EP1722186A1 - Mine milling for a mine clearing vehicle. - Google Patents

Abstract

The mine cutter device (16) is an open mine cutter with one or more of the following characteristics: the drive and supporting device is arranged at a defined distance above the ground during operation of the mine cutter and a transverse support of a rotor is formed with an essentially round cross-section.

Description

The present invention relates to a mine cutter, in particular for a mine clearance vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Mine clearance vehicles are used particularly in crisis areas and former crisis areas to clear land areas that are contaminated with land mines from these mines and to make them usable again. The mine clearance vehicles have at their front end in the direction of travel, for example, a mine cutter, which is to bring the land mines detonation. The mine cutter usually has a rotor to which the actual milling tools are attached. This rotor is driven in rotation while the mine clearance vehicle is being driven so that the milling tools plow through the ground at a specific milling depth. If the milling tools encounter tank or personnel mines, a detonation is triggered at these mines or the mines are mechanically destroyed without detonation.

In order to minimize damage to the minecutter during mine detonation, it is necessary to design the minecutter and its milling tools according to the forces acting on them. Whereas in the past very heavy and stable mine-milling machines were customary, relatively open constructions have recently been proposed in order to provide as little surface as possible for mine detonation and in particular for the resulting pressure waves.

For example, the WO-A-02/101195 a mine-milling machine on which the preamble of claim 1 is based and which, instead of a conventional stable drum, has an open rotor with a plurality of cross-beams mounted substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor and spaced both from each other and from a central rotating shaft Carrying device for rotational drive of the rotor and carrying the rotor at a desired distance above the ground and a plurality of releasably mounted on the rotor milling tools.

It is an object of the invention to further develop a mine cutter such that damage caused by the triggered detonation of a mine can be further reduced.

This object is achieved by a mine cutter with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

• a) die Antriebs- und Tragvorrichtung ist auch beim Einsatz der Minenfräse einen vorbestimmten Abstand über dem Erdboden angeordnet; und
• b) die Querträger des Rotors sind mit einem im Wesentlichen runden Querschnitt ausgebildet.

The mine-milling machine for a mine-clearing vehicle includes a rotor with lateral support members at its two longitudinal ends and a plurality of cross-members mounted between the lateral support members substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor and spaced both from each other and from the axis of rotation; a drive and support device which includes a drive unit for rotationally driving the rotor and supporting the rotor at a desired distance above the ground; and a plurality of milling tools attached to the rotor. Further, the mine cutter is designed as an open mine mill with one or more of the following features:

• a) the drive and support device is also arranged when using the mine cutter a predetermined distance above the ground; and
• b) the cross members of the rotor are formed with a substantially round cross-section.

This minecutter has a relatively open construction due to the use of an essentially multi-beam open rotor instead of a solid drum. In addition, the drive and support device is also arranged a predetermined distance above the ground when using the mine cutter. This distance of the drive and support device above the ground has several advantages: first, the drive and support device can not trigger a mine itself because it does not contact the ground, and secondly, the mine cutter is open at the side, so that the pressure wave of mine detonation can escape laterally , As an alternative or additional measure, the cross members of the rotor are formed with a substantially round cross section. Such a round cross section provides a pressure wave of a mine detonation less attack surface than the conventionally used strip-like cross member.

Therefore, the above-described construction of the mine cutter obviously leads to a further reduction of damage in a detonation of a mine. Thus, the use of the mine cutter can be operated more cost-effectively and with less repair effort, which is particularly advantageous in mines contaminated areas and countries that have little infrastructure.

Preferably, the cross members are tubular, resulting in a weight reduction compared to conventional rotor designs.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the milling tools are releasably attached to the rotor, so that damaged milling tools can be easily replaced and replaced, for example, after the detonation of a mine. To increase the stability of the mine cutter and also to provide a mounting option for the milling tools, the cross member may be additionally interconnected via a plurality of radially spaced and spaced in the axial direction of the rotor holding plates, where the milling tools can be attached directly or indirectly via tool carrier.

Preferably, the lateral holding elements on which the cross member are mounted, formed in an open design, so they do not offer a closed attack surface pressure wave of a mine detonation.

