US2705378A

US2705378A - Self-digging military tank

Info

Publication number: US2705378A
Application number: US214310A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert H Wendt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-03-07
Filing date: 1951-03-07
Publication date: 1955-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 1972-04-05

Description

April 5, 1955 R. H. WENDT 2,705,378

l SELF-DIGGING MILITARY TANK ffii? n ,11m u 111111K IIIIHI IN VEN TOR.

April 5, 1955 R. H. wENDT SELF-DIGGING MILITARY TANK Filed March 7, 1951 2 SheetsSheet 2 Mmm 255 INVENToR.

United States Patent O SELF-DIGGING MILITARY TANK Robert H. Wendt, Evanston, Ill.

Application March 7, 1951, Serial No. 214,310

6 Claims. (Cl. 37-80) The present invention relates to self-digging tanks, and is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved construction of military tank which is adapted to protect itself when located on suitable terrain by digging a hole in which the tank is temporarily located, and depressed below the surface of the terrain.

One of the most elective ways of protecting any fort or lighting apparatus, or defense installation is to dig into the earth.

One of the objects of the present invention is to utilize the present equipment of a military tank for digging a hole in which the tank may be temporarily located, so that as much as half of the lower part of the tank may be protected against tire.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tank construction by means of which the tank can be turned about within its own perimeter without the laborious turning action of the treads, when used in driving the treads in opposite directions to eifect a turning, and by means of which the tank may be turned so quickly that it may be unnecessary to provide a turret.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved tank construction, which is adapted not only to dig a hole large enough to sink the tank into the earth a substantial amount for its protection, but which is also adapted to make a suitable cavity in the earth within which the tank itself may turn, thereby giving it greater rotary mobility while protected at least in its lower part against counteriire.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved digger mechanism for military tanks, by means of which the earth beneath the tank may be engaged and thrown outwardly about the perimeter of the tank to form an embankment which provides additional protection over that already provided by sinking the tank into a hole.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from `the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the two sheets of drawings accompanying the specification,

Fig. l is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a military tank embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational View;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View showing the shape of the hole which can be dug into the earth by the use of the present apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing the tank in the course of digging by means of its caterpillar treads, while being supported mainly by means of a combined turntable and rotary digging member between the treads;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the digging apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through the hydraulic plunger and turntable, which also serves as a support for the tank and is a digging mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational detail view of the tread shoes, diggers and Scrapers;

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of a digger tooth member; and

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of a digger scraping member.

Referring to Figure l, 10 indicates in its entirety a military tank which is provided with a pair of

crawler type treads

11 and 12, supported on each side of the tank 2,705,378 Patented Apr. 5, 1955 ice body 13, by means of a multiplicity of tread supporting wheels 14-24.

Each of the

crawler type treads

11, 12 comprises a multiplicity of pivotally mounted and pivotally joined sections 25, which may be of any desired construction except that the tread members are provided with a multiplicity of backwardly extending digger and

scraper members

25a and 25b, respectively.

These digger and scraper members project downward and backwardly into the terrain, and may also be of assistance in providing a better grip for forward movement, but their main purpose is for the purpose of digging into and scraping up earth and throwing it out behind the treads during the digging operation.

In order to accomplish such a digging action it is only necessary to provide other means of support for the tank so that the weight may be lifted from the endless type treags, while the teeth are still permitted to dig into the eart The drive for the tank may comprise Diesel or internal combustion engines with suitable gear shifts and clutches, whereby either one of the treads may be driven in either direction or in opposite directions simultaneously, or in reverse simultaneously. However, I prefer to utilize the motion of the tread for digging which it takes when the tank is moving forward, because modern tanks may be made to move at 40 miles per hour or more, at which speed the tread would be adapted to dig and throw the earth backward most effectively.

