Sampling device for sampling soil from the inside of a vehicle and method for sampling

Abstract

The device has a sensing head that can be brought into contact with a ground by actuation of an alignment device (10) in a sensing region above the ground. A height-adjusting device (20) is provided between the alignment device and the sensing head for adjusting the height of the sensing head above the ground. The height adjustment device is operable manually or by a motor, independent of the operation of the alignment device, where the height adjustment device includes a linear drive and a threaded spindle. An independent claim is also included for a method for sensing the ground from the interior of a vehicle.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a detection device for soil detection from the interior of a vehicle, comprising a detection head that can be brought into contact with the ground and is arranged at the lower end of a tube. The detection head has an evaporator designed as a heating element for vaporizing air and / or soil samples. The detection head can be aligned in a detection area above the ground by actuating an alignment device. The tube serves to guide air and / or soil samples vaporized by the detection head into the interior of the vehicle and feed them to an analysis device. The invention further relates to a vehicle.Also described is a method for soil detection from the interior of a vehicle, comprising a detection device having a detection head arranged at a lower end of a tube which can be brought into contact with the ground and which has an evaporator designed as a heating element for evaporating air and / or soil samples, which is aligned above the ground in a detection area by actuating an alignment device, the tube serving to guide air and / or soil samples evaporated by the detection head into the interior of the vehicle and to supply them to an analysis device.

[0002] Soil detection devices are used, in particular, in military vehicles to detect, for example, pollutants and warfare agents in the ground and thus in the vehicle's surroundings. Such vehicles are often designed as detection vehicles or armored reconnaissance vehicles. A probe mount for a vehicle is known from EP2221572A1.

[0003] DE 10 2009 015 828 A1 describes a known detection vehicle with a detection device. The detection device has a detection head arranged at the free end of a pivoting tube guided through the vehicle floor. Contaminants and warfare agents from the ground and / or the ambient air can be vaporized via the detection head and directed to an analysis device inside the vehicle. Furthermore, an alignment device in the form of a rod with a handle is provided. The detector operating the detection device can align the detection head in a detection area above the ground by actuating the handle. Using the handle of the alignment device, the detector can also lower the detection head under leverage into a detection position in which the detection head is in contact with the ground, and then apply contact pressure to the detection head in the detection position.

[0004] Good detection results can be achieved with this detection device. However, with regard to lowering and raising the detection head, it has been found that the maximum travel of the detection head is limited by the alignment device. Thus, from the ground detection position, the detection head can only be raised to a small height above the ground in the rest position. Thus, even in the rest position, in which the detection head is at the greatest possible distance from the ground, the vehicle's ground clearance can be restricted by the detection device.

[0005] The invention envisages the Task to enable improved ground clearance of the vehicle.

[0006] In a detection device of the type mentioned above, the task is solved by the characterizing features of patent claim 1 solved .

[0007] The height adjustment device can be arranged between the alignment device and the detection head in such a way that it is connected to the alignment device and the detection head. The height adjustment device can enable additional travel of the detection head. Thus, the ground clearance can be increased by the height adjustment device.

[0008] The height adjustment device allows the detector head to be lowered from the rest position, in which the detector head is located in a protected area above the ground, e.g., the vehicle interior or a shaft beneath the vehicle interior, into the detection position. Furthermore, the height adjustment device can be used to raise the detector head from the detection position to the rest position.

[0009] According to the invention, the height adjustment device can be operated independently of the alignment device. The detection head can be aligned via the alignment device. The detection probe can be lowered and / or raised via the height adjustment device, whereby the alignment device can be in any position. Thus, the height of the detection head can be adjusted separately via the height adjustment device.

[0010] Preferably, the height adjustment device is manually operable, so that the lowering of the sensing head can be achieved via the movements of the sensing operator operating the sensing device. The sensing device can have an actuating mechanism for actuating the height adjustment device, which can be operated by the sensing operator. Alternatively, the height adjustment device can be motor-operated. Motor-operated operation of the height adjustment device has the advantage of reducing the force required by the sensing operator when lowering and / or pressing the sensing head. In this context, it is particularly advantageous if the height adjustment device can be operated both manually and by motor, so that the height adjustment device can be adjusted either manually or via a drive.

