EP0295326B1 - Method and device for the pyrotechnical clearance of an area containing explosive charges, especially a mine field - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for clearing an area provided with explosives, in particular a minefield, according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device which is preferably used to carry out the method according to the preamble of claim 5.

From CF Foss "Jane's Combat Support Equipment", 1st edition, 1978-79, p. 174, a device of the generic type is known. This device has a transportable broaching device, which can be divided into different types Clearing sections housed in transport containers. The clearing agent sections are provided with explosive charges. After the clearing agent sections have been coupled together, in this known device the clearing agent thus formed is shot over the area to be cleared by a flying object designed as a rocket and the explosive charges of the clearing agent sections are then detonated. No measures are known from this prior art which simplify the use of the device, namely to bring the clearing means into a firing position.

Devices for clearing minefields are known from FR-A-2 226 064 and DE-A-1 122 423, which have a one-piece broaching device housed in a transport container. For reasons of weight, the clearing means in the known devices can only have a limited length, so that they can be transported manually, in particular. Because of this, only a relatively short minefield can be cleared with the clearing means of the known device.

Finally, from US-A-2 455 354 a mine clearing device is known which also has a one-piece clearing means which is designed as a mine clearing ladder. Several explosives are arranged in each of the bars arranged transversely between parallel connecting strands. The rods are made of textile bags, in which the explosive charges are arranged one behind the other and without filling the inside of the bags.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to create a method and a device, in particular a device which can be transported by hand, with which a path which is as long as possible can be cleared reliably and safely in a minefield.

A method for solving this problem has the features of claim 1. According to the invention, a launch ramp is created from the transport containers with individual broaching sections to form the broaching means by connecting the box-shaped transport containers. Simultaneously with the preparations for firing the clearing means, the flying object serving for this purpose is also ready for firing, that is to say the clearing means and the flying object are brought into the firing position almost simultaneously. This can - seen in the firing direction - happen from the rear of the transport container, which creates the conditions for "overturning" clearing. Furthermore, the broaching means is ignited when it is completely pulled out of the transport containers. The measures mentioned above create a quick and safe method for clearing a minefield.

According to a development of the method, the ignition of the explosive charges of the broaching agent is triggered automatically when the broaching agent sections are completely pulled out of the transport containers. This has the advantage that only a single ignition process is required, namely the initial ignition of the flying object (rocket). The remaining ignition processes are triggered in good time and without manual intervention outside the danger area of the clearing ladder. For this purpose, a time delay is expediently provided, which ensures that the broaching means is only ignited when it lies completely on the area to be cleared.

A device for achieving the object on which the invention is based has the features of claim 5. According to the invention, the box-shaped transport containers, which can be connected to one another and each closed by a container lid, have several functions. On the one hand, the transport containers serve to effectively protect their contents, in particular the respective clearing means sections and the flying object, which is preferably designed as a rocket, while on the other hand at least one of the container lids forms a simple launching holder for the rocket by simply pivoting the corresponding container lid off the rocket from the packaging position can be brought into a firing position.

According to a preferred development of the device, a pair of supporting bars lying next to one another is assigned to each transport container. The ends of the carrying rods projecting both on the front and on the back of the transport containers serve as handles. This means that each transport container can be carried by two people.

According to another development of the device, runners or, at the same time or alternatively, rollers are additionally arranged on the floor or in the area of the floor. As far as possible, this allows the transport containers to be moved in a sliding or rolling manner. The distance between the runners is considerably smaller than the width of the respective transport container. As a result, the transport containers can be moved safely over an already cleared path without the risk of triggering uncleaned mines at the edges of the path. This also contributes to the safe "overturning" rooms.

The transport container, which is in the upright position at the bottom, has a bevel or rounding on the lower, front edge, around which the transport container is pivoted. This will make it easier, but effectively makes erection easier. The bevels or roundings also prevent penetration into areas of the mine field that have not yet been cleared.

Furthermore, it is proposed to arrange support members on the transport containers which hold the transport containers sufficiently stable in the erected or slightly inclined firing position, in particular to absorb the reaction forces exerted on the transport containers when the rocket is fired and when the clearing means is pulled out. The supports are expediently assigned to the container lids, so that they can simultaneously serve as a handle for opening the respective container lid. In addition, the supports are also narrower than the transport containers, which also enables a "rollover".

It is particularly advantageous to make the supports adjustable so that they can be adapted to different inclinations of the transport containers ready for firing. This is particularly important for a support on the upper container lid, which is used to hold the missile, since this can be used to change the inclination of the container lid to the transport container wall facing it in order to align the missile from a ballistic point of view.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device, organs are provided which protect the broaching agent or the coupled broaching agent sections from overstressing when the rocket is pulled up. For this purpose, a stable cross member is first arranged between the rocket and the end of the front broaching section assigned to it. This is designed to be sufficiently rigid to transmit the force of the rocket, in particular during launch, evenly to the clearing means. This counteracts the risk of damage to the clearing agent when the rocket is launched.