Alternate digger and

scraper members

25a, 25b may be used and pivoted on the same pintles that join the tread members. When not used the diggers and scrapers lie recessed in the tread members, but the diggers and Scrapers pivot down by gravity to digging position when tread is lifted. (See Fig. 7.)

The tank body is provided with a centrally located hydraulic cylinder 27 and piston or plunger 28, for rotatably and reciprocably supporting a combined rotary digger and turntable 36. The rotary digger and turntable 36 may be of sufficient diameter to utilize practically all the space between the

treads

11 and 12, and it has a circular base 29, which is provided with a multiplicity of digging teeth 30 and backwardly turned centrifugal blades 31.

The turntable base 29 has the multiple blades 31 turned backwardly toward their outer ends with respect to the direction of rotation, indicated by the arrow 32, so that the earth may slide olf the blades more readily due to centrifugal action, to be thrown forwardly and backwardly between the

treads

11 and 12.

The multiple scraping teeth 30 may be located in series radially and have their edges 33 extending downwardly -and forwardly in the direction of rotation, so that they will dig into the earth and raise and loosen it.

Suitable

fixed guards

34, 35 may be carried by the bottom of the tank body 13 for keeping the earth which is impelled by the rotary digger 36 from being thrown into the tread mechanism, and confining the motion of the earth to forward and backward directions.

The turntable 36 is supported upon the cylinder 27, which may be provided with longitudinally extending gear teeth 37, for engagement with the driving pinion 38, so that the turntable can be rotated as well as reciprocated.

Various other equivalent mechanisms will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art for permitting the combined rotary and reciprocating motions either separately or simultaneously.

The plunger 28 may have a supporting base 39 at its upper end secured to the tank body and provided with a piston 41 for use in raising the turntable by means of inlet 43, which applies hydraulic uid above piston 41 and lifts cylinder 27.

The engine of the tank drives a suitable pump for producing pressure in a hydraulic tluid, such as an oil pump, which pumps the oil under pressure into a reservoir. The oil under pressure is controlled by a two-way valve, which either shuts olf the oil circulation between upper and lower cylinder spaces, or directs the oil into the upper space at 43 to lift the turntable, or into the lower cylinder space at 42 to depress the turntable.

Thus the turntable or digger 36 may be raised or lowered at will; and the pinion 38 may also be provided with a suitable transmission and clutches controlling its drive, so that the turntable 36 may be rotated in either direction at low speed, or in the digging direction at a fairly high speed.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

Ordinarily the combined turntable and digger 36 is retracted up between the treads to the uppermost position in Fig. 2.

When the tank has arrived upon suitable terrain, which includes almost any kind of soil except that having rocks too large to be dislodged by the present digging mechanism, the turntable may be projected downward to the position of Fig. 4 until it engages the earth and lifts the major portion of the weight of the tank off the treads, but 1'the digger blades or teeth 26 are still engaging the eart Then the treads may be driven as if for forward motion, with the treads passing backwardly under the tank at a fairly high speed, and the teeth may be thus caused to dig into the earth and carry it backward and upward, throwing it back of the tank.

This digging action may be continued while the turntableplunger is retracted into the tank, and the turntable permits the tank to sink farther and farther downward as the teeth of the treads dig away the earth beneath them.

If it is desired to dig in with the greatest of expedition the treads will be kept pointing constantly in the same direction, and after the treads have accomplished a suitable amount of digging the turntable will be retracted until the weight is borne by the treads, and the turntable will be rotated in the direction of the arrow of Figure 5, so that its teeth may dig into the earth beneath the turntable and remove that earth to a predetermined depth.

During this digging action of-the turntable the earth is loosened by the teeth and brought up into engagement with the blades 31, which throw the earth out in a forward and backward direction, but at the same time, as the turntable only covers a limited area, it is desirable to cause the tank to progress forward and backward alternately on its treads so that the turntable may dig away all of the earth which is located between the treads forkover an area corresponding to the full length of the tan In this way by alternately operating the turntable to dig and the treads to do their digging, a depression may be made in which the tank may be sunk and the tank may be further fortified by the earthworks which are thrown up behind it.