[0011] In a motor-operated height adjustment device, a linear drive is preferably provided so that the sensing head can be moved translationally. The linear drive can be electromechanical, hydraulic, or pneumatic.

[0012] In conjunction with a manual height adjustment device, it has proven advantageous if the height adjustment device can be operated via a crank. A crank can provide torque for lowering and / or pressing the sensing head.

[0013] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the height adjustment device has a threaded spindle. A threaded spindle can convert a rotary movement, such as that of a crank or drive, into a translational movement of the sensing head.

[0014] Preferably, the height adjustment device, in particular the threaded spindle, is designed to be lockable. A lockable height adjustment device allows the detection head to be fixed at a predetermined height above the ground in an air detection position, in which pollutants and warfare agents can be detected from the air. Particularly preferably, the height adjustment device has a self-locking threaded spindle. A self-locking threaded spindle enables the detection head to be locked in place without the need for additional locking devices.

[0015] With regard to aligning the detection head, the invention provides that the detection head can be pivoted about a pivot point, in particular by means of the alignment device, wherein the pivot point can be lowered by means of the height adjustment device. The pivot point can be lowered toward the vehicle floor. Since the maximum possible pivot angle of the detection head increases as the pivot point is lowered toward the opening in the vehicle floor, a larger detection area can be scanned with the detection head when the pivot point is lowered.

[0016] The pivot point is preferably designed as a ball joint, so that the sensing head can be pivoted around the pivot point on a spherical surface by the alignment device. With appropriate alignment by the alignment device and lowering by the height adjustment device, the sensing head can thus be aligned in a substantially elliptical sensing area on the ground beneath the vehicle.

[0017] According to one design, the height adjustment device is rigidly connected to the alignment device. The height adjustment device can be moved along with the alignment device to align the sensing head. Alternatively, the height adjustment device can be hingedly coupled to the alignment device.

[0018] With regard to the alignment device, it has also proven advantageous if it is designed in a rocker-like manner. A rocker-shaped alignment device allows the alignment and / or lowering of the sensing head to be achieved using leverage.

[0019] With regard to the ergonomics of the alignment device, it is preferred if the alignment device has an adjustment device for adapting the alignment device to the size of the tracer. The adjustment device can be adjustable such that tracers of different body sizes and / or arm lengths can operate the alignment device.

[0020] The alignment device can include a handle for aligning the sensing head. The handle can be mounted on a pivot bearing for rotation about a rotation axis. To adapt the handle to the height of the sensing device, the angular position of the handle can be adjusted via the adjustment device. Angle positions of 0°, 20°, and 40° are preferably adjustable. Alternatively, the angle enclosed by the sections can be freely selectable.

[0021] A further subject of the invention is a vehicle, in particular a detection vehicle. In such a vehicle, the task is solved that a detection device as described above is provided.

[0022] The height adjustment device located between the alignment device and the detection head allows for additional travel of the detection head. The detection head can be raised and lowered using the height adjustment device, regardless of the vehicle's current ground clearance. Thus, the vehicle's ground clearance can be increased using the height adjustment device.

[0023] In the following, a method is described which, like the detection device and the vehicle according to the invention, is suitable for achieving the stated object. In a method of the type mentioned above, Solution The object is to provide that the method has the characterising features of patent claim 11.

[0024] The detector head is first aligned above the ground using the alignment device and then lowered toward the ground using the height adjustment device. Thus, the height adjustment device located between the alignment device and the detector head allows for additional lift of the detector head and improves the overall ground clearance of the vehicle.

[0025] According to an advantageous development of the method, the height adjustment device exerts a contact pressure to press the detection head against the ground. The detection head can be brought into contact with the ground via the height adjustment device and then pressed against the ground via the height adjustment device in such a way that the contact pressure required for taking soil samples is set.

[0026] In the method described above, the advantageous embodiments described in connection with the detection device and the vehicle can also be used.

[0027] Further advantages and details of the previously described detection device, vehicle, and method are explained below using the attached illustrations of an exemplary embodiment. These illustrations show: Fig. 1 a vehicle with a detection device in the rest position in longitudinal cross-section; Fig. 2 the vehicle from the Fig.1 in a plan view; Fig. 3-4 the vehicle according to Fig.1 , wherein the detection head of the detection device is in two different detection positions; Fig. 5 the detection device according to Fig.1 in the rest position in a side view; Fig. 6 the detection device according to Fig.1in the air detection position in a side view; Fig. 7 an enlarged view of the handle to illustrate the variability of the angular position.

[0028] The representations in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show a military vehicle 1, which is designed as a detection vehicle. In the ballistically protected interior 7 of the vehicle 1, a seat 3 is provided, from which a person, referred to below as detector 2, can operate a detection device 9 of the vehicle 1. The illustration in Fig. 2 shows the interior 7 of the vehicle 1 in a top view. The sensing device 9 is arranged next to the seat 3 in a manner known from parking brakes in passenger vehicles.

[0029] The detection device 9 has an alignment device 10 which is arranged in the interior 7 of the vehicle and via which a detection head 30 of the detection device 9 can be aligned above the ground, cf. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 . Again Fig. 3 and Fig. 4As can also be seen, the detector head 30 is arranged at the lower end of a tube 31, which is guided through a shaft 5 in the vehicle floor panel 4. The detector head 30 has an evaporator through which air or soil samples are converted into a vaporous state. The evaporator is designed like a heating element.

[0030] The tube 31 serves to conduct air and / or soil samples vaporized by the detection head 30 into the interior of the vehicle 1 and feed them to an analysis device (not shown). To protect the tube 31, a bellows 32 surrounding the tube 31 is provided. To prevent ambient air contaminated by harmful or warfare agents from entering the vehicle interior 7, the shaft 5 for passing the tube 31 through the vehicle floor 4 is flexibly sealed so that alignment and lowering movements of the tube 31 and the detection head 30 are possible. To mount the tube 31 in the vehicle floor 4, a ball bearing (not shown in the figures) can be provided in the vehicle floor 4 or in the shaft 5.

[0031] To increase the ground clearance of the vehicle 1, a height adjustment device 20 is provided on the detection device 9, which is arranged between the alignment device 10 and the detection head 30. The height adjustment device 20 can increase the stroke of the detection head 30. The detection head 30 can be lowered from the rest position to the detection position and raised from the detection position to the rest position by the height adjustment device 10. It is therefore not necessary to lower the detection head 30 using the alignment device 10.

[0032] The functioning of the detection device 9 according to the invention and the detection vehicle 1 will be explained below with reference to the detailed illustrations in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 be explained in more detail.

[0033] The Fig. 5shows the detection device 9 in a rest position, in which the detection head 30 is located within the shaft 5 in a position protected from environmental influences. In order to protect the detection head 30 from unwanted contact with objects protruding from the ground 8 while the vehicle 1 is traveling, the flaps 6, which close off the shaft 5 at the bottom, are closed in the rest position.

[0034] To align the detection head 30, an alignment device 10 is provided on the detection device 9, which can be operated via a handle 11. The handle 11 is designed in the manner of a substantially elongated rocker, which can be pivoted about a pivot bearing 13 in a substantially horizontal direction. The handle 11, together with the pivot bearing 13, can be pivoted in a substantially horizontal plane via a second pivot bearing 14. The axes of rotation of the pivot bearings 13 and 14 are oriented perpendicular to one another. In addition, the alignment device 10 has a linear guide 15, via which the handle 11 and the pivot bearings 13 and 14 can be moved in the direction of a vehicle longitudinal axis L.

[0035] In order to separate the detection head 30 of the detection device 9 from the Fig. 5 shown rest position into the one shown in the Fig. 6In order to transfer the detection head 30 to the air detection position shown, in which the detection head 30 is lowered to a height H above the ground 8, a height adjustment device 20 is further provided on the detection device 9, arranged between the alignment device 10 and the detection head 30. The height H of the detection head 30 can be freely selected by the height adjustment device 20, so that any height H can be set between the rest position and a ground detection position in which the detection head 30 is in contact with the ground 8.

[0036] The height adjustment device 20 is rigidly connected to the alignment device 10 and coupled to the tube 31 via a joint point designed as a ball joint 33. Due to the connection of the height adjustment device 20 between the alignment device 10 and the tube 31, movements of the alignment device 10 can be transmitted to the tube 31. While the height H of the sensing head is adjusted via the height adjustment device 20, the alignment of the sensing head 30 can thus be carried out by the alignment device 10. If the alignment device 10 is used, for example, as in the Fig. 3shown, is displaced along the linear guide 15 in the direction of the front end of the vehicle interior 7, the detection head 30 is aligned in the opposite direction in the detection area above the floor 8. If the detector 2 displaces the alignment device 10 in the direction of his torso, the detection head 30 is aligned in the direction of the front edge of the detection area in the direction of travel, cf. Fig. 4 .

[0037] A camera (not shown in the figures) can be arranged under the vehicle, by means of which the alignment, the lowering and the actual sensing can be observed via a monitor (also not shown) in the interior 7 of the vehicle 1.

[0038] As further the representation in the Fig. 5As can be seen, the height adjustment device 20 has a threaded spindle 21 on which a spindle nut 26 is received. To protect the threaded spindle 21, a bellows 22 is provided which surrounds the threaded spindle 21, see. Fig. 5 The spindle nut 26 is connected to the ball joint 33 via a connecting link 24 designed like a link rod. For stability reasons, a linear guide 23 is also provided to guide the connecting link 24 in the direction of the threaded spindle 21, which is aligned parallel to the threaded spindle 21. For this purpose, the connecting link 24 has a guide element 27, which is guided on the linear guide 23. The connecting link 24 is pivotally connected to the tube 31 via the ball joint 33.

[0039] The threaded spindle 21 is actuated via a crank 25 arranged on the rocker-shaped handle 11 of the alignment device 10, which can be actuated independently of the alignment device 10. The crank 25 can be used to easily change the position of the spindle nut 26 on the threaded spindle 21 by hand, thus adjusting the height H of the sensing head 30. Furthermore, the threaded spindle 21 is self-locking, so that the spindle nut 26 can be stopped in any position on the threaded spindle 21 without automatically changing its position. The self-locking threaded spindle 21 allows the sensing head 30 to be locked in an air sensing position at any height H above the floor 8.

[0040] Instead of a crank 25, a drive for actuating the threaded spindle 21 can be provided on the height adjustment device 20, resulting in a linear drive similar to a spindle drive. Furthermore, it is also conceivable to arrange other linear drives, e.g., a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, or an electromechanical linear drive for adjusting the height H on the height adjustment device 20.

[0041] To lock the alignment, the alignment device has a brake in each of the pivot bearings 13 and 14 as well as in the linear guide 15, which can be actuated via a brake lever 12. As the detailed illustration of the handle 11 in the Fig. 7 As can be seen, the brake lever 12 is connected to the handle 11 in an articulated manner and is pretensioned against the handle 11 by a spring 16.

[0042] The handle 11 also has a gripping shell 17, in which the hand of the detector 2 can be accommodated when operating the handle 11. In order to create optimal working conditions for detectors 2 of different sizes, the angular position of the handle 11 is adjustable. The handle 11 has a section 11.1, which is pivotally connected to a second section 11.2 via a joint 18. Several screws 19 for locking the angular position of the sections 11.1 and 11.2 relative to one another are guided through semicircularly arranged openings in the overlapping areas of the sections 11.1 and 11.2. In the embodiment according to Fig. 7Section 11.1 can be adjusted to three different angles relative to section 11.2. Section 11.1 can be pivoted relative to section 11.2 by 0°, 20°, and 40°. Alternatively, the adjustment of both sections 11.1 and 11.2 could be designed such that any pivot angle can be set.

[0043] The above-described sensing device 9 can be used in the method for ground sensing from the interior 7 of a vehicle 1. According to the method, the sensing head 30 of the sensing device 9 is lowered toward the ground 8 by the height adjustment device 20 and aligned in the sensing area by the alignment device 10. The alignment and lowering can be performed manually by the sensing operator 2.

[0044] As soon as the detection head 30 is in contact with the ground 8, any necessary contact pressure can be exerted on the detection head 30 via the height adjustment device 20 by turning the crank 25 through the detector 2. The contact pressure can be increased via the height adjustment device 10 until a detection result is obtained. During the detection process, a soil sample is vaporized by the vaporizer of the detection head 30 and sucked through the tube 31 to the analysis device inside the vehicle 1.

