Machinery for opening a route in a degraded urban area

Abstract

The invention relates to machinery (1) for travelling through a degraded urban area, comprising a bulldozer-type supporting structure (2) with a longitudinal axis (X'X) extending in a median plane (P) from the front (AV) to the rear (AR) in the direction of travel, the supporting structure (2) being equipped with a traction unit (3). Moreover, the machinery (1) is fitted with a convex front blade (7), kept at a predetermined height off the ground (S) and intended to discharge the debris laterally. The blade (7) is connected to the supporting structure (2) by actuators (V1, V2) and holding arms (B1 to B4), and to at least one train of demining rollers (10) which extends, orthogonally to the median plane (P), between the front blade (7) and the supporting structure (2) while being kept under pressure on the ground (S), the supporting structure (2) being at least partially covered with an armoured shell (11).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] ROUTE OPENING VEHICLE IN DEGRADED URBANIZED AREA

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The invention relates to a bulldozer-type machine capable of advancing in an urban or urbanized area - including peri-urbanized areas - the area being degraded and potentially booby-trapped by mines or other concealed weapons (improvised explosive devices or IEDs), in order to open a secure route. The invention applies to so-called degraded areas, i.e. conflict environments or hostile environments that may shelter active forces equipped with threat means (mortars, rockets, etc.), and which may be inspired by terrorist actions.

[0005] The advancement of vehicles in the face of a partially concealed threat, even in relatively open terrain, is a complex issue: It involves responding to visible and invisible attacks, even in the event of a strong asymmetry of the forces present, and this despite a generally open environment, for example in a partially destroyed town or village.

[0006] STATE OF THE ART

[0007] Moving forward in a more or less degraded and potentially booby-trapped urban area remains extremely dangerous with the equipment currently available, which consists of decoy means and detection means.

[0008] Decoying means consist of having countermeasure devices at a safe distance from the means of progression, for example devices giving off a strong infrared signature. Hostile weaponry, guided by the thermal signature of the targets, is then diverted. However, such decoys significantly slow down progression and remain ineffective for operating in contact. In the field of mechanically triggered threats (by wires, pressurization or equivalent), pushed roller-type systems are rendered inoperative by the first explosive found, which can intervene quickly in the case of relatively dense trapping in an urban area (several units of explosives per hundred meters). This type of means is in fact intended for clear routes with low threat density (a few units per hundred kilometers).Furthermore, repairing the decoy at the site of the first explosion is ruled out due to the high risk of attack.

[0009] In addition, "breaching" decoys, such as plows or flails, pushed by a tank or heavy, powerful armored vehicle are rendered ineffective by the ground covered with at least a thick crust of tar or concrete. And an armored vehicle can be stopped by the destruction of its tracks or wheels by paralyzing threats (anti-tank mines or other explosives) placed under the spoil or in the immediate vicinity.

[0010] US patent document 20110232468 relates to such an armored vehicle equipped with a transverse beam supporting structure provided with means for triggering decoys, in particular IED weapons: mass, mechanical and thermal electric decoys, activated respectively by pressure sensors, wires and antennas, and infrared sensors. But this type of armored vehicle remains totally vulnerable in degraded urban or peri-urban areas for the reasons explained above.

[0011] Furthermore, detection methods aim to acquire the probability of the presence of a buried or hidden threat, without triggering it, using a sensor. Detection uses various types of sensors: radar sensors, metal sensors, electronic material sensors by junction noise detection, video sensors. These sensors are specialized on different critical components of a threat.

[0012] However, in a degraded urban or peri-urban environment, the multitude of objects buried or present in the debris hinders the use of sensors: detection by ground penetrating radar (GPR system, acronym for "ground penetrating radar") is saturated by the detection of too many varied objects buried or on the surface. Similarly, the large quantity of metal wires on the ground or buried also saturates wire detection by radar: numerous cables present in urban environments (telephone and electrical networks, signaling and lighting, etc.), and in the rubble resulting from destruction (telephony, IT, domestic and industrial electricity, etc.).

[0013] In addition, the detection of metallic objects by magnetic field antennas returns an unmanageable quantity of echoes due to the numerous metallic objects of all kinds present in the ground or debris (pipes, various industrial objects, etc.).

[0014] Furthermore, the high heterogeneity of the ground's appearance makes it ineffective to detect threats by analyzing multi-spectral video images and detecting changes in a given area: the detection of changes is hampered by the high variability of destruction, and cannot be carried out in areas where the mission is intervening for the first time, which is the general case.

[0015] Thus, the various available sensors are generally saturated with multiple detections without it being possible to differentiate between real threats and objects that do not present a danger: the sensors are quickly blinded.

[0016] Furthermore, heavy tracked bulldozers, taken from the civil engineering industry and equipped with an armored cab for protection against active attacks such as mortar fire, are also known to achieve progress. These machines, whether remotely operated or piloted, have major limitations: the tracks are easily immobilized by the destruction of a track link by a mine or a booby trap (IED), or by an assault shot. Indeed, the protection of the undercarriage and the cab is weak against such threats. In addition, the machine can only push the spoil, then lift it and maneuver to deposit it elsewhere to gradually clear a track: these operations are long and demanding, and this then exposes the machine to attacks. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The invention aims to solve the problems of the state of the art in order to have a machine which can progress and clear a safe passage zone in a degraded environment sheltering possible residual threats, while protecting its mobility and its structure.

[0018] In order to solve these problems, the present invention provides for combining safe clearance of debris around a protected device, with means for preventive triggering of possible explosions.

[0019] More specifically, the present invention relates to a machine for advancing in a degraded urbanized area comprising a ground covered with spoil and potentially integrating threats buried in the ground such as anti-tank mines. This machine comprises a bulldozer-type supporting structure with a longitudinal axis extending in a median plane from front to rear in the direction of progression, the supporting structure being equipped with a power unit. Such a machine is equipped with a convex front blade, maintained at a determined height from the ground and intended to evacuate the spoil laterally, the blade being connected to the supporting structure by jacks and holding arms, and to at least one train of mine-clearing rollers. This train of mine-clearing rollers extends, orthogonally to the median plane, between the front blade and the supporting structure, while being maintained under pressure on the ground. In addition, the supporting structure is covered at least partially with an armored hull.

[0020] Advantageously, the mine clearance rollers press permanently on the ground so as to trigger a surface or slightly buried threat placed in a degraded area of ​​a road surface. The rollers are preferably formed of metal rollers with a smooth rolling band, and / or wheels with metal rollers, and / or wheels made of elastomer material.

[0021] In addition, the vehicle is protected from infantry threats fired from rooftops by the hull armor.

[0022] The combination of means according to the invention can be advantageously supplemented by means of decoying residual threats, jamming these threats, and / or observing the evolution of the area crossed and responding to attacks. According to preferred embodiments:

[0023] - the blade has an inverted “V” shape towards the front, like a snowplow blade;

[0024] - the front blade extended by a cap has a height at least equal to that of the hull;

[0025] - ground support pads extend parallel to the longitudinal axis at the front of the front blade in the direction of advance and are mounted under this blade to maintain this blade at a determined height from the ground, alternatively or in combination with ground support rollers, the pads and / or rollers then providing additional clearance of the spoil while ensuring mass and mechanical decoying of pressure or trigger mines or IEDs;

[0026] - the mass and mechanical decoying of the pads and / or circular support means is supplemented by infrared decoying means generated by at least one infrared transmitter and / or magnetic decoying means generated by at least one magnetic field transmitter, the transmitters being arranged in the upper part of the blade and / or the hull;

[0027] - at least one camera is arranged in the upper part of the front blade and / or the hull, in order to provide a visualization of the situation in the degraded zone to remote observers, and / or to identify the actions to be taken, in particular to trigger response shots to the threats observed;

[0028] - the hull armor may be composed of armor steel plates advantageously supplemented by ceramic plates, preferably arranged in the lower part of the hull, on the ground side;

[0029] - overprotection of the hull can be achieved by a cage made up of additional elements arranged around the hull, advantageously comprising a lattice of bars, this overprotection making it possible to protect the hull from rocket-type projectiles;

[0030] - the armored hull stops laterally in the lower part within an optimized interval of distances from the ground, this optimization being adjusted in order to maintain sufficient mobility with regard to its weight and its size - ensuring its mission of progression - while providing sufficient protection for the machine; - the hull is completed laterally in the lower part by a mobile plate which can reach the ground in order to protect the tracks, according to a vertical displacement parallel to the median plane and guided by a mechanical articulation system. This mechanical system can be for example arranged by connecting rods, slides or rotation axes, and be motorized by actuators for example hydraulic or electric. The maintenance in the low position of these plates can advantageously be obtained by springs of any type combined with shock absorbers so as to allow the plates to follow the profile of the ground and avoid obstacles.It is also interesting to be able to remotely operate the lowering or raising of these plates;

[0031] - a telescopic armoured mast is mounted on the armoured hull and carries observation means, in particular in visible, near infrared and / or infrared spectral ranges;

[0032] - the supporting structure is equipped with a drive unit fitted with a tracked train;

[0033] - the machine is controlled in mobility by a robotic unit, remote-controlled by waves hardened against electromagnetic interception emissions;

[0034] - the machine has a rear blade connected to the hull on the side opposite its front in the lower position when the vehicle is moving backwards and in the raised position when moving forwards, this rear blade allowing the machine to clear debris when moving backwards;

[0035] - the rear blade extends transversely in a shape chosen between flat, convex and “V” shaped in the direction of progression.

[0036] PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

[0037] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following reading of a detailed example of embodiment without limiting its scope, with reference to the appended figures which represent, respectively:

[0038] - figure 1, a side perspective view of an example of a progression machine according to the invention; - figure 2, a longitudinal sectional view along the median plane of the example of a machine according to figure 1 which shows the anchoring of the roller mine clearance train;

[0039] - figure 3, a top perspective view of the front crew of the machine according to figure 1, comprising the front blade in an inverted “V” shape in the direction of progression and the mine clearance roller train mounted on the front blade;

[0040] - figure 4, a side perspective view of the mine clearance train equipped with ground pressure means and mounting means on the blade;

[0041] - figure 5a and figure 5b, perspective views respectively of a metal roller and a metal wheel which can equip the rollers of a mine clearance train of a progression machine according to the invention;

[0042] - figure 6, a side view of the machine according to figure 1 equipped with additional decoy, jamming and defense equipment, as well as a rear blade for clearing debris in reverse, and

[0043] - figure 7, a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a supporting structure of a machine according to the invention comprising movable lower lateral protection plates capable of reaching the ground.

[0044] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] Identical references indicated in different figures refer to the same object. The indications "front" and "rear" mean respectively in the forward direction of progression and in the opposite direction, and the indications "up" and "down" respectively the side furthest and the side closest to the ground in reference to a given object or part of an object, for example the supporting structure. Furthermore, progression is forward in the absence of any indication to the contrary, and forward or backward inclinations are defined from top to bottom. Furthermore, the qualification "lateral" means in a plane perpendicular to the ground and parallel to a median plane of longitudinal symmetry of the machine according to the invention, and the qualifier "transverse" refers to a direction or plane perpendicular to the median plane.With reference to the side perspective view of Figure 1 and the sectional view along the longitudinal median plane of Figure 2, an example of a progression machine 1 according to the invention comprises a basic mechanical supporting structure 2 of the bulldozer type, advantageously equipped with known remote control means and a manual control station (not shown). The mechanical movement means are provided by a conventional drive system with two lateral tracks 3. The supporting structure 2 extends along a longitudinal axis X'X, located in the longitudinal median plane "P" and defining opposite directions of progression, front AV and rear AR.

[0046] The supporting structure 2 is covered with an armored hull 11 with a profile advantageously more inclined towards the front than towards the rear, and connected to a front crew 6 comprising:

[0047] - a front blade 7, of the snowplough type with an inverted “V” shaped profile (point of the “V” towards the front in the direction of progression) inclined towards the front, the blade 7 being articulated on the structure 2 by lateral thrust bars B1 to B4 and held in position by jacks V1, V2 articulated on axes parallel to the transverse axis Y'Y;

[0048] - the blade 7 is advantageously topped with a cap 71 inclined in the opposite direction to the lower part of the blade 7 in order to prevent the overflow of spoil onto the supporting structure 2;

[0049] - support pads 8 extending mainly at the front of the blade 7 and parallel to the longitudinal axis X'X, supplemented by rollers 9 in the embodiment arranged in rotation at the rear of the pads 8, the pads 8 and the rollers 9 maintaining the blade 7 at a determined height from the ground “S”; and

[0050] - a train 10 of rollers R2 of the mine clearance roller type resting on the ground “S” by the permanent pressure of springs “R1”, arranged between the supporting structure 2 and the blade 7. In the example, the train of rollers 10 is attached to the blade 7. Alternatively, this train 10 can be attached to the supporting structure 2.

[0051] Thus, the blade 7 is maintained at a constant height from the ground by the thickness of the pads 8 and the rollers 9 and evacuates to the sides or triggers the buried residual threats such as pressure mines or IEDs. The rollers 9 contribute in particular to the calibration of the height of the blade relative to the ground. The pads and the rollers then constitute a mass and mechanical decoy. The roller train 10 can complete this action by activating potential threats which could have been placed in defects in the road surface (potholes, etc.).

[0052] Under these conditions, the machine 1 shelters itself from attacks on the front frontal arc behind its blade 7 and the lateral cuttings that it creates, thus making itself capable of resisting high-power frontal attacks. With reference to the convex shape, here in "V", and the mode of support of the blade 7 at a distance from the ground "S" by the pads 8 and the rollers 9, the lateral clearance of the debris and cuttings leaves the initial surface visible, generally that of a street or a road.

[0053] Blade 7 can also trigger buried residual threats such as pressure mines or IEDs, so as to no longer constitute potential threats to the undercarriage 10 of structure 2. And the roller train completes this action by activating other threats that could have been placed in defects in the road surface (potholes, for example) so as to strike a surface-level or slightly buried threat that would have been placed in a degraded area of ​​the road surface.

[0054] The vehicle 1 is protected from infantry threats fired from the roofs by the armoured hull 11 secured to the supporting structure 2. The armoured hull 11 is composed of steel armour plates supplemented, in the lower part, by ceramic plates 12 and reinforced, in the upper part, by overprotection of the “bar armour” type (“bar armour” in English) formed of a lattice of bars 13 arranged at a distance from the hull 11.

[0055] Figure 3 shows a top perspective view of the front crew 6. Such a crew comprises the front blade 7 topped by its cap 71 and the mine clearance roller train 10 mounted on the blade 7 via a coupling system 20. Also shown in this figure are: shoes 8 and rollers 9 of the blade 7, the jacks V1, V2 and the upper holding bars B1, B3, as well as the support springs R1 of the train 10 of rollers R2.

[0056] The perspective view of the mine clearance train in Figure 4 allows the coupling system 20 of the roller train 10 of the front crew 6 to be detailed. This system is composed of arms 21 which are secured in parallel to a transverse beam 22 for attachment to the front blade 7 (see Figure 3), and aligned support springs R1, each spring R1 being mounted between the transverse structure 22 and one of said arms 21.

[0057] These rollers R2 are conventionally formed of rubber wheels. Alternatively, they may be made of metal rollers or metal rollers. Figure 5a and Figure 5b show perspective views respectively of such a roller 4 with a smooth metal rolling band 41 and a wheel 4' with a metal rolling band 42 formed of identical parallel rings 42a bristling with radial metal rollers 42b. Each roller 42b consists of a "V" shaped metal plate erected perpendicular to the surface of the rings 42a. These smooth rollers 41 and rollers 42 have the advantage of being significantly more resilient than rubber wheels.

[0058] The side view of Figure 6 illustrates the installation of additional equipment arranged on the decoy, jamming and defense vehicle 1. Thus, the front crew 6 can advantageously be supplemented by decoys adapted to operating conditions in degraded urban environments, and advantageously triggered permanently during missions:

[0059] - an infrared transmitter 25 responsible for triggering off-road threats;

[0060] - a magnetic field transmitter 26 responsible for triggering threats with a sensor sensitive to strong magnetic fields, such as anti-tank mines;

[0061] - a camera 31 with an armored sub-envelope, placed on the front blade cap 71, to observe and / or analyze the area to be crossed.

[0062] More generally, an observation system with several cameras or consisting of a multiple detection camera (in visual mode, in amplified light, in infrared light, etc.) can be arranged in the upper part of the front blade and / or the hull. This system or this camera, advantageously protected under an armored casing, makes it possible to provide a visualization of the situation in the degraded zone to remote observers, and / or to identify the actions to be taken, in particular to trigger response shots to the observed threats.

[0063] The hull 11 of the machine 1, by its carrying capacity, also carries additional equipment, namely: - a telescopic armoured mast 28 allowing installation and protection at height (more than 5 m) incorporating an observation scope 29 and a jammer 27 intended to inactivate radio-controlled threats;

[0064] - a 30 smoke grenade launcher to hide the device 1 from the direct view of attackers;

[0065] - a turret 32, remotely controlled by known means, of small or medium caliber, installed on the armored mast 28, this turret providing a firing capacity in response to attacks. Alternatively, the turret 32 ​​can be installed on the hull 11.

[0066] In addition, a rear blade 36, straight or V-shaped in the direction of progression and advantageously topped with a cap 37 as illustrated, allows the machine 1 to ensure, in reverse gear, the clearing of debris which may be created after its passage. This blade 36 can be actuated by a mechanism of the hydraulic, electric or pneumatic type, provided with articulation arms 60 connected to the rear blade 36. This mechanism makes it possible to position the rear blade 36 in the high position 36a as illustrated in solid lines when the machine 1 advances in progression towards the front AV, and in the low position 36b (in dotted lines) when the machine moves backwards AR.

[0067] To maintain strong traction in soft terrain and to be able to transmit significant power to the ground to move debris, the machine according to the invention is equipped with tracks. To protect the tracks 3 and rollers 9 (see figures 1 and 2) from external attacks (projectiles, rockets, etc.) without impairing mobility, the machine 1 is advantageously equipped with movable plates as illustrated by the schematic cross-sectional view in figure 7.

[0068] In this figure 7, the armored hull 11 of the machine 1 is equipped laterally with two mobile protective plates 35 in the lower part, these plates being mobile until they can reach the ground “S”.

[0069] - The armored hull 11 is stopped laterally at a distance D1 from the ground "S" determined, to remain compatible with the mobility of the machine 1, and is completed by the two movable plates 35 according to a vertical displacement organized by a conventional articulation system 33 making it possible to drive a plate vertically, for example a system based on connecting rods, slides, pinions and levers, This mechanical system can be motorized by actuators for example hydraulic or electric. The maintenance in the low position of these plates can advantageously be obtained by springs of any type combined with shock absorbers so as to allow the plates to follow the profile of the ground and avoid obstacles. This system is advantageously controlled remotely to activate the descent or the ascent of the plates 35 and to stop them at a determined distance from the ground "S" or to let them freely reach this ground.

[0070] The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown. For example, instead of the bar lattice, it is possible to fix panels using a technology containing spaced punches in a composite matrix. Furthermore, other equipment can be added to the front and rear blades as well as to the hull, for example, offensive counterattack weapons. In addition, the front blade can be flat in transverse extension.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Progression machine (1) in a degraded urbanized area comprising a ground (S) covered with spoil and potentially integrating threats buried in the ground, this machine (1) comprises a bulldozer-type supporting structure (2) with a longitudinal axis (X'X) extending in a median plane (P) from front (AV) to back (AR) in the direction of progression, the supporting structure (2) being equipped with a drive unit, and is characterized in that it is equipped with a convex front blade (7), maintained at a determined height from the ground (S), the blade (7) being connected to the supporting structure (2) by jacks (V1, V2) and holding arms (B1 to B4), and to at least one train of mine-clearing rollers (10) which extends, orthogonally to the median plane (P), between the front blade (7) and the supporting structure (2) while being maintained under pressure on the ground (S),the supporting structure (2) being at least partially covered with an armored shell (11) completed laterally in the lower part by a movable plate (35) capable of reaching the ground (S), according to a vertical displacement parallel to the median plane (P) guided by a mechanical articulation system (33)., 2. Progression machine according to claim 1, in which the front blade (7) has a forward inverted “V” shape (AV).

3. Progression machine according to any one of claims 1 or 2, in which the front blade (7) extended by a cap (71) has a height at least equal to that of the hull (11).

4. Progression machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the rollers (R2) are preferably formed of metal rollers (4) with smooth tread (41) and / or wheels (4') with metal rollers (42).

5. