together with Figs. 1 - 3 illustrate apparatus for retaining the arms in their raised orientation and for :~XQ42~33 selectable release thereof. A hook member 60, is pi~otably mounted about an axis 62 onto each side portion 12 and comprises a socket portion 64 located at one end thereof and a roller portion 66 at another end thereof and ha~ing ~- mounted thereon a roller 68. A selectable release lever 7Q
is pivotably mounted onto each side portion 12 about an axis 72 and defines first and second roller su~por' shoulders 74 and 76. A spring 78 joins hook member 60 and release lever 70, urging lever 70 into seating engagement with roller l'~ 68 at one of shoulders 74 and 76. A cab1e connection 80 is pro~ided to the interior of the vehicle, such that pulling on the cable is operative to provide counter-clockwise mo~ement of lever 70 about its pivot axis 72 (as seen in Figs. 4A and 4~).
lL The operation of the apparatus described hereinabove will be understood from a consideration of Figs. 4A and 4B.
Fig. 4B shows a retainer roller 82 which is fixedly mounted onto each of arms 22 and 24 about to engage socket portion 64 and moving in an arc illustrated by an arrow 84. Engagement 7G of roller 82 with a surface 86 of the socket portion forces the hook member to pi~ot in a clockwise direction about its pi~ot axis 62 (in the sense of Figs. 4A and 4B). Due to the action of roller 68 against hook member 60, and the subsequent tendency of hook member 60 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction in response to the effect of gravity on roller 82 and the massive plowing assembly attached thereto, roller 68 seats on shoulder 76 and is thus prevented from further counterclockwise rotation into an upen orientation.
~2~Z~3 Roller 82 is thus securely engaged by hook member 60 and arms 22 and 24 are maintained in their respective raised orientation, provided that lever 70 remains in the seated position (Fig. 4A).
When it is desired to lower arms 22 and 24 to ~heir respective lowered, ground engaging orientations, it is sufficient to pull on respective cables ~0 from the safety of the driver's compartment. Pulling of cables 80 causes the lever 70 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction and out of supporting engagement with roller 68. Hook member 60 is then free to rotate in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot such that pin 82 is released, thus allowing arm 22 or 24 as the case may be and the associated mine plowing assembly 34 to fall by gravity into their respective lowered orientations ln engagement with the ground. Meanwhile, under the influence of spring 78, roller 68 seats on support shoulder 74. It is appreciated that the particular cons~ruction of the hook member 60 and of the lever 70 enable the release of the mine plowing assembly to be achieved with relatively little pull force on cable connection 80.
Reference is now made once again to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 which also illustrate apparatus for automatically lifting the mine plowlng assembly. There are provided two installations of such apparatus, corresponding to the two mine plowing assemblies. The apparatus for automatically lifting the mine plowing assembly cbmprises a freely rotatable d;sk 90 which is bearing mounted onto a mounting member 92 which is bolted onto a tension wheel 94 of a tank. Tension wheel 94 engages .
1~042~
the tread of.the tank and maintains it at a desired tension.
Mounted on an outer facing surface of disk 90 are three outer pins 95, 96 and 97 and an inner disposed pin 98.
Mounted on an inner facing surface of disk 90 is a tooth 100 'i which is disposed ordinarily out of engagement with corresponding interstices defined between pla~es of the tank trea(l.
Mounted on pin 95 is a lifting chain 99 which is attached at its other end to a location 102 fixed onto main plow portion 36. Mounted on pin 98 is a spring 104 which is attached i at its other end to main plow portion 36. Spring 104 is operative when in the orientation illustrated in Fig. 2 to urge disk to rotate about its axis 91 in a clockwise direction (in the sense of Fig. 2). This rotation brings tooth 100 into driven engagement with corresponding interstices between plates l~ of the tank tread. As soon as the tank is moving forward, this engagement produces only a clicking action as engagement with the interstices between the plates of the tank tread tend to move the tooth 100 in a counterclockwise direction, while the spring 104 snaps the tooth back in a clockwise direction.
