EP2233878B1 - Motorised unit for demining and securing a risk itinerary - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a motorized unit for demining and securing a risky route, such as a track or road in a conflict zone, likely to include mines or other explosive devices.

For this purpose, the motorized unit must not only demine the affected route by means of mine countermeasures carried by the unit and allowing, during their passage, the detection and / or the triggering of the explosive charges of the mines and other equipment, but it must also ensure the securing of the runway then cleared with the help of appropriate marking equipment so as to allow, after the passage of the unit, the circulation of other vehicles or convoys in all security.

This is for example the case of the motorized unit described in the patent U.S. 4,747,515 , which consists of a vehicle such as a tank, in front of which there are means of struggle against mines in the form of a pressure roller which triggers them, and behind which is mounted marking equipment in the form of individual marker pads regularly and automatically deposited in the central longitudinal axis of the track taken by the vehicle. Thus, the vehicles followers of this leading vehicle guide their progression based on the aligned central studs.

However, this markup equipment imposes a large size especially because of the considerable number of pads to store to mark a track and, therefore, a markup distance limited to a few kilometers. Moreover, the guidance of the follower vehicles by means of the central studs spaced apart from each other is not carried out in a rigorous and precise manner, so that a follower vehicle can be found more or less off-axis compared to the alignment of the pads and shift laterally of the track while rolling on a mine.

On the other hand, if this type of mark-up markings is suitable when it comes to marking a substantially flat and in good condition, however, when the route crossed is uneven and has slopes, reliefs or stony areas , the deposited studs can overturn and no longer correctly indicate the route to follow. In addition, when the markup filed must be removed for any reason (end of mission, etc ...), marking pads must be recovered requiring logistics and additional cost.

In addition, by the patent CA-2 234 597 , which discloses a unit according to the preamble of independent claim 1, there is known a landmine detection vehicle including mine countermeasures and beaconing equipment of the secure route. The marking equipment comprises a marking product and two product distribution members, arranged respectively on either side of the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle for producing and leaving on the ground two lateral markings whose spacing corresponds to the less at the axle of the vehicle's longer lane.

Although improving the safety of the runways, the guidance of the following vehicles between the lateral markings is, however, uncertain because the marker vehicle is generally no longer visible and can not serve as a marker, and the driver's view (or) following vehicle can naturally attach to one of the two markings instead of remaining in between. In this way, the guidance of the follower vehicles is imprecise and can deviate from the secure path.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks and relates to a motorized demining unit for securing a route at risk, the design of which allows in particular a marking of the track over a great distance, optimal guidance of the following vehicles and reliable and safe marking of the route regardless of the track or route taken, without having to recover the markup equipment.

The problems mentioned above are solved by the features of the independent claim 1.

• un réservoir contenant un produit de marquage ;
• des organes de distribution dudit produit de marquage agencés respectivement de part et d'autre de l'axe longitudinal central de ladite unité pour réaliser des marquages latéraux dont l'écartement correspond au moins à l'essieu de plus grande voie de l'unité; et
• des moyens moteurs pour amener le produit de marquage dudit réservoir auxdits organes de distribution,

est remarquable, selon l'invention, en ce que, en plus desdits organes de distribution à marquages latéraux, ledit équipement de balisage comporte un organe de distribution agencé dans l'axe longitudinal central de ladite unité pour réaliser un marquage axial dudit itinéraire, et en ce que ledit produit de marquage est liquide.For this purpose, the motorized demining and securing unit for a risky route, of the type comprising means for fighting against mines and a marking equipment for the secured route, comprising:

• a reservoir containing a marking product;
• dispensing members of said marking product arranged respectively on either side of the central longitudinal axis of said unit for making side markings whose spacing corresponds at least to the axle of the largest track of the unit; and
• motor means for bringing the marking product of said reservoir to said dispensing members,

is remarkable, according to the invention, in that, in addition to said lateral marking distribution means, said marking equipment comprises a distribution member arranged in the central longitudinal axis of said unit to perform an axial marking of said route, and in that said marking product is liquid.