In one embodiment of the invention, the distance of the drive and support device above the ground when using the mine cutter is at least 10 cm. For example, the distance of the propulsion and support device above the ground when using the minecutter ranges from about 5% to about 50%, more preferably from about 10% to about 35%, of a milling radius of the minecutter; and the distance of the cross beams from the axis of rotation of the rotor is, for example, in a range of about 50% to about 95%, more preferably about 75% to about 95% of a cutting radius of the mill cutter.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, the cross members are arranged at an angular distance of about 30 ° to about 60 ° about the axis of rotation.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the rotor contains no central rotary shaft. This design creates an even more open and lighter rotor design.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, the entire rotor (consisting of cross members, retaining plates and optionally retaining elements) is detachably attached as a unit to the drive and support device. In this way, optionally different rotor designs with, for example, different milling radii or different milling tool densities can be mounted on a drive and support device. In addition, a repair of the mine cutter by a simple replacement of the entire rotor unit is possible.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, the cross member are connected on one side with the lateral holding elements (and possibly the other holding elements), preferably welded. This allows above all a simpler assembly of the rotor.

Fig. 1

eine stark vereinfachte Seitenansicht eines Minenräumfahrzeugs mit einer Minenfräse, bei dem die vorliegende Erfindung angewendet werden kann;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Längsschnittansicht einer herkömmlichen Minenfräse zum Vergleich;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Längsschnittansicht einer Minenfräse gemäß einem ersten bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Querschnittansicht B-B der Minenfräse von Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Längsschnittansicht einer Minenfräse gemäß einem zweiten bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 6

eine schematische Längsschnittansicht der Minenfräse von Fig. 5 mit einer detonierenden Mine; und

Fig. 7

eine schematische Querschnittsansicht B-B der Minenfräse von Fig. 5 mit einer detonierenden Mine.

The above and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred, non-limiting embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show:

Fig. 1

a highly simplified side view of a mine clearance vehicle with a mine cutter to which the present invention can be applied;

Fig. 2

a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a conventional mine cutter for comparison;

Fig. 3

a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a minecutter according to a first preferred embodiment;

Fig. 4

a schematic cross-sectional view BB of the mine cutter of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a minecutter according to a second preferred embodiment;

Fig. 6

a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the mine cutter of Figure 5 with a detonating mine. and

Fig. 7

a schematic cross-sectional view BB of the mine cutter of Fig. 5 with a detonating mine.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a mine clearing vehicle 10 which is based, for example, on an ordinary construction vehicle such as a bulldozer. Both tracked vehicles and wheeled vehicles can be used as mine clearance vehicles 10. On both sides of a vehicle chassis 12 support arms 14 are pivotally mounted, which receive at their front ends between them a mine cutter 16. The support arms 14 can be raised and lowered, for example, by hydraulic cylinders 17 to adjust the penetration depth of the milling tools of the mine cutter 16 into the ground.

Between the mine cutter 16 and the vehicle chassis 12 or the vehicle body 18, a protective plate 20, for example in the form of an armor plate, is provided. The protective plate 20 intercepts the pressure wave of a detonating mine 22 and protects the mine clearance vehicle 10 and in particular also its driver.

For a better understanding of the present invention will be described below with reference to Fig. 2, first, the construction of a conventional mine cutter, as in principle, for example, from the already mentioned WO-A-02/101195 is known. Subsequently, referring to FIGS. 3 to 7, various preferred embodiments of a minecutter according to the present invention will be described in more detail explains how they can be used for example in a mine clearance vehicle 10 shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mine cutter 16 essentially consists of a rotor 24 and a drive and support device 26 which includes a drive unit (not shown) for rotationally driving the rotor 24 and the rotor 24 at a desired distance above the ground 30 wearing. The drive and support device 26 is supported via a Bodenkufe 32 on the ground 30, on the one hand, the support of the weight of the mine cutter 16 and on the other hand, the height adjustment of the rotor 24 is used. Furthermore, the drive and support device 26 is generally mounted on both sides of the vehicle on a support arm 14 of the mine clearance vehicle 10.