; The apparatus for automatically lifting the mine plowing assembly described above is operative upon reYerse motion of the tank wi~h the mine plowing assembly in a lowered orientation. As the tank treads move in a backwards direction tooth 100 engages one of the interstices between adjacent plates - thereof and is driven together.. with disk 90 in a clockwise direct.ion thereby causing chain 99 to wind about pins 96 and 97, with the result that the chain pulls the plowing assenlbly 34 upwardly until roller 82 engages hook member 60 in locked engagement for retaining the arm and associated plowing assembly in a raised orientation.
~2Q~Z~3 Continued backwards motion of the tank tends to continue to drive tooth 100 and disk 90 in a clockwise motion.
Once plowing assembly 34 is locked by hook member 60, chain 99 cannot move forward in the clockwise direction and thus disk 90 is prevented from progressing in this direc~ion. As a result, toulh 100 repeatedly engages one of the interstices of the tread plates and is pulled forward, only to be snapped back by the action of chain 99. This iifts the tread plate slightly and bangs it down, producing a significant noise which signals !~ to the operator to terminate backwards motion.
Once forwards motion is commenced, tooth 100 enga~es one of the interstices of the tread plates and is mK)ved in a counterclockwise direction until it reaches a location at which the treads tend to disengage therewith. Since the orientation i of spring 104 has passed its dead spot due to the raised orientation of plowing assembly 34, spring 104 is operative to urge the tooth 100 and disk 90 to undertake further counter-clockwise motion until tooth 100 is totally disengacled from the tank treads. This orientation remains until the plowing 2b assembly is lowered, at which time, spring 104 is again reoriented and urges the disk 90 into the orientation shown in Fig. 2.
A limit chain 110 is provided for attachment between frame 10 and each of arms 22 and 24 to prevent arms 22 and 24 ., from falling beyond a certain limit in the event that a sudden drop in the ground level is encountered, as such a drop could otherwise bring the plowing assembly into engagement with the tank treads.
It is noted that the plowing assembly enga~es the ground surface in the Yicinity of the treads and outwardly thereof. In order to protect the intermediate portion of the tank from mine damage, a weighted chain 120 is mount:ed between ... the two plowing assemblies to engage and detonate any mines that are encountered at a safe distance from the tank.
Reference is now made to Figs. 5 - 9 which illustrate an alternate embodiment of the mine clearing apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with the 1~ present invention. Like numerals in Figs. 5 ~ g ancl Figs. 1 -4 indicate 1ike elemen~s.
The mine clcaring apparatus of Figs. 5 - 9 also comprises a frame 10 including a pair of identical side portions 12 which are Joined at their front end by a cross bar 14 and t at their rear end support an axle 16. Frame 10 is rigidly mounted onto an armoured vehicle such as an M-60 tank in the illustrated embodiment by engagement of pins 17 located at side portions 12 with towline lugs fixed onto the tank.
Rigidity of mounting is provided by bolts 18 which engaae '~' the und~rside of the tank and force mounting plates 20, fixedly .mounted onto side portions 12 on the opposite side of pins 17, into tight engagement with the underside hull of the ~ank.
First and second arms 22 and 24 are independently rotatably mounted onto axle 16 and extend forwardly thereof ~`' in generally parallel planesO Arms 22 and 24 are strengthened by reinforcing elements 26 and 28 respectively which.are fixed at one end thereof to the respective arms and are rotatably mounted by means of clamps 30 and 32 onto axle 16.
~2~4Z,~3 Rigldly mounted onto each of arms 22 and 24 is a mine plowing assembly 34. Mine plowing assembly 34 comprises main plow portion 36 which is substantially identical to that described in connection with Figs. 1 - 4. Disposed i above main plow portion 36 and hînged thereonto is an auxiliary plow portion 38, substantia71y identical with that described hereinabove.
Disposed below main plow portion 36 there are provided a plurality of vertically disposed planar blades 40, which during operation are disposed below the ground surface.
The horizontal spacing between adjacent ver~ical blades is selected to be such that anti-Yehicle mines will, of neoessity, be engaged thereby. The blades are provided with an inclined forward surface, so as to raise mines located under the ground l~ surface into engagement with main p~ow portion 36~ so that they may be ptowed aside.