Thus, thanks to the invention, the marking equipment makes it possible to properly materialize the really secure area using three parallel traces, two lateral markings to materialize the demined area and an axial marking to guide the follower vehicles, and this without resorting to cumbersome, complicated solutions with relative reliability.

• d'un premier véhicule ouvreur qui porte ledit équipement de balisage à marquages latéraux et axial et dont les roues d'au moins un essieu constituent une partie d'un équipement à leurre massique desdits moyens de lutte pour sécuriser des bandes longitudinales de ladite piste par le passage desdites roues ; et
• d'au moins un second véhicule suiveur qui est guidé sur ledit marquage axial et qui emprunte lesdites bandes longitudinales sécurisées par ledit premier véhicule, ledit second véhicule étant de plus muni de plusieurs essieux à roues constituant le reste dudit équipement à leurre massique et ayant des voies différentes entre eux et avec ledit essieu à leurre massique du premier véhicule, de façon à sécuriser totalement la largeur de piste délimitée par lesdits marquages latéraux, par la juxtaposition de l'ensemble desdites bandes longitudinales réalisées.

According to the invention, the unit can consist of:

• a first opener vehicle carrying said tagging equipment with lateral and axial markings and whose wheels of at least one axle constitute part of a lure equipment of said control means for securing longitudinal strips of said track by the passage of said wheels; and
• at least one second follower vehicle which is guided on said axial marking and which borrows said longitudinal strips secured by said first vehicle, said second vehicle being further provided with a plurality of wheel axles constituting the remainder of said mass decoy equipment and having ways different from each other and with said mass decoy axle of the first vehicle, so as to completely secure the track width delimited by said lateral markings, by the juxtaposition of all of said longitudinal strips made.

Thus, the axial marking allows precise alignment of the second follower vehicle on the first, especially since they are often distant from each other by a hundred meters or more which optimizes the recoveries between the different longitudinal strips juxtaposed cleared by the action of the rolling members. And the lateral markings delimit the cleared area of the track for the following vehicles and convoys guided by the axial marking. In this way, a convoy arriving after the passage of the unit knows the secure area to follow remaining between the two side markings.

In particular, said first vehicle comprises a trailer on which are mounted said marking equipment and said corresponding part of said mass decoy equipment and said second vehicle also comprises a trailer on which is arranged the rest of said equipment lure mass.

Preferably, at least said lateral marker distribution members are adjustable transversely to the longitudinal axis of said unit. Thus, it is possible to adapt the spacing between the lateral distribution members to the width or track of the largest axle in the presence of the unit.

In particular, said dispensing members are spray guns.

In a preferred embodiment, the opening of said dispensing members is automatically controllable so that it can make discontinuous markings on the ground and determined lengths, spaced apart from each other. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce the quantity of product used and consequently to increase the length of the track that can be treated, without impairing the tracking of markings by the drivers of the follower vehicles or other convoys.

For example, said lateral markings and said axial marking are identical and discontinuous.

In this case, they can be shifted between them according to a predetermined, constant pitch.

In a variant, said lateral markings are different from the axial marking.

Advantageously, said liquid marking product is a paint. Thus, with a simple paint tank, it is possible to delimit a secure circulation corridor quickly, efficiently and over a great distance, regardless of the type of track encountered (particularly sandy, gravelly, lateritic, etc.).

In a preferred embodiment, said motor means are defined by a motor unit connected to a pump in communication with said marking product reservoir and with said dispensing members.

• La figure 1 représente schématiquement, en vue de dessus, un exemple de réalisation de l'unité motorisée de déminage et de sécurisation d'un itinéraire à risques conformément à l'invention.
• La figure 2 représente schématiquement l'équipement de balisage de l'itinéraire sécurisé, monté sur ladite unité motorisée.
• La figure 3 est un exemple de réalisation des marquages axial et latéraux laissés par l'unité motorisée sur la piste.

The figures of the appended drawing will make it clear how the invention can be realized. In these figures, identical references designate similar elements.