The rotor 24 itself has a central rotation shaft 34 which extends transversely to the direction of travel of the mine clearance vehicle 10 and is rotationally driven by the drive unit of the drive and support device 26. In the region of the two longitudinal ends of the rotary shaft 34, a lateral holding element 36 in the form of a side flange is rotatably connected to a drive shaft 37 of the drive and support device 26 and thus also to the rotary shaft 34, whose radius forms the rotor radius.

Between the two lateral support members 36 a plurality of cross members 38 are attached in the form of strip-shaped profile bars, which are substantially parallel to the rotary shaft 34 and both a mutual distance and a distance from the rotary shaft 34 so that the mine cutter 16 has a relatively open rotor construction, the a pressure wave of a mine detonation provides less attack surface than a rotor with a large solid drum. The cross members 38 are also mutually supported by other flanges 39 and on the rotary shaft 34.

A plurality of milling tools 40 (only one of which is indicated in FIG. 2 for the sake of simplicity) are preferably detachably attached to the rotor 24 so that they can be easily replaced in case of wear or damage, without the to disassemble the entire rotor 24. The milling tools 40 are fastened to holding plates (not shown), for example, via tool carriers (not shown), which are each adjacent to each other in the radial direction, cross members 38 and spaced apart in the axial direction of the rotor 24. The holding plates also cause a stabilization of the open rotor construction 24th

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, a first embodiment of a mine cutter 16 according to the present invention will now be described in more detail, wherein the same components as in the conventional comparative example of Fig. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The mine cutter 16 is also essentially constructed of a rotor 24 and a drive and support device 26, the drive and support device 26 including a drive unit (not shown, for example belt drive, chain drive or the like) for rotationally driving the rotor 24 and the rotor 24 carries at a desired distance above the ground 30 and rotates with respect to the direction of travel of the mine clearance vehicle 10 in the forward direction. In contrast to the conventional mine milling machine 16 of FIG. 2, this drive and support device 26 is also held during the intended use of the mine cutter 16 a predetermined distance d above the ground 30.

In this way, the mine cutter 16 is laterally open, so that a pressure wave at a mine detonation through this gap between the ground 30 and drive and support device 26 can escape laterally without damaging the drive and support device 26 or destroy altogether (see also Fig. 6 below). Another advantage of this design is that the drive and support device 26 does not contact the ground 30 and, therefore, can not itself trigger a mine that would otherwise detonate directly below the drive and support 26 and severely damage it.

The predetermined distance d between the driving and supporting device 26 and the ground 30 (during use of the mine cutter 16) should be at least 10 cm to ensure a sufficiently large lateral opening of the mine cutter 16. Further, the predetermined distance d of the driving and supporting device 26 above the ground 30 when using the mine cutter is preferably in a range of about 5% to about 50%, more preferably from about 10% to about 35% of a cutting radius R of the mine-tiller 16. Der Milling radius R is defined as the radius of the rotor 24 including the milling tools 40, in other words as a distance between a central axis of rotation 42 of the rotor 24 and the outer ends of the milling tools 40th

The rotor 24 has, as above, a central rotation shaft 34 which extends transversely to the direction of travel of the mine clearance vehicle 10 and is rotationally driven by the drive unit of the drive and support device 26. In the region of the two longitudinal ends of the rotary shaft 34, a lateral holding element 36 is rotatably attached to the rotary shaft 34 or a drive shaft or hub 37 of the drive and support device 26, whose radius forms the rotor radius r. The lateral holding elements 36 preferably have an open construction in order to provide as little as possible an attack surface on a pressure wave in a mine detonation.

Preferably, a total of two drive and support devices 26 are provided on both sides of the mine clearance vehicle 10 each attached to a support arm 14 (see FIG. 1) so that the rotor 24 is securely held between the two drive and support devices 26 and can be stably rotated.

A plurality of cross members 38 are mounted between these two lateral support members 36, wherein the cross member 38 extend substantially parallel to the rotary shaft 34 and the axis of rotation 42 of the rotor 24 and both a mutual (angular) distance δ (see FIG. 4) and a Have distance D to the rotary shaft 34. In other words, the cross members 38 are arranged at regular intervals around the rotation shaft 34 in the circumferential direction (see FIG. 4). As a result, the mine cutter 16 has a relatively open rotor construction 24 which provides a pressure wave of a mine detonation less attack surface than a rotor with a large solid drum.

The distance D of the cross members 38 (more precisely, their center axis) from the axis of rotation 42 of the rotor 24 is preferably in a range of about 50% to about 95%, more preferably about 75% to about 95% of the cutting radius R of the mine cutter 16. The angular distance δ between adjacent cross beams 38 is preferably in a range between about 20 ° and about 60 °, more preferably between about 30 ° and about 60 °. In other words, six to twelve cross members 38 are preferably arranged around the rotary shaft 34; if necessary, however, more cross members 38 can be provided in principle.

Furthermore, the cross members 38 can be supported against each other and on the rotary shaft 34 via further holding elements 39, which are formed similarly to the lateral holding elements 36, in order to achieve a higher stability of the entire rotor 24. Optionally, these other holding elements 39 but also be dispensed with, whereby the rotor 24 on the one hand more open (advantage in mine detonation) and on the other hand easier (advantage in assembly and transport) and cheaper.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 4, in contrast to the conventional mine milling machine 16 of FIG. 2, the cross members 38 have a substantially round cross section. Such a round cross-sectional shape provides a pressure wave resulting from a mine detonation significantly less attack surface than about strip-like cross member and the like, which were previously used in mine cutters. Of course, the present invention is not limited to exactly circular cross-sectional shapes; Rather, for example, slightly elliptical cross-sectional shapes can be used. Furthermore, in the region of the attachment of the holding plates 43 explained below between the adjacent cross members 38, the cross members 38 may also deviate from this round cross-sectional shape for easier assembly.

Furthermore, the round cross member 38 may also be tubular, resulting in a weight reduction of the rotor structure 24. In order to ensure a high stability at the same time, a double pipe construction is conceivable for the cross member 38.

A plurality of holding plates 43 respectively connect adjacent cross members 38 in the radial direction with each other, thus leading to further stabilization of the rotor structure 24. In the axial direction of the rotor 24, these holding plates 43 are spaced from each other to maintain the open rotor structure 24. At these holding plates 43 is a plurality of knife-like milling tools 40 either directly or indirectly via tool carrier (not shown) attached. Advantageously, the milling tools 40 are releasably attached, so that they can be easily replaced when worn or damaged. For the sake of simplicity, only one milling tool 40 is indicated in FIG. 3.

The cross member 38, the rotary shaft 34, the lateral support members 36, the other holding elements 39 and the holding plates 43 are all firmly connected to each other, preferably welded. As indicated in FIG. 3, the cross members 38 and the rotary shaft 34 are preferably enclosed on one side only by the lateral and further retaining elements 36, 39 and welded to them by being fitted in corresponding half-shell-shaped recesses. This construction results in a simpler assembly and also a lighter weight of the rotor construction 24th

A second preferred embodiment of a mine cutter 16 of the present invention is explained below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. The same components are identified by the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The second embodiment differs from the above-described mine cutter 16 substantially in that the central rotating shaft 34 of the rotor 24 is omitted. The round cross member 38 are alone connected via lateral support members 36 with the drive and support device 26 which are rotatably mounted on this. This results in comparison to the first embodiment, an even more open and lighter rotor design 24 with the associated advantages, as explained above.

Next, the cross member 38 are connected via a further retaining element 39 at their ends with the lateral support member 36, for example screwed.

Due to this construction, it is possible in a simple manner to detach the entire rotor construction 24 consisting of the transverse beams 38, the further retaining elements 39 and the retaining plates 43, which are welded together, from the lateral retaining elements 36 and thus from the driving and supporting device 26 and replace without having to disassemble the entire mine cutter 16.

In this case, the drive and support device 26 can accommodate different rotor sizes, i. Milling radii R be designed. Thus, smaller and larger mine cutters 16 can be used as needed by simply replacing the rotor 24 on a mine clearance vehicle 10. With a larger cutting radius R, which is caused for example by a greater distance of the cross member 38 to the axis of rotation 42 and possibly also from each other, automatically the distance d between the ground 30 and the drive and support device 26 becomes larger.

