Apparatus for and method of detonating mines
AssigneeJ R French Limited
InventorJohn Robert French
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for and method of detonating unexploded mines is disclosed. A ground-engaging foot is caused to reciprocate by power means with sufficient force to activate an unexploded mine. Control means is used to control the manner of reciprocation of the foot by controlling the power applied to the foot. A shock absorption arrangement absorbs shock energy created upon detonation of an unexploding mine. Preferably the apparatus is vehicle mounted for example upon a remotely controlled tracked vehicle.
Claims25
An apparatus for detonating a mine comprising a ram and a foot engageable with the ground;
- power means for applying power to the foot to apply a force to the ground sufficient to detonate a mine;
- and means for absorbing shock energy created upon detonation of an exploding mine, wherein,
- the apparatus further includes control means for controlling an application of power to the foot thereby controlling the force applied by the foot to the ground;
- wherein, at the moment of an explosion of a mine adjacent the foot, the control means prevents the force from the power means from acting on the ram and the foot so that the force exerted by the apparatus toward the mine consists solely of the weight of the ram and the foot.
An apparatus for detonating a mine comprising a ground-engaging foot, power means for reciprocating said foot, control means for controlling the application of power at selectable intervals to the foot thus the manner for reciprocating the foot, and means for absorbing shock energy created upon detonation of an exploding mine, wherein the power means is for reciprocating the foot and comprises a ram and cylinder assembly formed by a ram and a cylinder, the cylinder having a cylindrical wall and containing a free-moving piston, means for applying pressure to an upper surface of the piston to cause the piston to move downwardly within the cylinder, movement of the piston also extending the ram to move the foot into ground-engaging contact, and an exhaust valve being located in the cylindrical wall of the cylinder approximately one third from an upper end of the cylinder.
A method of detonating a mine comprising the steps of:
- applying a force to the ground via a moveable foot, engageable with the ground, so that when the force is applied, the force is sufficient to detonate a mine to cause an explosion and absorbing shock energy created upon detonation of the mine;
- applying and controlling power to, hence the force applied by, the foot during application of the force, to cause detonation of a mine;
- and
- at the moment of the explosion of the mine under the foot, preventing the force from the power means from acting on the foot so that the force exerted by the apparatus toward the mine consists solely of the weight of the ram and the foot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.