A desired depth of operation for blades 40 is determined by means of a gliding surface assembly 42 which is articulatedly mounted onto each of arms 22 and 24. The ;' gliding surface assembly 42 comprises a sled 44 whioh is arranged to slide on the ground surface and is formed at its `
front with a vertical blade 45 for deflecting mines to the side thereof. Sled 44 is rotatably mounted onto a cam slot of a mounting plate 46. Mounting plate 46 ~s mounted in turn onto a mounting element 48. It is appreciated that sled 44 is permitted to undergo a somewhat complex articulated motion in a single plane within limits defined by the respective cam paths. This mounting arrangement permits selectable ~2()4Z~3 adjustment of the penetration depth of the plowing assembly 34 and also permits the sled 44 to be folded when the plowing assembly is in its raised orientation to eliminate inte~ference with operation of the tank.
A chain 50 extends from each auxiliary plow portion 38 to a location on the tank hull. The length of the chain 50 is selected such that it is slack when the plowing assembly is in its raised orientation but becomes tight when the plowing assembly is lowered, thus pulling on auxiliary plow portion 38 lu and orienting it towards a generally vertical orientation.
The full raised orientation of the auxiliary plow portion 38 is reached only when soil being plowed is forced therea~ainst.
The locking mechanism of Figs. 4A and 4B also act as described hereinabove with the apparatus of Fj95Q 5 - 9 l~ to retain the arms in their'rais~d orientation and to selectably release them.
Reference is now made again to Figs. 5 - 9 which illustrite an apparatus for automatical'ly lifting the mine plowing assembly. ~here are provided two installations of 2fi such apparatus, corresponding to the two mine plowing assemblies. The apparatus for automatically lifting the mine plowing assembly comprises a freely rotatable disk segment l90 which is bearing mounted onto a mounting member 192 which is bolted onto a tension wheel 194 of a tank. Tension wheel 194 engages the tread of the tank and maintains it as a desired tension,. Mnunted on an outer facing surface of disk segment l90 at a first radius from the pi~ot,location 193 about which the disk segment rotates, is a mounting pin 195. Mounted on an 12~2~3 edge surface of disk segment 190 are first and second spaced teeth 196 and 198 which selectably engage the interstices defined between plates of the tank tread in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
,Spring supporting apparatus 199 comprises a spring housing 200 which is rotatably mounted at a first end thereof onto mounting pin 195.and a spring compressing rod 205 which is connected at an exterior end thereof to a location 202 fixed onto the main plow portion 36. Spring supporting apparatus i' 199 may be generally described as comprising a spring loaded extensible support member formed of elemen~s 200 and 205 and comprising first and second springs 201 and 203 arranged in a series arrangement. Springs 201 and 203 preferably have greatly di~ferent spring forces. Typically, spring 201 is l'~ an ordinary hea~y duty co;l spring while spring 203 comprises a series of independent disk or belleville springs which are characterized in that they undergo complete compression at a compressive force of about 7 ton. It is appreciated that any other suitable spring arrangement may be employed alternatiYely , . . .
and that the arrangement of apparatus 199 is such that extension of apparatus 199 produces compression of springs 201 and 203.
The operation of spring supporting apparatus 199 and of the entire apparatus for aùtomatically lifting the mine plowing assembly will now be described with reference to Figs. 5 - 9.
~ 4Z~3 In order to understand the operation of the automatic lifting apparatus, it is necessary to appreciate the details of construction of disk segment 190 and the relati~e positions of teeth 196 and 198 and pin 195 thereon As seen in the drawings, the direction of motion of the tank treads during reverse motion of the tank is indicated by an arrow 204. Upon engagement of at least one teeth 196 and 198 with the tank treads, the disk segment 190 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction, indicated by an arrow 206 about pivot location 193. ~ith respect to this direction of rotation, indicated by an arrow 207, pin 195 leads tooth 196 by about 20 and tooth 196 leads tooth 198 by about 90.
Fig. 6 shows the plowing assembly in a fully lowered plowing orientation prior to enga~ement of tooth 196 with the tank treads. In this orientation, spring 201 is compressed to about one-half of its maximum length. This is the orientation during forward mine clearing operation of the tank.
When it is desired to raise the mine clearing apparatus to a raised orientatlon, the tank simply shifts to reverse motion. Due to the position of tooth 196 which is pressed against the tank tread during motion in a forward direction as illustrated in Fig. 6, reverse motion of the tank tread in a direction indicated by arrow 204, tends to draw tooth 196 into driven engagement therewith, causing clockwise rotation of ~isk segment 190 in a direction indicated by arrow 207. An initial backwards movement of the tank causes the blades 40 to lie on the ground surface instead of being buried partially therebelow.