Another mode of operation is to rotate the turntable slowly relative to the tank body while the turntable is supporting the weight of the tank and while the treads are moving backward underneath the tank at high speed.

In this case the treads will dig over an area which is annular in shape and which is adapted to imbed all portions of the tank, except the turntable area, in a circular depression. The rotation of the tank causes the treads to dig and throw the earth backward in all directions, and the earth will be thrown up behind the tank about the periphery of the depression to form a mound of earth, which will likewise afford some protection to the tank.

After the tank has been suitably depressed in a circular depression by operating the treads as diggers while the tank is rotated by means of the turntable, the turntable may then be retracted sufficiently so that the weight may be borne by the treads, and the turntable may be rotated at a high speed to dig up and throw out the earth beneath the turntable.

While the treads then support the weight of the tank the turntable may be fed downward to dig away the earth under the turntable to the same depth as has been previously accomplished by the treads.

During the turntable digging the treads may also be used to cause the tank to progress forward and backward, thus more etfectively cleaning out the dirt from the area between the treads.

The present mechanism may be most conveniently used to imbed the tank down to a point where the treads are covered with armor, and thus the entrenchment of the tank is adapted to protect the most vulnerable part of the tank, leaving only the upper armored part and turret, if any, exposed.

The depression in which the tank is entrenched, when circular as described, may also be used in combination with one or more suitable escape hatches 45, located for- 85 wardly and rearwardly of the tank body between the treads at a low level.

Tankmen escaping through these low hatches may crawl around the tank in the circular depression, until this depression is made big enough by moving the tank back and forth during a digging operation, and they may escape from the side of the depression which is most likely to be free of the enemy.

Another useful feature of the present construction is that by means of the turntable the tank may be reversed in position or pointed in any direction quickly by moving the turntable down, supporting the weight and turning the tank on the turntable.

Larger guns than those usually supported upon turrets may be mounted on the tank body, as indicated at 46, and these guns may be directed in any direction by rotating the tank upon its turntable. Thus the turret may be eliminated and the construction of the tank simplified while its maneuverability is increased by using the turntable to turn the tank instead of driving one tread forward while the other one goes backward to elect the turning.

It will thus be observed that I h ave` invented an improved military tank construction by'means'of which the tank may entrench itself in a suitable terrain, so that all of its lower portions are protected by being dug in.

The tank can walk out of such a depression in a similar manner to which it now climbs hills and other declivities, and the tank may be used also for digging entrenchments to be used by the personnel after the tank has moved out of the depression to a new position. The circular depression dug by the tank may also be used by personnel who are following and accompanying the tank for the protection of personnel as well as military equipment.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United tates, is:

l. In a self-digging tank, the combination of a tank body provided with a pair of tank endless treads, comprising a plurality of articulated members, said treads being mounted upon the opposite sides of said tank body upon a plurality of rotatable supporting wheels carried by said body, and each of said treads being provided with one or more digger teeth extending outwardly and backwardly for scraping the earth beneath the tread and carrying it backward, and means carried by said body for supporting the weight of said tank while the treads are operating in contact with the lsoil at a substantially high speed to engage and carry and throw the earth backwardly and upwardly from a position below the tank.

2. In a self-digging tank, the combination of a tank body provided with a pair of tank endless treads, comprising a plurality of articulated members, said treads being mounted upon the opposite sides of said tank body upon a plurality of rotatable supporting wheels carried by said body, and each of said treads being provided with one or more digger teeth extending outwardly and backwardly for scraping the earth beneath the tread and carrying it backward, and means carried by said body for supporting the weight of said tank while the treads are operating in contact with the soil at a substantially high speed to engage and carry and throw the earth backwardly and upwardly from a position below the tank, said means comprising a supporting base provided with a column extending centrally of said tank into the body thereof, and having force multiplying means for lifting the tank by means of said base and column.

