CA2392418A1 - Processor for removing ordnance from earth materials - Google Patents

Description

PROCESSOR FOR REMOVING ORDNANCE FROM EARTH MATERIALS
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a machine utitized in the removal of explosive devices from, or the rendering safe of, soil material containing landmines and other explosive devices.
Background of the Invention Landmines are generally laid as a component of a hostile conflict. Another consequence of these conflicts is the various missiles, mortars; grenades and projectiles, commonly termed unexploded ordnance (UXO), that dirt not detonate and remain on the surface or are buried in the area of the conflict. In an area of past conflict, it is not unusual to have thousands of these UXO or landmines per square kilometre of land. These various devices have a variety of shapes, sizes, fuses or detonation methods. The landmines' explosive charges range from one built to injure a person, termed anti-personal mines, to those constructed to destroy a vehicle; termed anti-tank or anti-vehicle mines.
Landmines are laid as close to the ground surface as possible to maximize their effect.
Anti-personnel landmines are usually laid on the ground surface or within 2 to centimetres of the ground surtace. Anti-vehicle landmines are usually laid on the ground surface or within 5 to 10 centimetres of the ground surface. UXO will vary from being exposed on the ground surface to being 'many metres beneath the ground surface.
With time, due to natural environmental effects such as wind and water action, mines and UXO can move from their original location, or have lesser or greater amounts of ground cover.
Millions of landmines have been deployed. in countries by numerous armies.
Accurate maps and records of where these landrnineswere placed do not exist. The United Nations estimate in-place landmines range from 50 million to 7 50 million, afflicting up to 90 countries.
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2 It is often desirable to build roads pipelines; power lines, and utility right of ways through areas containing undetonated explosives, or to make those areas safe and productive for activities such as farming, commercial; residential or industrial development. The only way to make the land productive is to remove the un-detonated explosives.
Summary of the Invention A method for removing explosive devices; such as unexploded ordnance (UXO) and landmines, from an area of land or berm has been invented. For the purposes of this description, the use of the terms 'area of land' or 'bean' are interchangeable, in that the processor can be used to pick up explosive devices from surface areas or loose, non-cohesive soils, as well as prepared berms. For simplicity, the term 'berm' will be used throughout the description.
In accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for removing explosives from a berm. The bean is processed to remove the explosive devices from the soil contained in the bean. In one embodiment, the berm contents are processed to remove un-detonated explosives from the soil. In another embodiment, the berm contents are further processed to remove metal materials, such as explosive shrapnel, discarded metal tools, etc., from the oil. The soil that is separatedfrom other berm materials in this step can be returned to the area of land.
The berm can be processed manually or by machine. In one embodiment, a processing y machine is used that is moved along to collect the berm materials. In another embodiment, the berm material is transported to the processor. The processing machine includes processing devices or means to separate the explosive devices from the soil. The processing devices or means can be for example, one or more of filters, sieves, magnets, dynamic devices i.e. flails or spaced gears. In other embodiments; the processing machine includes one or more of an outlet for returning soil to the area of land and a mine destroying device such as;: for example, a crusher or an explosive housing cutter (i.e: shredder, cutting torch; sound waves, water jet, freezing, chemical or explosive).
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3 Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 in one embodiment is a side elevation of a berm processor useful in the present invention.
Figure 2 in another embodiment is a side elevation of a different berm processor of Figure 1.
Detailed Description of the Presentlnvention The berm is formed by other means and contains bean materials including explosive devices, soil, rocks and other natural and foreign materials. The explosive devices can be in various forms including those which were buried, surface laid or partially buried, those which are un-detonated, detonated or fragments thereof, anti-personal mines, anti-tank mines and/or various UXO.
The berm is processed 14 to remove the explosive devices and possibly also metal fragments and other foreign materials therefrom. The bean contents can be searched for explosive devices, for example, visually, by screening, by metal detection, thermal separation magnetic separation or differential chemical detection or other means. In one embodiment, the berm processing is automated in whole or in part.
In one embodiment, the berm is processed to remove the explosive devices from the berm and return the soil and other natural materials to the area of land. The explosives can be stored and/or destroyed. In another embodiment, the bean is processed to ensure that no undetonated explosive deuices remain therein.
Gathering the Berm Material A berm processor 60a or 60b is moved along; to :collect the berm material containing explosive devices and soil. One embodiment of a bean processor is shown in Figure 1 and a second embodiment Figure 2 wi(I be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. The berm processor 60a or 60b substantially removes the explosive devices, including landmines and other ordnance or fragments thereof. It is useful to collect the berm materials 38 and process them directly o that the soil and other harmless materials C:\Documents :end Settinss\caldweltr\Loeal Settings\Templpatent-app-processor-b.doc