• The figure 1 schematically represents, in plan view, an embodiment of the motorized demining unit and securing a risk route according to the invention.
• The figure 2 schematically represents the marking equipment of the secure route, mounted on said motorized unit.
• The figure 3 is an example embodiment of the axial and lateral markings left by the motorized unit on the track.

The motorized unit 1 shown on the figure 1 is intended to ensure the demining and securing of a risky route, such as a runway 2, in which may be buried or concealed totally or partially unrepresented mines or explosive devices.

In the illustrated example, the motorized unit 1 comprises two vehicles 3, 4 to which are coupled respective trailers 5, 6, namely a first motorized opener vehicle 3 and its trailer 5 and a second motorized vehicle follower 4 and its trailer 6 consisting in fact of two trailers hitched to each other. The two vehicles preferably roll in convoy, the follower vehicle 4 being for example a hundred meters away from the opener vehicle 3. Of course, one could consider a motorized unit to a single vehicle with one or more trailers or an articulated vehicle without or with a trailer, but taking into account the zones or hostile regions used, it is advisable to have a manageable unit with several sets or replaceable elements, on which one can intervene quickly and easily, without interrupting the progression of the unit.

To demine and secure runway 2, the unit includes means 7 to fight against mines and explosive devices so as to detect and trigger them, and beaconing equipment 8 of the track then secured after the passage of the unit, to allow other vehicles to borrow it safely.

The means of control 7 will not be described in detail here but briefly they comprise different equipment to face the various threats.

Thus, at the front of the vehicle 3, on a transverse arm structure 9 are equipment with mechanical lure 10 (claws, antennas, ...) to trigger the sensors son and antennas of explosive devices, and equipment thermal lure 11 to trigger the infrared sensors of gear. And for the mine pressure sensors, a lure device 12 is provided and is defined, in our example, by the wheels of several specific axles, pressed on the ground by elastic means (not shown) to trigger the mines and thus secure the track, with other equipment.

Also, to cover an appropriate track width L which is at least as wide as the largest track (transverse distance between the wheels of the same axle) of a vehicle likely to take it, several two-wheel axles are provided. , for example two axles 14 and 15 on the trailer 5 of the first vehicle 3 and four axles 16, 17, 18 and 19 on the double trailer 6 of the second vehicle 4, so that the tracks or parallel longitudinal strips left by the tires are juxtapose and cover the entire desired width of track 2, as shown in figure 1 .

More particularly, the tires of the wheels R1 and R2 of the axles 14 and 15 of the trailer 5 leave traces or longitudinal strips B1 and B2 median, which are juxtaposed because the way of the axle 15 is lower than that of the axle 14, the strips B1 and B2 left by the tires on the same side overlapping somewhat.

Advantageously, the longitudinal strips B1, B2 left by the tires R1, R2 of the axles 14, 15 of the trailer of the first vehicle 3 are thus borrowed by the drive wheels RV2 of the second follower vehicle 4, in complete safety. It should be noted, moreover, that the drive wheels RV1 of the first opener vehicle 3 include specific "stealth" tires for driving on the track without triggering the mines, so that wheeled axles pressed to the ground (such as axles 14 and 15) are not needed in front of the RV1 wheels. Of course, if the wheels of the vehicle 3 were provided with standard tires, the mounting of wheels pressed, for example, on the transverse arms 9 of the equipment 10 would be envisaged, so that, during the advance of the vehicle, the drive wheels RV1 of the opener vehicle 3 roll on the longitudinal strips left by the pressed wheels.

As for the other axles provided on the twin trailer 6 of the follower vehicle, two axles 16 and 17 are external to the preceding ones and have tracks greater than that of the axle 14, so that their respective wheels R3 and R4 leave on each side of the track, traces or external longitudinal strips B3 and B4 which overlap somewhat, the longitudinal strips B4 of the axle 17 overlapping those B1 left by the trailer 5 of the opener vehicle 3. And two axles 18 and 19 are internal to the axle 15 and leaving by the respective wheels R5 and R6, traces or inner longitudinal strips B5 and B6 overlapping. The set of longitudinal strips B1 to B6 covering the entire width L of the track 2.