The other components and advantages of the mine cutter 16 shown in Fig. 5 are similar to those of the first embodiment described above, and therefore a repetition of the corresponding description is omitted.

To illustrate the advantages of the mine cutter 16 according to the invention, FIGS. 6 and 7 show in longitudinal section and cross section the blast profile of a mine 22 detonating in the lateral area of the rotor 24. As can be clearly seen, the pressure waves of the mine 22 can pass through the open rotor 24 almost unhindered run as well as laterally under the drive and support device 26 from the mine cutter 16 issue out. These considerations also apply analogously to the first exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4.

• die Minenfräse 16 ist seitlich geöffnet, da die Antriebs- und Tragvorrichtung 26 auch während des Einsatzes der Minenfräse 16 vom Erdboden 30 beabstandet ist;
• der Rotor 24 besitzt insgesamt eine sehr offene Konstruktion;
• die Querträger 38 des Rotors 24 sind mit einer runden Querschnittsform ausgebildet;
• die seitlichen Haltelemente 36 sind in offener Bauweise konstruiert;
• die mittige Drehwelle 34 kann wahlweise entfallen.

Overall, the above-described mine cutter 16 in its various embodiments is designed to be very open to provide a pressure wave in a mine detonation very little attack surface and thus to minimize possible damage to the mine cutter 16, which leads to desirable shorter downtime due to repair. In particular, the following features contribute to this open construction of the mine mill 16:

• the mine cutter 16 is opened laterally, since the drive and support device 26 is also spaced from the ground 30 during use of the mine cutter 16;
• the rotor 24 has an overall very open construction;
• the cross members 38 of the rotor 24 are formed with a round cross-sectional shape;
• the lateral support members 36 are constructed in an open design;
• the central rotation shaft 34 can be omitted optionally.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

10

mine clearance

12

vehicle chassis

14

Beam

16

mine thrower

17

hydraulic cylinders

18

vehicle body

20

shield

22

detonating mine

24

rotor

26

Drive and support device

30

ground

32

Bodenkufe

34

rotary shaft

36

lateral retaining elements

37

drive shaft

38

crossbeam

39

further holding elements

40

milling tools

42

axis of rotation

43

holding plates

d

Distance between ground and drive device

D

Distance between axis of rotation and cross members

r

rotor radius

R

milling radius

t

Cutting depth

δ

Angular distance of the cross member

Claims (9)

Milling machine (16), in particular for a mine clearance vehicle (10), with
a rotor (24) having lateral support members (36) at both its longitudinal ends and a plurality of cross members (38) secured between the lateral support members (36) substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor (24) and spaced from each other and from the axis of rotation;
a drive and support device (26) including a drive unit for rotationally driving the rotor (24) and supporting the rotor (24) at a desired distance above the ground (30); and
a plurality of milling tools (40) attached to the rotor (24),
characterized,
that the mine cutter (16) is designed as an open mine mill with one or more of the following features: a) the drive and support device (26) is also a predetermined distance (d) above the ground (30) is arranged when using the mine cutter (16); and b) the cross members (38) of the rotor (24) are formed with a substantially circular cross-section. Milling machine according to claim 1,
characterized,
in that the cross members (38) are tubular. Milling machine according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized,
in that the milling tools (40) are releasably attached to the rotor (24). Milling mill according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the lateral retaining elements (36) on which the cross members (38) are mounted are formed in an open construction. Milling mill according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that a distance (d) of the drive and support device (26) above the ground (30) when using the mine cutter (16) is at least 10 cm. Milling mill according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the cross beam (38) are arranged at an angular distance (δ) of about 30 ° to about 60 ° around the axis of rotation (42). Milling mill according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the rotor (24) does not contain a central rotating shaft (34). Milling mill according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the entire rotor (24) is detachably attached as a unit to the drive and support device (26). Milling mill according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
are that the cross beam (38) on only one side connected to the lateral holding elements (36), preferably welded.

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