Apparatus for launching inflatable fascines

Details Apparatus for launching inflatable fascines Apparatus for launching inflatable fascines

1994-04-25

1995-04-18

Britts, Ramon S.

Bridges

Transportable

Having launching means

404 35, 404 83, E01D 1512, E01D 1520

Patent

active

054066620

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus used for the launching of fascines and in particular to apparatus used for the launching of inflatable fascines.
Fascines are structures which are commonly used to enable vehicles and personnel to cross ditches and conventionally comprise bundles of elongate members. Recently fascines comprising bundles of plastic pipes have been employed an example of which is described in EP patent 0149314. A fascine which may be stored more compactly and which comprises a core of inflatable members surrounded by a necklace of rigid plastic pipes is described in UK patent 2242468. Fascines of the non inflatable kind are frequently used in military applications to enable tanks and other vehicles to cross ditches and when such an operation is to be performed under enemy fire there is a requirement for the deployment to be effected without exposing personnel. To this end tanks equipped with apparatus for the automatic launching of the fascines have been proposed. Due to the size of fascines required for military applications tank borne apparatus for the launching of the non inflatable type of fascine described in EP patent 0149314 is only able to carry and deploy a small number of fascines. UK patent 2242468 discloses apparatus which can carry and deploy more fascines because they have inflatable core members. Even so relatively frequent return to a safe area to re-stock with fresh fascines will be necessary which will severely inhibit the ability of a fascine deploying tank to keep up with the front line of an armoured advance.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide a fascine launching apparatus which overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art fascine launching apparatus. It is a further object of the invention to provide a fascine launching apparatus which will have a relatively low profile when used and which displays reduced variability between successive launching operations.
Thus according to the invention there is provided apparatus for deploying inflatable fascines comprising a movable conveyor defining a plurality of fascine support locations a conveyor support structure, drive means adapted to move the conveyor with respect to the support structure in order to sequentially bring the fascine support locations to a fascine launching region, inflation actuation means for initiating fascine inflation at the fascine launching region and fascine release actuation means for causing release of a fascine from the apparatus.
Fascine launching equipment constructed according to the invention will be capable of sequentially delivering uninflated fascines having a low profile to a fascine launching region, inflating the fascines and then launching them. As each inflated fascine will be launched from a single fascine launching region the variability of sequential fascine launches will be reduced and the directional control of the launching process will be made more predictable. Detrimental raising of the centre of gravity Of a vehicle equipped with the apparatus will be kept to a minimum thus improving stability and cross-country mobility. The delivery of the fascines to the fascine launching region in a low profile unitflared state will reduce the chance of enemy detection. Furthermore providing apparatus which moves fascines to be deployed to a fascine launching region by means of a conveyor enables the apparatus to handle more fascines than have hitherto been handleable by prior art fascine launching apparatus and rapidly launch consecutive fascines where there is a requirement to place more than one fascine in a given ditch.
As the fascines to be launched by the conveyor are inflatable and are likely to need support prior to and possibly during inflation the conveyor conveniently comprises a continuous loop of articulated rigid members which constitute the fascine support locations.
In order to facilitate automatic operation of the apparatus and to reduce the possibility of foreign objects jamming the

REFERENCES:
patent: 4566821 (1986-01-01), Knight et al.
patent: 5215401 (1993-06-01), Knight

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