4 from the berm can be returned to area of land 50. The explosive devices may be stored or destroyed.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, bean processors 60a and 60b are shown that are useful for processing berm materials. The berm processors move along by use of tractor conveyors 62 (Figure 1 ), wheels 64 (Figure 2) or the tike, as powered by an internal combustion engine 66 (Figure 1 ), or generator 68 (Figure 2) or power pack 69 or other means. The bean processor; 60a or 60b can be manually operable or remotely operable.
Each berm processor 60a or 60b includes a material conveyor 70a or 70b such as a chain or roller driven belt or other means wherein the conveyor leading edge 72a, 72b rides along the ground surface 30a to collect berm 38 materials. In the illustrated embodiments wheels or skids 74 are provided adjacent to leading edge 72a, 72b to facilitate operation. A funnel arrangement 76 can also be mounted at leading;
edge 72b to guide berm materials onto the conveyor. Conveyor 70a, 70b carries materials to be handled by the material processing devises 78: Berm material from conveyor will be processed by material handling device 78. In one embodiment the material would be processed such that a significant portion would be mechanically sorted and returned to the ground 5t? while the remained is processed internally; sorted and returned to the ground 50. Once processed certain materials are stored on board the processor to be destroyed or rendered safe, while other materials 55a, 55b exit though outlets 79a, 79b.
In another embodiment, the processors do not have a material conveyor and the berm material i~ gathered by machines such as front-end loaders; then transported and placed into the processor directly.
Screening of Materials Exemplary material processing devices are shown in Figure 2 and include a fine sieve 80, a coarse sieve 82, a first magnet 84, ordnance magnet 86, an ordnance removal crane unit 88, a coarse crusher 90, a fine crusher 92 and a second magnet 94.
In operation, berm processor 60a or 60b moves in the direction indicated by arrow "E" and C:~Documents atM Settings\caldwellr\Loca1 Settings\Temp\patent-app-processor-h:doc collects the berm materials 38 by use ofi conveyor and or sieve system 70 or 70b. The smaller materials i.e. sand and small rocks found in the bean fall through 70a or 70b onto shut 80, where they are cleaned of metal parts by use of magnetic pick up unit 84.
Fine materials, smaller than and known harmful explosive devices pass through, while larger materials are retairied and moved up the conveyor sieve system to sorting area 78. The fine materials are directed through cflute 96 to a fine material conveyor 98.
Chute 80 is also positioned to collect fine materials passing through conveyor 70b after passing through the mechanical treating system 90. Fine material conveyor 98 passes the fine materials past magnet 84 where magnetically attractant materials are separated therefrom before passing the fine materials through outlet 79b and onto ground surface 30a.
Rendering Safe the Berm Material In one embodiment, the screening of the berm material on :course 'muck' screens will result in the separation of larger explosive devices for destruction by other means. It is proposed that these devices be destroyed by cutting them into two or more pieces, where they may be allowed to continue on in ;the berm processor unit, or removed for further processing.
The larger materials retained on sieve 82 where a second size exclusion occurs. !n particular, sieve 82 is sized to permit crushable materials, such as anitpersonal mines and other~small explosive devices; to pass therethrough while oversize materials are retained o~ the sieve. These crushable materials pass though sieve 82 and into coarse crusher 90 where they are crushed by grinders or other means. Coarse crusher 90 is selected to withstand explosions and grind rocks metal and other hard materials without serious damage thereto. Material passing :from crusher 90 are conveyed by conveyor 100 to a second, finer crusher 92, where the material are further ground to ensure that no harmful explosive devices are left intact.
Screening Berm Material for Foreign Objects C:lDocuments and Settingslcxldwellr~Locr1 SettingslTetnplpatent-app-processar-6.doc . 6 Screened bean material and processed ordnance may undergo a further screening to remove metallic debris from the soil material in' many embodiments. There are several commercial variations available that have ;been developed in the recycling industries that may be explored to determine what is the best fit for this purpose.
Plastic may also be sorted and removed in this method, which is important in that many modern anti-personnel mines are plastic based.
Materials from fine crusher 92 are released to outlet conveyor 102 which passes them past second magnet 94 before distributing them though outlet 79c. in another embodiment a crusher I flail I shredder or other means will render the explosive devises safe.
The excluded materials on coarse sieve 82 are usually examined by remote camera system to determine if they can be disposed of. Obvious non-explosive objects such as shrubbery will be removed by be remote crane unit 88. Other objects will be cut by plasma cutters, water cutters, chemical applications or other such methods. A
closed circuit television or other similar type of system may be required to remotely monitor and control of the destruction of the explosive devises in order to render safe the explosive devises.
Claims:
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Claims