Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
  • F41H11/00—Defence installations; Defence devices
  • F41H11/12—Means for clearing land minefields; Systems specially adapted for detection of landmines
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
  • F41H11/00—Defence installations; Defence devices
  • F41H11/12—Means for clearing land minefields; Systems specially adapted for detection of landmines
  • F41H11/16—Self-propelled mine-clearing vehicles; Mine-clearing devices attachable to vehicles

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for clearing land mines, espe- cially those buried a little way below the surface of the ground, comprising a mine- clearing unit designed to be moved along and in contact with the ground surface causing mines encountered to detonate.
• Land mines buried in the ground are of various types but can be roughly divided into antipersonnel mines and antivehicle or antitank mines.
• Two main methods are currently used for clearing land mines, the first of which consists of detecting the location of the mines either manually or using more or less sophisticated detecting devices, and the second consists of subjecting the mines to con- siderable violence such as, with the aid of a device similar to a rotary cultivator.
• Manual detection by "poking” or "picking” with the aid of rods, knives and the like and then exploding the mines on site or defusing them, is extremely time consuming and does not offer a suitable solution if the intention is to clear the many millions of mines laid around the world.
• "Poking” can be used to clear small areas and is inexpensive if the manpower is cheap but it entails considerable risk of personal injury and even loss of life if those performing the work have not been adequately trained.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a device and an associated method for clearing land mines, especially those buried a distance below the surface of the ground, which fulfil the demands listed above.
• the object has been achieved with a mine-clearing device comprising a mine-clearing unit designed to be moved along and in contact with the ground surface causing mines encountered to detonate.
• the mine-clearing unit comprises a tool intended to stand in contact with the ground surface, on which tool at least one vibration device is fitted.
• the mine-clearing unit is supported by a boom arrangement protruding from the front of a carriage provided with at least two wheels arranged along an axle direction extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the boom arrangement.
• the boom arrangement may comprise of or be included in the frame of the carriage supporting the wheels.
• the carriage is provided with steering handles at the rear for manually moving and steering the carriage.
• the wheels are placed between the mine-clearing unit and the handles so that the carriage can be tilted forwards towards the mine-clearing unit to increase the load on the mine-clearing unit, or backwards to reduce said load. It is possible per se to use only one handle to manipulate the carriage but two handles are preferable.
• the carriage is also possible for the carriage to be provided with only one wheel, like a one-wheeled wheelbarrow, or with more than two wheels which are then located beside each other and with the same rolling direction so that pulling on the handles enables the load on the mine-clearing unit to be increased or reduced, or the unit to be lifted solely for the purpose of transportation.
• the mine-clearing unit is preferably rigidly arranged at the front end of a boom arrangement that itself is pivotable about its longitudinal axis in relation to the carriage.
• the handles are also rigidly connected to the rear end of the boom arrangement, enabling the boom arrangement to be pivoted about its longitudinal axis by means of the handles so that the mine-clearing unit can be inclined de- pending on the inclination of the ground.
• the boom arrangement comprises a boom supporting a tool arm at its front end protruding from the carriage, the mine- clearing unit being arranged on the front end of said tool arm.
• the tool arm is pivotable upwards from a horizontal starting position in a bearing in relation to the boom and its pivoting movement is arranged to be suppressed by a damping de- vice provided between the boom and the tool arm.
• the vibration device of the mine-clearing unit may consist, for instance, of a vibrator operated by compressed air, as described in Swedish patent application SE 7314833-0, showing a piston that runs in a first pneumatic cylinder rigidly arranged on the bottom plate.
• the vibrator operated by compressed air is supplied with compressed air through a first tube, preferably from a compressor, whereupon the to and fro movement of the piston generates vibrations that are transmitted via the tool to the ground.
• the compressor may be driven by a combustion engine, both of which may be located a safe distance from the mine-clearing unit or, for instance, on a carriage following the mine-clearing unit or on the carriage on which the mine-clearing unit is mounted.
• the mine- clearing unit with compressed air from a compressed-air container that may be arranged on a carriage or carried by the operator.
• the piston in the first pneumatic cylinder is arranged to be provided with extra weights to enable an increase in the quantity of compressed air per time unit to the cylinder and the energy that is supplied to the tool.
• the flow of compressed air is regulated by means of a control device arranged on one of the handles.
• the carriage may also be provided with a downwardly movable counter- support which, when activated, is brought into contact with the ground and can restrict the backward tilting of the carriage as well as increasing the load on the tool of the mine-clearing unit.
• the counter-support is preferably provided with an extendible support foot that is influenced by a second pneumatic cylinder supplied with compressed air via a second tube. The support foot is extended to contact the ground at the same time as the mine-clearing unit is placed under pressure and starts operating. The pressure exerted on the ground by the support foot can be adjusted with the aid of a control device for the compressed air supply, also arranged on one of the handles.
• the counter-support is preferably pivotably connected to the boom, possibly via a separate bracket, so that it can swing backwards from a stop position in which its support foot is located immediately behind the vertical through its pivot point.
• the support foot of the counter-support will trail along the ground.
• the counter-support stops the movement of the carriage by swinging forward towards a stop member that absorbs the movement of the carriage.
• a protective shield is placed between the mine-clearing unit and the handles for the purpose of protecting the operator from mine splinters and gravel and stones thrown up when a mine explodes.
• Figure 1 shows a mine-clearing arrangement on wheels according to the in- vention, seen from the side, comprising a mine-clearing unit arranged forwards in the direction of travel.
• Figure 2 shows the mine-clearing arrangement according to Figure 1 , seen from above.
• the mine-clearing unit shown in Figures 1 and 2 consists of a carriage 1 comprising a substantially rectangular frame 1.1 carried by two wheels 1.2 arranged with a common axle direction.
• the frame 1.1 supports a central tube or bar 1.3 extending perpendicularly to the axle direction of the wheels and carrying a cylindrical boom 2 pivotable about its longitudinal axis.
• the boom 2 runs inside the central bar 1.3 and protrudes from each end of the central bar 1.3.
• the rear end of the boom 2 via a rear bracket 2.1 , terminates in two steering arms 3 by means of which the carriage 1 can be manually pushed forwards or backwards and steered, and by means of which the boom 2 can be pivoted about its longitu- dinal axis inside the central bar 1.3.
• the front end of the boom 2 carries a for- wardly protruding support arm 2.2 on which a similarly forwardly protruding tool arm is mounted. The latter can be swung upwards in a bearing 2.3.
• the tool arm 4 is intended to be swung upwards when a mine is triggered, and dampen the thrust effect occurring in the handles of the carriage.
• the swinging movement of the tool arm 4 is suppressed by a spring 2.4 built into a forward vertical bracket 2.5, and also by a hydraulic shock absorber 2.6 fitted between the tool arm 4 and the bracket 2.4.
• the outer end of the tool arm 4 is provided with an attachment 4.1 for a mine-clearing unit 5 comprising a ground-working tool 5.1 on which a vibrator 5.2 is placed.
• the vibrator 5.2 is operated by compressed air and is of a design described in Swedish patent application SE 7314833-0 mentioned above.
• the vibrator 5.2 is supplied with compressed air via a tube 5.4, shown fragmentarily in Figures 1 and 2.
• the mine-clearing unit 5 is supported by vibration suppressing rubber cushions 5.3 on the attachment 4.1.
• the tool 5.1 shown in Figure 1 is pro- vided with a number of vertical plates arranged radially on a plate which can in turn be assembled or dismantled on a corresponding plate on the lower side of the vibrator 5.2.
• the vertical plates may be shaped with teeth at their lower ends, to provide good contact with a mine encountered.
• the rear bracket 2.1 at the rear of the boom 2 carries a counter-support 6 comprising a swing arm 6.1 in which a compressed air cylinder is arranged, carrying a support foot 6.2 that protrudes downwardly to contact the ground.
• the compressed air cylinder not shown in the drawings, is supplied with compressed air via a hose 6.3, shown fragmentarily in Figures 1 and 2.
• the swing arm 6.1 is arranged to swing out backwards when the carriage 1 is pushed forwards and to swing forwards against a stop member should be carriage 1 be thrown backwards upon detonation of a mine.
• the support foot 6.2 of the counter- support 6 can be caused to exert varying pressure on the ground, thereby increasing or decreasing the load on the tool 5.1 of the mine-clearing unit 5.
• the support foot 6.2 is kept retracted inside the swing arm 6.1 by means of springs 6.4.
• the frame 1.1 of the carriage 1 supports a protective shield 1.4 intended to protect the operator from splinters and debris thrown up upon detonation of a mine.
• the protective shield 1.4 may be made of sheet steel, or it may be made of lighter material having the same strength, such as sheets of kevlar.
• An opening 1.5 in the protective shield 1.4 enables the operator to observe the mine-clearing unit 5 in operation and steer it to the desired positions.
• the opening 1.5 is covered by one or more sheets of reinforced glass or plastic.
• the protective shield 1.4 can be set at various angles of inclination in relation to the central bar 1.3 and the boom 2 in order to permit adjustment of the position of the sighting opening 1.5 in relation to the operator.
• the frame 1.1 can be turned in relation to the central bar 1.3 in a joint at the front edge of the frame 1.1 and is adjustable in various positions by means of an adjusting screw 1.6 arranged in a bracket 1.7 at the rear edge of the frame 1.1.
• the protective shield 1.4 can also be provided with a rubber mat 1.8 suspended from it.
• the boom 2 may in this case be provided at its front end with an additional support wheel, e.g. a pivot wheel.
• the carriage 1 can then only be tilted backwards until the counter-support stops the tilting movement.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Handcart (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20415211

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Citations (4)

• 1999
  • 1999-04-15 SE SE9901329A patent/SE514458C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2000
  • 2000-04-03 AU AU44431/00A patent/AU4443100A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-04-03 WO PCT/SE2000/000629 patent/WO2000063634A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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