It is further proposed to arrange at least one damping element between the rocket and the broaching means, which dampens the pulling force exerted by the missile on the broaching means still resting in the transport containers in such a way that it is gently attracted by the rocket. Damage to the broaching agent from the launching rocket is thereby avoided.

An advantageous device has tubular metal rods that are completely filled with explosives. A good explosive effect is achieved. The metallic outer skin of the bars ensures a good insulation effect. The arrangement of the rods between parallel connecting strands ensures that the clearing ladder laid out forms an alley with a width that is approximately constant over its length. Finally, the ignition reliability is increased by igniting the explosive charges from opposite sides of the rods.

In a preferred development of the device, the rods are connected to one another by three parallel connecting strands. As a result, the clearing head according to the invention obtains sufficient stability for damage-free firing. The particularly heavily loaded outer connecting strands are preferably made of steel cables. However, they can also consist of other materials, for example plastic.

Another special feature of the invention is the connection of the outer connecting strands to the tubular rods. For this purpose, a snap connection serves both quick assembly and a secure hold of the rods on the steel cables forming the outer connecting strands are guaranteed.

According to a further proposal of the invention, the pyrotechnic connection of the rods to ignite the explosive charges accommodated therein is carried out by means of continuous detonating cords which are connected to the outer connecting strands. The connection of the detonating cords to the outer connecting strands is expediently designed in such a way that the steel cables of the outer connecting strands serve as strain relief for the detonating cords, that is to say the sections of the detonating cords located between two adjacent connecting points are not loaded with tension even when the steel cables are stretched to a maximum.

Further features of the device according to the invention specified in the subclaims relate to quick-release fasteners for the mechanical and pyrotechnic connection of the individual clearing conductor sections. These ensure that a clearing device provided with the clearing ladder according to the invention can be brought quickly and reliably ready for firing.

Fig. 1

eine schematisch dargestellte Vorrichtung mit teilweise aus den Transportbehältern herausgezogener Räumleiter,

Fig. 2

den (unteren) Transportbehälter in einer Draufsicht,

Fig. 3

den Transportbehälter gemäß Fig. 2 in einer Vorderansicht,

Fig. 4

den Transportbehälter der Fig. 2 und 3 in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 5

einen Vertikalschnitt durch den Transportbehälter gemäß der Fig. 4 mit teilweise geöffnetem Behälterdeckel,

Fig. 6

eine Draufsicht auf den Transportbehälter gemäß Fig. 2 bei geöffnetem Behälterdeckel,

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht auf den (oberen) Transportbehälter,

Fig. 8

eine Seitenansicht des Transportbehälters gemäß der Fig. 7,

Fig. 9

einen Vertikalschnitt durch den Transportbehälter der Fig. 8 bei geöffnetem Behälterdeckel,

Fig. 10

eine Draufsicht auf den Transportbehälter der Fig. 7 bei geöffnetem Behälterdeckel,

Fig. 11

einen um 90 Grad versetzten Vertikalschnitt durch den Transportbehälter gemäß der Fig. 8,

Fig. 12

einen vertikalen Querschnitt durch die in den Fig. 2 bis 11 dargestellten Transportbehälter in einer Abschußposition,

Fig. 13

eine teilweise Grundrißdarstellung eines ausgezogenen Räumleiterabschnitts aus dem (oberen) Transportbehälter,

Fig. 14

einen Räumleiterabschnitt des (unteren) Transportbehälters in einer Darstellung gemäß der Fig. 13,

Fig. 15

eine vergrößerte Darstellung der Räumleiter im Bereich zweier Stäbe bei teilweisem Schnitt eines Endbereichs eines Stabes,

Fig. 16

eine Ansicht eines Endbereichs eines (mittigen) Seiles,

Fig. 17

eine Ansicht eines Endbereichs eines (äußeren) Seiles,

Fig. 18

eine vergrößerte Darstellung eines Dämpfungsorgans,

Fig. 19

eine vergrößerte Darstellung eines Dehnungsorgans, und

Fig. 20

einen Stecker zur Verbindung der Sprengschnüre der einzelnen Räumleiterabschnitte.

An embodiment of the device according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. In this show:

Fig. 1

1 shows a schematically illustrated device with a clearing conductor partially pulled out of the transport containers,

Fig. 2

the (lower) transport container in a top view,

Fig. 3

2 in a front view,

Fig. 4

2 and 3 in a side view,

Fig. 5

4 shows a vertical section through the transport container according to FIG. 4 with the container lid partially open,

Fig. 6

2 shows a top view of the transport container according to FIG. 2 with the container lid open,

Fig. 7

a plan view of the (upper) transport container,

Fig. 8

7 shows a side view of the transport container according to FIG. 7,

Fig. 9

8 with the container cover open,

Fig. 10

7 shows a top view of the transport container of FIG. 7 with the container lid open,

Fig. 11

a vertical section offset by 90 degrees through the transport container according to FIG. 8,

Fig. 12

2 shows a vertical cross section through the transport containers shown in FIGS. 2 to 11 in a firing position,

Fig. 13

a partial plan view of an extended clearing ladder section from the (upper) transport container,

Fig. 14

a clearing section of the (lower) transport container in a representation according to FIG. 13,

Fig. 15

an enlarged view of the clearing ladder in the area of two bars with a partial section of an end area of a bar,

Fig. 16

a view of an end portion of a (central) rope,

Fig. 17

a view of an end portion of an (outer) rope,

Fig. 18

an enlarged view of a damping element,

Fig. 19

an enlarged view of an expansion member, and

Fig. 20

a connector for connecting the detonating cords of the individual clearing conductor sections.