3. In a self-digging tank, the combination of a tank body provided with a pair of tank endless treads, comprising a plurality of articulated members, said treads being mounted upon the opposite sides of said tank body upon a plurality of rotatable supporting wheels carried by said body, and each of said treads being provided with one or more digger teeth extending outwardly and backwardly for scraping the earth beneath the tread and carrying it backward, and means carried by said body for supporting the weight of said tank while the treads are operatingin contact with the soil at a substantially high speed to engage and carry and throw the earth backwardly and upwardly from a position below the tank, said means comprising a supporting base provided with a column extending centrally of said tank into the body thereof, and having force multiplying means for lifting the tank by means of said base and column, said column being provided with a hydraulic cylinder and plunger for its force multiplying lifting means.

4. In a self-digging tank, the combination of a tank body provided with a pair of tank endless treads, coinprising a plurality of articulated members, said treads being mounted upon the opposite sides of said tank body upon a plurality of rotatable supporting wheels carried by said body, and each of said treads being provided with one or more digger teeth extending outwardly and backwardly for scraping the earth beneath the tread and carrying it backward, and means carried by said body for supporting the weight of said tank while the treads are operating in contact with the soil at a substantially high speed to engage and carry and throw the earth backwardly and upwardly from a position below the tank, said means comprising a supporting base provided with a column extending centrally of said tank into the body thereof, and having force multiplying means for lifting the tank by means of said base 'and column, said base and column comprising a"-rotata`bl'e turntable upon which the entire tank may be rotated to reverse its position or to direct it more quickly in a different direction.

5. In a self-digging tank, the combination of a tank body provided with a pair of tank endless treads, comprising a plurality of articulated members, said treads being mounted upon the opposite sides of said tank body upon a plurality of rotatable supporting wheels carried by said body, and each of said treads being provided with one or more digger teeth extending outwardly and backwardly for scraping the earth beneath the tread and carrying it backward, and means carried by said body for supporting the weight of said tank while the treads are operating in contact with the soil at a substantially high speed to engage and carry and throw the earth backwardly and upwardly from a position below the tank, said means comprising a supporting base provided with a column extending centrally of said tank into the body thereof, and having force multiplying means for lifting the tank by means of said base and column, said base and column comprising a rotatable turntable upon which the tank may be rotated while its treads are digging to cause the treads to dig over a full circular area for entrenching the tank while extending in any direction.

6. In a self-digging tank, the combination of a tank body provided with a pair of tank endless treads, coinprising a plurality of articulated members, said treads being mounted upon the opposite sides of said tank body upon a plurality of rotatable supporting wheels carried by said body, and each of said treads being provided with one or more digger teeth extending outwardly and backwardly for scraping the earth beneath the tread and carrying it backward, and means carried by said body for supporting the weight of said tank while the treads are operating in contact with the soil at a substantially high speed to engage and carry and throw the earth backwardly and upwardly from a position below the tank, said means comprising a supporting base provided with a column extending centrally of said tank into the body thereof, and

having force multiplying means for lifting the tank by means of said base and column, said base and column comprising a rotatable turntable upon which the tank `may be rotated while its treads are digging to causethe treads to dig over a full circular area for entrenching the tank while extending in any direction, and said vturntable being provided with digger teeth and outwardly extending impeller vanes for digging the earth beneath the turntable and throwing it radially from beneath the turntable.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,166,820 Doherty Jan. 4, 1916 1,179,750 ORourke Apr. 18, 1916 1,365,748 Thorn Jan. 18, 1921 1,396,625 Corrigan Nov. 8, 1921 1,406,349 Corrigan Feb. 14, 1922 1,866,037 Heim et al. July 5, 1932 2,069,797 Zublin Feb. 9, 1937 2,501,083 Owen Mar. 21, 1950