~Z(~2~33 Continued backward motion of the tank and consequent clockwise rotation of disk segment 190 causes the length of supporting apparatus 199 to increase until sprina 201 is fully compressed, as seen in Fig. 7. It is a particular feature of the invention that the force required to fully connpress spring 203 is greater than the force required to lift the plowing apparatus. Consequently9 further backwards n~tion of the tank and clockwise rotation of disk se~ment 190 causes lifting of the plowing apparatus to a fully raised orientation.
At the fully raised orientation roller 82 engages hook member 80 in locked engagement for retainîng the arm and associated plowing assembly in the raised orientation and preventing further upward movement thereof.
It may ~e apprecia~ed that a series combination of a relatively weak spring 201 and a relativeiy stronn spring 203 are employed in spring support apparatus 199 for a number of reasons. One reason is to present a relatively weak spring force during plowing operation so as not to force tooth 196 against the tank tread with excessive force during plowing ,........ .
operations which could cause excessive wear of tooth 196.
A second reason is not to cause inadvertent disengagement of the plowing apparatus from the soil due to the force of spring support apparatus 199. The strong spring 203 is, however, predominant during the lifting operation. As seen in Fig. 7, the weak spring 201 is quickly fully compressed at the beginning of the lifting operation and this is neutralized, allowing the spring force of the strong spring 203 to predominate.
12~4283 It is also appreciated that the provision of a spring element such as spring 203 is very desirable in the apparatus since it provides the needed flexibility in the couplin~ apparatus to enable locking of the plowing apparatus in its raised position under different conditions, such as different positions of the tank tension wheel and thus of pivot location 193 during operation.
With continued backwards movement of the tank treads, the disk segment 190 continues to rotate due to ~he engagement of tooth 198 with the treads, even after tooth 196 becomes dlisengaged therefrom. This continued rotation combined with the immobility of the plowing assembly due to its raised locked orientation cuases spring 203 to become compressed. Maximum compression occurs at an orientation iliustndted in Fig. 8, wherein the longitudinal axis of spring supporting apparatus l99 intersects the axis of rotation of disk segment l90 at pivot location l93. The orientation illustrated in Fig. 8 represents a dead point at which the spring supporting apparatus does not urge rotation of the disk segment l90 in either direction. Once disk segment l90 moves even slightly oYer the dead point orientation of Fig. 8, the spring force of the spring supporting apparatus 199 urges clockwise rotation of the disk segment l90. Further rotation of the disk segment l90 in response to further movement of the tank tread in a backwards direction is operative to permit disengagement of tooth 198 from the tread. The spring force of springs 201 and 203 is then operative to snap the disk segment l90 in further clockwise motion to a final orientation, -illustrated in Fig. 9, wherein the spring force of t;he sprins supporting apparatus 199 is at a minimum and the teeth 196 and 198 are fully disengaged from the tank tread. Rod 205 defines the minimum length of apparatus 199.
The click of decompression of the springs 2Ql and 203 provides a noise sensible to the driver of t;he tank, indicating to him that he can commence forward motion of the tank with the plowing assembly in a raised orientation.
A limit chain is provided for attachment between frame 10 and each of arms 22 and 24 to prevent arms 22 and 24 from falling beyond a certain limit in the event that a sudden drop in the ground level is encountered, as such a drop could otherwise bring the plowing assembly in~o engagement with the tank treads.-It is noted that the plowing assembly engagesthe ground surface in the vicinity of the treads and outwardly thereof. In order to protect the intermediate portion of the tank from mine damage, a weighted chain 120 is mounted between the two plowing assemblies to engage and detonate any mines that are encountered at a safe distance from the tank.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art th~t the invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinaboYe. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined only by the claims which follow:
Claims (19)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Mine clearing apparatus for attachment to a vehicle and comprising:
a frame mountable onto a vehicle for selectable positioning in a raised or lowered orientation;
means, mounted onto said frame, for raising and shunting aside mines; and means for selectably retaining said frame in a raised orientation and including control means operable from inside the vehicle for selectably releasing the frame from its raised orientation and allowing it to assume its lowered orientation.
a frame mountable onto a vehicle for selectable positioning in a raised or lowered orientation;
means, mounted onto said frame, for raising and shunting aside mines; and means for selectably retaining said frame in a raised orientation and including control means operable from inside the vehicle for selectably releasing the frame from its raised orientation and allowing it to assume its lowered orientation.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 and also comprising . means for automatically raising said frame from its lowered orientation to its raised orientation in response to backwards motion of the vehicle.