According to the illustration in FIG. 1, the device according to the invention consists of two transport containers, namely a lower transport container 30 and an upper transport container 31. These serve to accommodate the clearing conductors 34, which here are composed of two clearing conductor sections 32 and 33. A flying object, namely a rocket 35, serves to pull the clearing ladder 34 over the mine field to be cleared by the rocket 35 pulling the clearing ladder sections 32 and 33 housed in the transport containers 30 and 31 one after the other out of the transport containers 30 and 31, respectively.

2 to 6 show the design of the lower transport container 30 and the accommodation of the clearing conductor section 32 assigned to the same. Accordingly, the transport container 30 is box-shaped and has two opposite side walls 36, a front end wall 37, a rear end wall 38, a bottom 39 and a full-area opening 40 in the transport position.The latter can be closed by a container lid 51, which here by two Hinges 41 is hinged to the upper edge of the rear end wall 38. In the present exemplary embodiment, the transport container 30 is made from an easily explosive material of low weight, in particular wood or plywood. The transport container 30 can also be made of plastic or aluminum.

In the present exemplary embodiment, two spaced-apart skids 42 are fastened to the bottom 39 of the transport container 30, the end faces of which are provided with pronounced curves. The underside of the runners can have an abrasion-resistant protective layer that has good sliding properties, for example a plastic plate 43, be provided (Figs. 3 and 4). As a result, the transport container 30 can be easily pulled over the floor using suitable pulling gear. The distance between the skids 42 is selected such that they are offset inwards relative to the side walls 36.

In the region of the upper edges of the side walls 36 directed towards the opening 40, the transport container 30 is provided with a holder 44 in each case. These brackets 44 have a continuous, horizontal receptacle 45 of approximately square cross-section, through which in each case a support rod 46 shown in FIG. 2 with a corresponding cross-section can be pushed. The support rods 46 can be locked in the receptacles 45 of the brackets 44 by two pins 47 in each case such that the opposite ends of the support rods 46 protrude approximately the same distance from the front end wall 37 and the rear end wall 38 to form handles 48 for carrying of the transport container 30. To prevent loss, the pins 47 are connected to the transport container 30 by care lines 125.

In the upper area, a frame-like support 49 is arranged on the front end wall 37. In the erected state of the lower transport container 30, this serves for the inclined support of the front end wall 37 on the floor. Furthermore, the lower transport container 30 is provided with a support 50. In the closed state of the container lid 51, this is arranged on the outside thereof and is hereby connected by a film hinge 52, specifically on the (free) end edge of the container lid 51 opposite the hinges 41. The free end 53 of the support 50 is when the container lid 51 is completely open ( if it bears against the rear end wall 38) can be connected to a tension band 54 fastened in the region of the edge between the front end wall 37 and the floor 39. This can be done using the drawstring 54 have a plurality of spaced-apart latching members 55, as a result of which different inclinations of the transport container 30 can be set.

The filling of the lower transport container 30 can be seen in FIG. 5. Accordingly, the (rear) clearing conductor section 32 is accommodated here in the manner of an accordion. The upper side of the clearing conductor section 32 is covered by a suitable filling material, for example a foam plastic block 56, to prevent changes in the position of the individual tracks of the clearing guide section 32 during transport. The free end of the clearing ladder section 32 accommodated in the lower transport container 30, which is used for connection to the first clearing ladder section 33, is freely accessible on the foam plastic block 56 for the rapid connection of the clearing ladder sections 32 and 33. The lower end of the clearing ladder section 32 is connected to the bottom 39 of the transport container 30 firmly connected by suitable connecting members, and not directly, but via expansion members as shown in FIG. 19 to stop the rocket 35 when the clearing conductor section 32 is fully extended. At the same time, the expansion members are connected to an ignition trigger, not shown in FIG. 5 which ignites the clearing head 34 when the clearing head section 32 is fully extended. This is expediently delayed in that the trigger has a corresponding time delay element. Finally, there are detonating cords 57 in the transport container 30. These are arranged in the corner regions of the end walls 37, side walls 36 and the bottom 39 in the transport container 30. The explosive device is used to detonate the empty transport containers 30 and 31.

8 to 11, the upper transport container 31 is shown. This is designed in an analogous manner to the lower transport container 30, namely also box-shaped. Accordingly, the upper transport container also has 31 via two side walls 59, a front end wall 60, a rear end wall 61, a bottom 62 and an opening 63 opposite the same. This can also be closed here by a container lid 65 which is hingedly connected to the rear end wall 61 by two hinges 64. In this transport container 31 there are also two skids 66 on the bottom 62, which are designed in an analogous manner to those of the lower transport container 30. Finally, the transport container 31 also has, in the upper region of the side walls 59, opposing holders 67 with continuous, rectangular receptacles 68 for one carrying rod 69 each. In the present case, these can be locked in the corresponding holders 44 by a releasable pin 70. Each pin 70 is connected to the transport container 31 in the area of the brackets 44 via a care line 71. This prevents the pins 70 from being lost when the support rods 69 are not locked.

A support 72 is also assigned to the container lid 65. When the container lid 65 is closed, this is connected on the outside by a film hinge 73 which is fastened to the free end edge of the container lid 65 opposite the hinges 64. Corresponding to the support 72, at least one hook bar 74 is arranged on the outside under the bottom 62 of the transport container 31, specifically between the skids 66. This has a plurality of receiving troughs 75 in a row one behind the other for the free end 126 of the support 72. This free end 126 of the support 72 can thereby be snapped into one of the receiving troughs 75 of the hook bar 74 depending on the inclination of the container lid 65 to be set.

9 to 11 clearly show the interior of the upper transport container 31. The second clearing conductor section is in turn folded in the shape of an accordion 33 housed, and that without any connection to the transport container 31. Accordingly, the free end 76 of this clearing conductor section 33, which is located below, is guided along the front end wall 60 to the opening 63. As a result, it can easily be coupled together with the front end 77 of the clearing conductor section 32 in the lower transport container 30.

The rocket 35, which is also arranged in the upper transport container 31, is fastened to the inside of the container lid 65. This in turn is in mechanical connection with the front end 78 of the clearing conductor section 33. The rocket 35, which is specifically matched to the clearing ladder 34 and whose construction is not to be explained in more detail here, is attached to the inside of the container lid 65 as shown in FIG. 11 by means of a guide shoe which can be freely moved in the firing direction of the rocket 35 79. This ensures on the one hand a secure hold of the rocket 35 during transport in the transport container 31, and on the other hand the guide shoe 79 supports the guidance of the rocket 35 in the starting phase, since this is not yet dynamically sufficiently stabilized due to its relatively low initial speed. During transport, the rocket 35 is secured in the guide shoe 79 by means of a transverse, releasable split pin 80. The aids required to ignite the rocket 35, in particular a rocket igniter 81, are also arranged on the container lid 65.

Furthermore, in the area of the container lid 65 there are two damping elements, namely springs 82, which are accommodated on opposite sides of the rocket 35 in corresponding receptacles 83 which are open in the direction of launch of the rocket 35. The springs 82, which are shown in more detail in FIG. 18, are through on the one hand with the rocket 35 and on the other hand with the front end 78 of the clearing conductor section 33 accommodated in the upper transport container 31 corresponding wire rope sections 84 connected.

The articulation of the wire cable sections 84 directed towards the rocket 35 takes place via two V-shaped wing attachments 85 arranged in a plane, which in the present case are connected to the combustion chamber tube 86 of the rocket 35 by a screw nut 127.

As can also be seen in FIG. 11, filler pieces, namely foam plastic blocks 87 of suitable design, are arranged to the left and right of the rocket 35, between the container lid 65 and the clearing conductor section 33.

11 further shows that the packing height of the clearing conductor section 33 accommodated in the upper transport container 31 is lower in comparison to the clearing conductor section 32 in the lower transport container 30 (see FIG. 5). Accordingly, the clearing conductor sections 32 and 33 have different lengths. This is necessary because space must be created in the upper transport container 31 for the relatively large-volume rocket 35 and a weight compensation due to the accommodation of the rocket 35 in one of the transport containers (in the upper transport container 31) is required in order to have approximately equal weights of the filled transport containers To reach 30 and 31.

Finally, in addition to the rocket 35, there is a dipstick 88 which can be folded up on the container lid 65. This dipstick serves to adjust the inclination of the container lid 65 to the required firing direction of the rocket 35 by appropriately targeting the firing field by appropriately adjusting the support 72 in the hook bar 74.

13 to 16, the clearing head 34 according to the invention is shown in more detail.

The front clearing conductor section 33 directed towards the rocket 35 is shown in FIG. 13. Accordingly, this clearing conductor section 33 consists of three parallel connecting strands, namely two outer ropes 89 made of preferably metallic material and a middle rope 90 in the middle between them made of synthetic fibers in particular. The ropes 89 and 90 are connected in a rung-like manner by transverse bars 91 with a tubular cross section. According to the invention, an explosive charge 92 for activating the mines to be cleared or the like is accommodated in the rods 91. For this purpose, the explosive charge preferably completely fills the entire interior of the tubular rods 91, with the exception of short end regions.

The outer ropes 89 are connected to the end regions 95 of the rods 91 by corresponding latching connections 96, such that each end region 95 of a rod 91 is connected to the outer ropes 89.

The plug connection 96 is shown in detail in FIG. 15. Accordingly, the rod 91 is provided in the end region 95 with opposite slots 97, into which the cable 89 can be pushed into the rod 91 on the end face, that is to say crosses the tube of the rod 91. The rope 89 has an axially immovable thickening, namely a compression sleeve 98, in the area lying within the rod 91. This is supported in a recess 99 of a correspondingly designed receiving disk 100, which is located on the inside of the rope 89 inside the rod 91 is arranged. Arranged on the side of the cable 89 facing the end of the rod 91 is a clamping disc 101 which corresponds to the inside diameter of the rod 91 and closes the open end of the rod 91 and thereby clamps the cable 89 in the recess 99 of the receiving disc 100. The end region of the rod 91 which is external with respect to the cable 89 is additional provided with a cover plate 102 which surrounds the outer surface of the rod 91 when the clamping plate 101 is inserted under tension. A through hole 103 in the cover plate 102 corresponding approximately to the inside diameter of the rod 91 enables the clamping plate 101 to be inserted subsequently, that is to say when the cover plate 102 is pushed onto the rod 91.

In the area of the first four rods 91, the front end 78 of the clearing conductor section 33 has two double cable sections 104, preferably made of synthetic fibers. These are assigned to the outer ropes 89 and reinforce them in the particularly stressed area of the front end 78 of the clearing conductor section 33 as a result of the high acceleration of the rocket 35 during start-up. The double rope sections 104 are connected to the rods 91 in a suitable manner.

Commercially available detonating cords 107 are guided parallel to the outer ropes 89. These are glued to the outer ropes 89 in the area of each rod 91 by a further adhesive tape 108, in such a way that they are not under tension in tension-loaded ropes 89 or only to such an extent that tearing thereof is reliably prevented.

15 shows the connection of the detonating cords 107 with the explosive charges 92 in the rods 91. Accordingly, the detonating cords 107 in the area of the rods 91 are also assigned branches 109 made of the detonating cord 107 material. The latter are connected at one end to the detonating cords 107. This connection is made by the adhesive tape 108, which also serves to connect the detonating cords 107 to the ropes 89. At the opposite end, each branch 109 has an ignition amplifier 93 with which these ends are embedded in the explosive charge 92 in the rod 91. To do that Branches 109 through one of the slots 97 in each end portion 95 of the rods 91 into the interior of the tube. In the present exemplary embodiment, the free end of the branch 109 is held centrally by a sealing washer 110 and a centering piece 111 located behind it in the direction of the end region 95 of the rod 91. At the same time, the sealing washer 110 and the centering piece 111 serve to secure the explosive charge 92 in the respective tubular rod 91. A branch 109 shown in FIG. 15 is assigned to each of the opposite end regions 95 of the rods 91. As a result, the explosive charge 92 can be ignited from opposite ends of the rods 91, that is to say twice.

The free ends of the central rope 90 are knotted with a ring 112 in the manner shown in FIG. 16. In contrast, the free ends of the outer ropes 89 and the two double rope sections 104, as shown in FIG. 17, are provided with an eye 113 which is produced by a compression sleeve connection 114. The free ends of the detonating cords 107 each have a corresponding plug 115.

13 that the front end 78 of the clearing conductor section 33 is connected to a cross member 117. This has approximately the length of the rods 91 and is formed from a stable tube with a larger diameter than the rods 91. In the middle, the tube of the cross member 117 has a stop eye 118 for the free end of the central rope 90. A releasable chain link 119 is used here to connect the center rope 90 to the stop eye 118.

Two oppositely directed tabs 120 are welded to each of the opposite ends of the cross member 117. Of these, the tabs 120 directed towards the front end 78 of the clearing conductor section 33 serve for fastening of the outer ropes 89 and the double rope sections 104 on the cross bar 117. Detachable chain links 121, which are arranged between the plates 120 and the eyes 113, also serve this purpose.

The two remaining tabs 120 arranged on the opposite side of the crossbar 117 can be connected to the front end 77 of the clearing conductor section 33 by means of further chain links (not shown), snap hooks or the like.

The (second) clearing conductor section 32 shown in FIG. 14 also has rods 91 provided with explosive charges 92, which are connected to one another by two outer cables 89 and a central cable 90. Here, too, each of the two outer ropes 89 is assigned an explosive cord 107 with corresponding branches 109 to the explosive charges 92 in the rods 91. In contrast to the previously described clearing ladder section 33, the clearing ladder section 32 here has no double cable sections 104 and no cross bars 117.

The front end 77 and also the rear (free) end 76 of the clearing conductor section 32 are provided with eyes 113 on the outer ropes 89 and with corresponding plugs 115 on the detonating cords 107. As a result, the (rear) clearing conductor section 32 can be coupled to the (front) clearing guide section 33 simply by coupling the plugs 115 and connecting the eyes 113 to the outer cables 89 by means of snap hooks or the like. The eyes 113 of the outer ropes 89 at the rear end of the clearing conductor section 32 serve to connect the latter to the lower transport container 30 or the expansion members. The plugs 115 of the free ends of the detonating cords 107 are connected in the area of the lower transport container 30 to the automatic ignition system for the explosive charges 92 in the rods 91. For this purpose they are opposite to the last one Rod 91 protruding free ends of the detonating cords 107 longer compared to the front ends. The connection of the front end of the central cable 90 of the rear clearing section 32 to the corresponding rear end of the central cable 90 on the front clearing section 33 is carried out on the rings 112 by snap hooks or the like. The rear free end of the central cable 90 has no connecting element in the clearing conductor section 32, since a connection of the same to the lower transport container 30 is not provided.

The length of the coupled ends of the (front) scraper section 33 and the (rear) scraper section 32 are selected such that after connecting the clearing section 32 and 33, the adjacent rods 91 of different scraper sections 32 and 33 have approximately the same distance from each other over which the Have rods 91 within a clearing section 32 or 33.

The design of the plug 115 can be seen in FIG. 20. Accordingly, each plug consists of a sleeve-shaped base body 128 which is provided from one end with four longitudinal slots 129 which are offset by 90 degrees to one another. In the area of these longitudinal slots 129, the base body 128 is slightly conical in its outer jacket in the direction of its free end. A correspondingly designed sliding sleeve 130 is arranged on the base body 128, which is in the open position of the plug 115 on the unslotted, lower area of the base body 128 and is secured there against falling off from the base body 128 by a collar 131 at the adjacent end. The longitudinal movement of the sliding sleeve 130 on the base body 128 in the direction of the conically thickening free, slotted end of the same causes the clamping tongues 132 of the plug 115 formed between the longitudinal slots 129 to be clamped together.

By clamping the clamping tongues 132 together, the ends of two detonating cords 107 are pressed together and locked. For this purpose, two through holes 133 with a corresponding diameter to the detonating cords 107, which run approximately parallel to one another, are arranged inside the base body 128 and overlap in regions. One end of the detonating cords 107 to be connected is inserted into each of the through bores 133, with an overlap in regions. In the resulting overlap area 134, the ends of the detonating cords 107 to be connected are in contact after the plug 115 has been closed by moving the sliding sleeve 130 toward the slotted end of the base body 128. This design of the plug 115 enables the plug 115 to be closed quickly, reliably and permanently.

Finally, FIG. 19 shows the expansion element, which in the present exemplary embodiment consists of two tension springs 122 and 123 of different spring constants coupled together. The ends of the (rear) clearing conductor section 32 are connected to the lower transport container 30 with two such expansion members, and preferably the outer ropes 89. The tension springs 122 can be connected to one another and to the ropes 89 by suitable releasable chain links 124.

The process sequence for clearing the device according to the invention and for laying the clearing ladder 34 can be seen particularly clearly from FIGS. 1 and 12. Accordingly, the support rods 46 are first pulled out of the holders 44 of the lower transport container 30 by removing the two pins 47, the drawstring 54 locked in the transport position under the bottom 39 of the transport container 30 is released and then the transport container 30 is opened by pivoting the container lid around 51 against the rear end wall 38. Then the upper transport container 31 is pushed with its front end wall 60 against the container cover 51 of the lower transport container 30 and the support rods 69 are inserted into the holders 44 of the lower transport container 30. The support rods 69 of the upper transport container 30 thus serve to couple the two transport containers 30 and 31 to one another, two locking pins, which cannot be pulled out, being inserted through the brackets 44 and the support rods 69 for locking the support rods 69.

Then the container lid 65 of the upper transport container 31 with the rocket 35 attached to it is opened. As a result, both openings 40 and 63 of the transport containers 30 and 31 are freely accessible, namely lying in an approximately common plane. As a result, the clearing conductor sections 32 and 33, and in particular the ends thereof, are freely accessible, so that the outer cables 89, the central cable 90 and the detonating cords 107 of the two clearing conductor sections 32 and 33 can be connected to one another for producing the continuous clearing conductor 34. Furthermore, the detonating cords 57 used to detonate both transport containers 30 and 31 after the clearing ladder 34 has been laid must be connected in the lower transport container 30 with suitable explosive triggers.

After all these preparatory measures, the interconnected transport containers 30 and 31 can be erected.

In the erected position of the transport containers 30 and 31 shown in FIG. 12, the support 49 fastened to the front end wall 37 of the lower transport container 30 comes into contact with the floor or comes into the ground with a free, projecting end to support the transport container 30 and 31. On the back the erected transport containers 30 and 31 are held by the support 50 arranged on the lower transport container 30, which, depending on the inclination of the transport containers 30 and 31, is supported in one of the latching members 55 of the drawstring 54 laid out at the bottom 39 of the lower transport container 30.

After the transport containers 30 and 31 have been erected to such an extent, the rocket 35 is aligned by aligning the rocket 35 with the aid of the dipstick 88 by means of a corresponding inclination of the container lid 65 on the upper transport container 31 according to ballistic requirements. The container lid 65 is locked in the intended position by the support 72 arranged therein, in that it is snapped into a corresponding receiving trough 75 of the hook bar 74.

After the transport containers 30, 31 and the rocket 35 have been aligned in this way, the rocket 35 is made ready to start. For this purpose, the split pin 80 is first removed from the guide shoe 79 of the rocket so that the rocket can move freely in the launching direction 79 in the guide shoe 79 . Simultaneously with the removal of the split pin 80, a plastic bag is opened, in which the rocket igniter 81 is accommodated in a moisture-tight manner. The rocket igniter 81 can thus be pushed into the rocket 35 in the usual manner for arming. An initiator for the explosive charges 92 of the clearing conductors 34 are also contained in the plastic bag. To arm the clearing ladder 34, they are placed in the area of the bottom 39 of the lower transport container 30, from where a tear-off line leads from the detonator to the clearing ladder section 32.

After all of these preparations have been completed, the rocket 35 can be fired, preferably with a time delay after the firing has been triggered, so that the operator required there remains sufficient time to be in cover to issue.

The launching rocket 35 drags the clearing ladder 34 behind it over the mine field to be cleared. First of all, the clearing conductor section 32 located in the upper transport container 31 is pulled out, the springs 82 serving as damping elements intercepting the acceleration force of the rocket 35 acting on the clearing conductor section 33 and loading the transverse spar 117, which uniformly pulls the cables 89 and 90 out of the upper transport container 31 pulls out.

After the clearing conductor section 33 has been pulled out of the upper transport container 31, the adjoining clearing conductor section 32 is laid in the lower transport container 30.

After the entire clearing conductor 34 has been pulled out of the transport containers 30 and 31, the remaining dynamic force is intercepted by the rocket 35 or the moving moving clearing conductor 34 by the tension springs 122 and 123 of the expansion members and by the weight of the coupled transport containers 30 and 31 . This also ensures that the clearing ladder 34 tightens the mine area to be cleared. As soon as the last rods 91 of the clearing conductor section 32 have left the lower transport container 30, the detonating detonator is triggered by the tear-off line for the automatic initiation of the detonation. It is ensured by an appropriately dimensioned time delay element that the explosive charges 92 are only ignited in the rods 91 when the clearing conductor 34 has completely lowered to the ground.

Through the use of two parallel detonating cords 107, each explosive charge 92 is fired twice, namely from the opposite end regions 95 of FIG Rods 91 ago. This also ensures ignition of the explosive charges 92 if the ignition should fail at an end region 95 of the rod 91, for example due to insufficient ignition of one of the branches 109 or the detonating cords 107 or any cracks in the same.

Simultaneously with the firing of the clearing ladder 34, the detonating cords 57 are finally fired in the lower transport container 30, as a result of which both transport containers 30 and 31 are eliminated. After this ignition process is also completed, the path of the mine field spanned by the clearing conductor 34 can be safely passed.

One or more other systems can be used in an analogous manner to extend the path cleared in this way, namely to "roll over" rooms.

Claims (20)

1. Process for clearing an area provided with explosives, especially a minefield, a clearing means (clearing ladder 34) equipped with explosive charges (92) being coupled together from a plurality of transportable clearing-means segments (clearing-ladder segments 32, 33) accommodated in different transport containers (30, 31) and being fired by means of a flying object (rocket 35) over the area to be cleared, and thereafter the explosive charges (92) of the clearing-means segments (clearing-ladder segments 32, 33) being ignited, characterised in that, before the connection of the clearing-means segments (clearing-ladder segments 32, 33), the transport containers (30, 31) are connected to one another and are subsequently jointly erected to form a firing ramp for the flying object (rocket 35), and a container cover (65), equipped on an inner face with the flying object (rocket 35), of the transport container (31) located at the top in the erected state is swung open for the ballistic orientation of the flying object (rocket 35), and after the flying object (rocket 35) has been fired the clearing-means segments (clearing-ladder segments 32, 33) are successively drawn out of the transport containers (30, 31) by the flying object (rocket 35), and after the clearing-means segments (32, 33) have been drawn out of the transport containers (30, 31) completely the explosive charges (92) are ignited.
2. Process according to Claim 1, characterised in that, to produce the clearing means (clearing ladder 34), at least the clearing-means segments (clearing-ladder segments 32, 33) accommodated in the transport containers (30, 31) are coupled together mechanically and pyrotechnically.
3. Process according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that, after the clearing-means segments (clearing-ladder segments 32, 33) of the clearing means (clearing ladder 34) have been drawn out of the transport containers (30, 31) completely, the explosive charges (92) are ignited automatically, in particular with a time delay.
4. Process according to one or more of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a clearing-means segment (clearing-ladder segment 32 or 33) is assigned to each of the two transport containers (30, 31).
5. Device for clearing an area provided with explosives, especially a minefield, having a clearing means (clearing ladder 34) accommodated in different transport containers (30, 31) and consisting of a plurality of clearing-means segments (clearing-ladder segments 32, 33) which are equipped with explosive charges (92) and which can be coupled together, and having a flying object (rocket 35) which can be fired over the area to be cleared and which is intended for drawing the clearing-means segments (clearing-ladder segments 32, 33) out of the transport containers (30, 31), characterised in that the transport containers (30, 31) are made box-shaped and connectable to one another and each have a container cover (51, 65) which is fastened to the corresponding transport container (30, 31) pivotably about an end wall (38, 61) in order to close an orifice (40, 63) of each transport container (30, 31), and the flying object (rocket 35), together with an inner face of the container cover (65), is connected freely movable in the firing direction to the transport container (31), at the top in the erected firing position, in such a way that the flying object (rocket 35) is ready for firing after the opening of the container cover (65).
6. Device according to Claim 5, characterised in that the transport containers (30, 31) are connectable to one another in such a way that their orifices (40, 63) lie in a common plane.
7. Device according to Claims 5 and 6, characterised in that mountings (44, 67) for receiving supporting rods (46, 69) or connecting rods are arranged on mutually opposite side walls (36, 59) of those edges of the transport containers (30, 31) directed to the orifices (40, 63), in such a way that, for transport, a supporting rod (46, 69) can respectively be pushed into the mountings (46, 67) of each transport container (30, 31), whilst, to couple the two transport containers (30, 31) together, the supporting rods (69) of one transport container (31) can be pushed into the mountings (44) of the second transport container (30).
8. Device according to Claim 5 and one or more of the further claims, characterised in that the transport containers (30, 31) are equipped with rolling and/or sliding members, especially with a pair of sliding runners (42, 66) which are arranged on the bottom (39, 62) of the transport containers (30, 31) and the lower transverse edges of which are rounded, and in that the spacing of the sliding runners (42, 66) is smaller than the width of the transport containers (30, 31).
9. Device according to Claim 5 and one or more of the further claims, characterised in that at least one of the transport containers (30, 31) is assigned a stay (50, 72) for supporting the transport containers (30, 31) in the tilted-up state, the stay (50) preferably being arranged, specifically especially adjustably, on the transport container (30) which is at the bottom in the erected state.
10. Device according to Claim 5 and one or more of the further claims, characterised in that at least one of the transport containers (30, 31) is assigned an explosive charge for the explosion of the two transport containers (30, 31) after the ignition of the clearing means (clearing ladder 34), especially explosive cords (57).
11. Device according to Claim 5 and one or more of the remaining claims, characterised in that the rocket (35) is connected to the clearing means (clearing ladder 34) via a least one damping member, preferably a pair of springs (82) located next to one another.
12. Device according to Claim 11, characterised in that the springs (82) are connected to the clearing means (clearing ladder 34) via a bend-resistant transverse spar (117).
13. Device according to one or more of Claims 5 to 12, characterised in that the clearing means is designed as a clearing ladder (34) consisting of a plurality of clearing-ladder segments (32, 33).
14. Device according to Claim 5, characterised by clearing-means segments which are designed as clearing-ladder segments (32, 33) and which have tubular bars (91) made of a metallic material, the interiors of which are respectively filled essentially completely by an explosive charge (92), the bars (91) being fastened transversely between parallel connecting strands (ropes 89, 90), and the connecting strands (ropes 89, 90) being assigned explosive cords (107) for igniting the explosive charges (92) from opposite ends.
15. Device according to Claim 14, characterised in that the bars (91) are connected to one another mechanically by means of three parallel connecting strands consisting of ropes (89, 90), in such a way that two outer ropes (89) are connected to the opposite end regions (95) of the bars (91) and the third rope (90) is connected to the bars (91) approximately centrally.
16. Device according to Claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the two outer ropes (89) preferably made of a metallic material are connected positively to the end regions (95) of the bars (91), preferably by means of plug connections (96), the plug connections (96) of the outer ropes (89) being formed especially from a thickening arranged non-displaceably on the rope, preferably from a press sleeve (98) and a receiving disc (100) formed to correspond to the thickening and to be arranged in the end of the tubular bars (91) which are held by an outer clamping disc (101) and a corresponding cover disc (102).
17. Device according to Claim 16, characterised in that the end regions (95) of the bars (91) are provided with mutually opposite slots (97) for the passage of the regions of the outer ropes (89) located opposite the thickening (press sleeve 98) through the casing wall of the bars (91).
18. Device according to Claim 15 and one or more of the further claims, characterised in that the continuous explosive cords (107) are assigned to the two outer ropes (89) and are guided loosely through the respective end slot (97) of the bars (91).
19. Device according to Claim 18, characterised in that there is arranged in the regions of the bars (91) a branch (109) which leads to the explosive charges (92) located therein and which comes from the continuous explosive cords (107), each explosive charge (92) being assigned two branches (109) from the (mutually opposite) explosive cords (107) guided along on opposite end regions (95) of the bars (91).
20. Device according to Claim 14 and one or more of the further claims, characterised in that, to form the clearing ladder, on the one hand, the clearing-ladder segments (32, 33) are connected to one another at their ropes (89, 90) by means of quick-action fastenings, especially releasable chain links (119) or snap hooks, and, on the other hand, the corresponding explosive cords (107) of the clearing-ladder segments (32, 33) can be plugged together in the regions of the quick-action fastenings for the outer ropes (90), especially by means of corresponding explosive-cord connectors (115).

Images