[0045] Optionally, the detection device 9 can have a sensor system (not shown) that detects the start and end of the detection process. The start and end of the detection process can be reported to the detector. Furthermore, the vehicle can have a control device that can enable a driving lock, preventing the vehicle from moving when the detection device is in the ground detection position.

[0046] In a modification of the exemplary embodiment, the sensing head 30 can be connected to the tube 31 via an articulated joint, so that the sensing head 30 can be aligned to uneven ground. The articulated joint can be spring-loaded.

[0047] The speed when lowering the sensing head 30 as well as the contact pressure can be adjusted by selecting the transmission ratio from the crank 25 to the threaded spindle 21.

[0048] After the ground detection has been carried out, the detector 2 can raise the detection head using the height adjustment device 20 and move it to the rest position.

[0049] Due to the height adjustment device 20 arranged according to the invention between the alignment device 10 and the detection head 30, the described detection device 9, the vehicle 1 and the method enable a greater stroke of the detection head 30 and thus an increased ground clearance. Reference symbols:

[0050] 1Vehicle 2Person 3Seat 4Vehicle floor plate 5Shaft 6Hatch 7Interior 8Floor 9Sensing device 10Alignment device 11Handle 12Brake lever 13Pivot bearing 14Pivot bearing 15Linear guide 16Spring 17Handle shell 18Joint 19Screws 20Height adjustment device 21Spindle 22Bellows 23Guide 24Connecting link 25Crank 26Spindle nut 27Guide element 30Sensing head 31Tube 32Bellows 33Ball joint HHeight LVehicle longitudinal axis

Claims

1. Sensing device for sensing the ground from inside a vehicle (1), having a sensing head (30) which can be brought into contact with the ground (8), which is arranged on a lower end of a tube (31) and which is intended for vaporizing samples of air and / or ground and having a vaporizer configured as a heating element, wherein the sensing head can be oriented in a sensing region above the ground (8) by actuation of an orienting device (10), wherein the tube (31) serves to direct the air and / or ground samples vaporized by the detection head (30) into the interior of the vehicle (1) and supply them to an analysis device, characterized by a height-adjusting device (20) which is arranged between the orienting device (10) and the sensing head (30), is intended for adjusting the height (H) of the sensing head (30) above the ground (8) and can be actuated independently of the orienting device (10), and a point of articulation about which the sensing head (30) can be pivoted, wherein the point of articulation can be lowered by the height-adjusting device (20).

2. Sensing device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the height-adjusting device (20) can be actuated manually and / or by motor.

3. Sensing device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the height-adjusting device (20) has a linear drive.

4. Sensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height-adjusting device (20) can be operated via a crank (25).

5. Sensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height-adjusting device (20) has a threaded spindle (21).

6. Sensing device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the threaded spindle (21) is of self-locking design.

7. Sensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the point of articulation is designed in the form of a ball joint (33).

8. Sensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height-adjusting device (20) is connected rigidly to the orienting device (10).

9. Sensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the orienting device (10) is of rocker-like design.

10. Vehicle, characterized by a sensing device (9) according to one of the preceding claims.

11. Method of sensing the ground from inside a vehicle (1), with a sensing device (9) which has a sensing head (30) which can be brought into contact with the ground (8) and which is arranged on a lower end of a tube (31), and which is intended for vaporizing samples of air and / or ground and having a vaporizer configured as a heating element, wherein the sensing head is oriented in a sensing region above the ground (8) by actuation of an orienting device (10), wherein the tube (31) serves to direct the air and / or ground samples vaporized by the detection head (30) into the interior of the vehicle (1) and supply them to an analysis device characterized in that the sensing head (30) is lowered via a height-adjusting device (20) which is arranged between the orienting device (10) and the sensing head (30) and which height-adjusting device (20) is actuated independently of the orienting device (10), and in that the sensing head (30) is pivoted about a point of articulation, wherein the point of articulation is lowered by the height-adjusting device (20).

12. Method according to Claim 11, characterized in that the sensing device is designed according to one of Claims 1 to 9.

13. Method according to either of Claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the height-adjusting device (20) exerts a contact pressure for the purpose of pressing the sensing head (30) onto the ground (8).

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