3. Mine clearing apparatus for attachment to a tracked vehicle and comprising:
a frame mountable onto a vehicle for selectable positioning in a raised or lowered orientation;
means, mounted onto said frame, for raising and shunting aside mines; and means for automatically raising said frame from its lowered orientation to its raised orientation in response to backwards motion of the vehicle.
a frame mountable onto a vehicle for selectable positioning in a raised or lowered orientation;
means, mounted onto said frame, for raising and shunting aside mines; and means for automatically raising said frame from its lowered orientation to its raised orientation in response to backwards motion of the vehicle.
4. Apparatus according to either of claims 2 and 3 and wherein said automatically raising means comprises:
mounting means rotatably mounted onto the vehicle;
supporting means mounted onto said mounting means and attached to said raising means and operative, when actuated, to raise said frame means to its raised orientation;
eccentrically mounted spring means attached to said mounting means and to said frame for orienting said mounting means; and tooth means fixed onto said mounting means and arranged for selectable engagement with a vehicle tread;
said spring means being operative to urge said tooth means into driven engagement with said vehicle tread whereby during backwards movement of said vehicle, said supporting means is actuated, thereby raising said frame to its raised orientation.
mounting means rotatably mounted onto the vehicle;
supporting means mounted onto said mounting means and attached to said raising means and operative, when actuated, to raise said frame means to its raised orientation;
eccentrically mounted spring means attached to said mounting means and to said frame for orienting said mounting means; and tooth means fixed onto said mounting means and arranged for selectable engagement with a vehicle tread;
said spring means being operative to urge said tooth means into driven engagement with said vehicle tread whereby during backwards movement of said vehicle, said supporting means is actuated, thereby raising said frame to its raised orientation.
5. Apparatus according to either of claims 2 and 3 and wherein said raising and shunting means comprises:
a plurality of plow teeth which, in operation, extend below the ground surface;
first and second plow sections, disposed one above another in hinged engagement, said first and second plow sections being operative to lie in the same plane during operation and in folded engagement when said frame is in its raised orientation, so as not to interfere with normal vehicle operation.
a plurality of plow teeth which, in operation, extend below the ground surface;
first and second plow sections, disposed one above another in hinged engagement, said first and second plow sections being operative to lie in the same plane during operation and in folded engagement when said frame is in its raised orientation, so as not to interfere with normal vehicle operation.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said raising and shunting means comprises:
a gliding surface which supports said frame in its lowered orientation; and a front mine deflector plate arranged in front of said gliding surface for deflecting mines in the path thereof.
a gliding surface which supports said frame in its lowered orientation; and a front mine deflector plate arranged in front of said gliding surface for deflecting mines in the path thereof.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 and also comprising means for retaining said gliding surface to prevent inadvertent engagement of said gliding surface with treads of the vehicle.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said means for selectably retaining comprises:
a hook member arranged to pivot about a first axis and having a receiving socket at a first end thereof and a roller at a second end thereof;
a releasing lever mounted for rotation about a fixed pivot and defining first and second seating shoulders for said hook member, said first seating shoulder corresponding to a locked orientation of said hook member and said second seating shoulder corresponding to an open orientation of said hook member;
a spring interconnecting said hook member and said releasing lever for urging said roller into seating engagement with a seclected one of said first and second seating shoulders in accordance with the pivotal orientation of said releasing lever; and means for adjusting the position of said releasing lever from a protected location inside the vehicle and being operable in response to application of a pulling force thereon to position said hook member in said open orientation for releasing said frame and permitting it to assume its lowered orientation.
a hook member arranged to pivot about a first axis and having a receiving socket at a first end thereof and a roller at a second end thereof;
a releasing lever mounted for rotation about a fixed pivot and defining first and second seating shoulders for said hook member, said first seating shoulder corresponding to a locked orientation of said hook member and said second seating shoulder corresponding to an open orientation of said hook member;
a spring interconnecting said hook member and said releasing lever for urging said roller into seating engagement with a seclected one of said first and second seating shoulders in accordance with the pivotal orientation of said releasing lever; and means for adjusting the position of said releasing lever from a protected location inside the vehicle and being operable in response to application of a pulling force thereon to position said hook member in said open orientation for releasing said frame and permitting it to assume its lowered orientation.
9. Apparatus for clearing mines comprising:
an arm mountable onto a vehicle for selectable positioning;
plow means mounted onto said arm for raising and shunting aside mines and being selectably positioned in a lowered or raised orientation;
means for automatically raising said plow means from its lowered orientation to its raised orientation in response to backwards motion of said vehicle and including:
mounting means rotatably mounted onto said vehicle;
spring supporting means mounted onto said mounting means and attached to said arm; and tooth means fixed onto said mounting means and arranged for selectable engagement with a vehicle tread.
an arm mountable onto a vehicle for selectable positioning;
plow means mounted onto said arm for raising and shunting aside mines and being selectably positioned in a lowered or raised orientation;
means for automatically raising said plow means from its lowered orientation to its raised orientation in response to backwards motion of said vehicle and including:
mounting means rotatably mounted onto said vehicle;
spring supporting means mounted onto said mounting means and attached to said arm; and tooth means fixed onto said mounting means and arranged for selectable engagement with a vehicle tread.
10; Apparatus according to claim 9 and wherein said spring supporting means is operative when said plow means is in its lowered orientation to urge said tooth means into driven engagement with a vehicle tread, whereby during backwards movement of the vehicle, said mounting means is caused to rotate in a first direction.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 and wherein said spring supporting means is operative to increase its length as said mounting means rotates in said first direction until said mounting means reaches a first position at which said spring supporting means is operative to raise said plow means to its raised orientation.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11 and wherein further rotation of said mounting means beyond said first position in said first direction causes said mounting means to reach a second position at which the spring supporting means is oriented such that its longitudinal axis intersects the axis of rotation of said mounting means, which second position defines a dead point at which said spring supporting means does not urge rotation of said mounting means in either direction.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 and wherein further rotation of said mounting means beyond said second position in said first direction causes disengagement of said tooth means from said vehicle tread and enables further rotation of said mounting means in said first direction driven by said spring supporting means to a final orientation at which said spring supporting means is at its minimum length and said tooth means are totally disengaged from said vehicle tread.
14. Apparatus according to claim 9 and wherein said spring supporting means comprises a series arrangement of first and second springs.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14 and wherein said second spring comprises a plurality of disk springs.
16. Apparatus according to claim 9 and wherein said tooth means comprise first and second teeth.
17. Apparatus according to claim 16 and wherein said first tooth is arranged to initially engage the vehicle tread upon initiation of backwards motion of the tread.
18. Apparatus according to claim 16 and wherein said second tooth is arranged to disengage from the vehicle tread upon rotation of said mounting means under the urging of said spring supporting means.
19. Apparatus according to any of claims 16 - 18 and wherein said spring supporting means is mounted onto said mounting means at a first mounting location and wherein said first mounting location leads said first tooth by approximately 20° and said first tooth leads said second tooth by approximately 90°, leading being defined with respect to the direction of rotation of said mounting means during raising of said plow means.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000429692A CA1204283A (en) | 1983-06-03 | 1983-06-03 | Mine-field clearing apparatus mountable on a vehicle |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000429692A CA1204283A (en) | 1983-06-03 | 1983-06-03 | Mine-field clearing apparatus mountable on a vehicle |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1204283A true CA1204283A (en) | 1986-05-13 |
Family
ID=4125401
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000429692A Expired CA1204283A (en) | 1983-06-03 | 1983-06-03 | Mine-field clearing apparatus mountable on a vehicle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1204283A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5105712A (en) * | 1990-07-10 | 1992-04-21 | Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. | Apparatus for clearing scattered mines |
-
1983
- 1983-06-03 CA CA000429692A patent/CA1204283A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5105712A (en) * | 1990-07-10 | 1992-04-21 | Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. | Apparatus for clearing scattered mines |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |