Ordnance – Mine-destroying devices
Patent
1998-04-13
1999-11-09
Jordan, Charles T.
Ordnance
Mine-destroying devices
102402, B64D 104, B63G 900
Patent
active
059792892
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus for and a method of detonating mines.
After wars it is often difficult to locate precisely active mines, particularly those mines distributed indiscriminately by retreating armies. Some four hundred million mines have been sold throughout the world with various estimates to the exact numbers in place (The United Nations estimate 100 million). Most mine detection and destruction equipment has been developed for the military. This equipment is designed mainly to allow armies to breach mine files quickly. To this end, the military accepts that all mines will not be destroyed by the equipment and a certain number of casualties may result.
Furthermore the methods used to detect and destroy mines cause considerable damage to the local environment. While this damage may be acceptable to the military it is not acceptable to civilian administrations. The use of military equipment to clear mines also adds considerably to the costs.
At present the only way to ensure a high level of clear up rate is for people to prod the ground carefully with sticks until they locate a mine which can then be defused. This procedure to say the least is hazardous and slow. In Afghanistan it is estimated that this clearance method will take at least another hundred years to clear existing mines. Add to this the need to identify the boundaries of the relevant minefields and the time element is further increased.
For Non-Government-Organizations (NGO's) to use military equipment is often outside their budget and as previously stated the equipment does not give a high enough success rate.
GB 2 132 567A describes vibration apparatus for mine disposal. The vibration apparatus is mounted by an arm to a powering vehicle, the arm being in two portions joined by frangible means which separate in the event of an explosion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the broadest aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for detonating a mine comprising a ground-engaging foot, power means for reciprocating said foot, control means for controlling the application of power to the foot and thus the manner of reciprocation of the foot and means for absorbing shock energy created upon detonation of an exploding mine.
The foot may be a solid component such as a plate typically of metal or reinforced plastics. Alternatively, the foot may be in the form of a grid or mesh and may be provided with ground-penetrating spikes or prods.
The means for causing the foot to reciprocate is conveniently a piston and ram assembly, the foot being attached to the end of the ram. The foot may be fixed to the ram or pivotally mounted to it. The foot may be removably secured to the ram, for example by bolts or pins, to enable a foot to be replaced more readily in the event of foot damage. The piston and ram assembly may be pneumatically or hydraulically operable.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention a plurality of piston and ram assemblies are mounted in side-by-side relationship upon a common support or frame. The assemblies are conveniently in locked, abutting relationship between opposed ends of the frame. Movement of the feet attached to the rams is a synchronous being determined from a control unit.
The apparatus is typically vehicle mounted, for example upon a remotely controlled tracked vehicle. Suitable armor may be placed on the vehicle in and around the apparatus to protect the vehicle during demining.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of detonating a mine comprising supplying power to reciprocate a ground-engaging foot in such a manner that each time the foot strikes the ground it does so with sufficient force to activate a mine, controlling the application of power to the foot and thus the manner of reciprocation of the foot, and absorbing shock energy created by an exploding mine to minimise damage to the ground-engaging foot and other parts of the detonation equipment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The inventio
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patent: 1841802 (1932-01-01), Gettelman
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patent: 3771413 (1973-11-01), Sieg et al.
patent: 4667564 (1987-05-01), Schreckenberg
patent: 5183119 (1993-02-01), Wattenburg
patent: 5313868 (1994-05-01), Wolf
patent: 5706899 (1998-01-01), Klebanov
J R French Limited
Jordan Charles T.
Wesson Theresa M.
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