According to the invention, the marking equipment 8 of the secure route comprises a liquid marking product 20, such as a paint, and, as schematically shown in FIG. figure 2 it consists of a reservoir 21 containing the paint 20, distribution members 22 of the paint on the floor of the marking track 2 and motor means 23 for bringing the paint 20 of the reservoir 21 to the distribution members 22 .

We see, on the figure 1 , that the marking equipment 8 is provided on the trailer 5 of the opener vehicle 3, its reservoir 21 mounted on the structure 24 thereof, as well as the motor means 23 which are defined, in this example, by a group electric motor pump 25 hardcover by a coupling 26 to the paint pump 27 arranged at the outlet of the reservoir by a connection 28, as shown in FIG. figure 2 .

The dispensing members 22 are spray guns which are advantageously three in number arranged parallel to one another. A first spray gun 30, linked to the trailer 5, is arranged in the central longitudinal axis X of the unit 1, so as to leave on the ground an axial marking MA in the center of the track 2 as a result of the projection of paint 20.

This axial marking MA allows the driver of the second follower vehicle 4 of the unit 1 to align as well as possible on the first opener vehicle 3 (which may be more than one hundred meters ahead), to remain between the two side markings and to optimize the overlaps between the different demineralized longitudinal traces or strips B1 to B6, so as to have no untreated space between them.

The second and third spray guns 31 and 32 are, for their part, respectively arranged on either side of the first gun 30 being carried by transverse arms 33 integral with the trailer 5, to leave on the ground, at the following projections of paint 20, side markings ML which are located at least on the longitudinal strips B3 made by the wheels R3 of the axle of the largest track, in this case the axle 16. It is seen, on the figure 1 , that the lateral marks ML in the form of a broken line thus frame the outer edges of the tires of the wheels R3 of the axle 16, that is to say the longitudinal strips B3.

These lateral markings ML make it possible to delimit the secure zone of the runway 2 for the following vehicles and convoys, these having to remain in the cleared corridor, marked by the side markings ML. It is noted that the tires of the wheels R6 may somewhat fade the axial marking MA, but this is irrelevant because its function first is to guide the second vehicle 4 to get the juxtaposition of the bands B1 to B6, and then the other vehicles.

Functionally, a link 34 connects the outlet of the pump 27 to a fluidic bypass member 35 to which the guns 30, 31, 32 are connected by respective links 36, 37 and 38.

Advantageously, the side spray guns 31 and 32 are adjustable transversely in position, manually or motorized, and this is shown in FIG. figure 2 by a double arrow F. associated with each side gun. The transverse adjustment of the lateral markings makes it possible to position the side guns according to the different widths of demining desired and configurations of the demining trailers used.

Furthermore, the spray guns 30, 31 and 32 are controllable opening, automatically managed by a computer 40 of the opener vehicle 3 to which they are connected by links 39, so as to obtain discontinuous ground markings MA and ML, constant length and with intervals also constant, regardless of the speed of movement of the opener vehicle. Of course, a saving of paint is thus achieved.

Also, to further optimize the paint economy, alternating markup, such as that shown on the figure 3 , which makes it possible successively to deposit, according to the following cycle, a mark M1 of length D1 by the first central pistol 30, then after a distance D2, a mark M2 of length D1 by the second lateral pistol 31, then again, after a distance D2, a mark M1 by the first central pistol 30 and then, after a distance D2, a mark M3 of length D1 by the third lateral pistol 32, and so on, separating the successive marks by an agreed distance (D2 in this example) so as not to interfere with the monitoring of the secure area.

To improve the accuracy of tracking demining vehicles, the central markup is continuous cornering. The detection of the turn is then performed by the opener vehicle calculator using steering angle sensors positioned on its steering wheels.

As regards the paint used, this may be a water-based paint more particularly white, to which may be added a dye 41 such as that contained in an auxiliary tank 42 which can be placed in communication with the tank 21 by a liaison 43.

The addition of a dye to the paint makes it possible, by changing the color at each passage in time, for example daily or more distant, to distinguish the marks from one passage to the other, even if the motorized unit borrows the same route several days in a row.

In addition, the paint must be able to ensure marking on different types of soil such as bitumen, a compacted sandy track, a gravelly or gravel track, a compacted stone track, a compacted lateritic track, etc ... And its application on the soil must allow to see it until a few hours.

Also, in cold weather, the paint is preferably mixed with an anti-gel type ethylene glycol whose dosage depends on the temperature encountered, and which ensures a good viscosity of the paint.

Furthermore, several settings of the paint pump parameters (flow, ...) are preferably available to allow for the variation of the viscosity of the paint with the ambient temperature.

Alternatively, the spray guns may be equipped with a not shown nozzle unclogging system. The unclogging of each nozzle is controlled by the computer of the motor vehicle and can be triggered after a certain duration, a distance traveled or when the Paint flow rate measured at the pump is below a specified value.

For information, the paint pump is set so that the amount of paint deposited when opening the guns is less than 100g / m ² . Also, with a tank of 300 liters and with the ratios between the different marking lengths above D1 and D2 of about 1 to 10, it is possible to mark a route of the order of 150 kilometers.

Claims (10)

1. A motor-driven unit for mine clearing from and securing a hazardous route, of the type comprising anti-mine means (7) and an equipment (8) for beaconing the secured route comprising :

   - a tank (21) containing a marking product ;

   - members (22) for dispensing the marking product, respectively arranged on both sides of the central longitudinal axis (X) of said unit so as to implement lateral markings (ML), the spacing of which corresponds at least to the largest path axle of the unit ; and

   - motive means (23) for bringing the marking product from said tank to said dispensing members,
   characterized :

   - in that it comprises :

   • a first leading vehicle (3) carrying said beaconing equipment (8) with lateral markings (ML) and the wheels (R1, R2) of which in at least one axle (14, 15) make up a part of a mass decoy equipment (12) of said anti-mine means (7) for securing longitudinal lanes (B1, B2) of said track (2) through the passage of said wheels ; and

   • at least one second follower vehicle (4) being guided on said secured longitudinal lanes (B1, B2) by said first vehicle, said second vehicle being further provided with several axles (16, 17, 18, 19) with wheels making up the remainder of said mass decoy equipment (12), said axles having different paths therebetween and with said mass decoy axle of the first vehicle, so as to securing further longitudinal lanes (B3, B4, B5, B6),

   - in that, in addition to said side marking dispensing members, said beaconing equipment comprises a dispensing member arranged in the central longitudinal axis (X) of said unit for implementing an axial marking (MA) of said route, on which is guided the follower vehicle in order to completely secure the width (L) of the track delimited by said lateral markings (ML), by juxtaposition of all said achieved longitudinal lanes (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6), and

   - in that said marking product is liquid.
2. The unit according to claim 1,
   characterized in that at least said dispensing members (22) with lateral markings (ML) are transversally settable with respect to the longitudinal axis of said unit.
3. The unit according to any of claims 1 to 2,
   characterized in that said dispensing members (22) are spraying guns (30, 31, 32).
4. The unit according to any of claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that the opening of said dispensing members (22) is automatically controllable so as to be able to implement discontinuous markings on the ground and with determined lengths being spaced apart from each other.
5. The unit according to any of claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that said lateral markings (ML) and said axial marking (MA) are identical and discontinuous.
6. The unit according to the previous claim 5,
   characterized in that said lateral and axial identical and discontinuous markings (ML, MA) are offset therebetween according to a constant predetermined pitch.
7. The unit according to any of preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said lateral markings (ML) are different from the axial marking (MA).
8. The unit according to any of preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said liquid marking product is a paint.
9. The unit according to any of preceding claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said motive means are defined by a motive unit connected to a pump in communication with said tank of marking product and with said dispensing members.
10. The unit of any of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that said first vehicle (3) comprises a trailer (5) on which said beaconing equipment (8) and said corresponding part of said mass decoy equipment (12) are mounted and in that said second vehicle (4) further comprises a trailer (6) on which the remainder of said mass decoy equipment (12) is arranged.

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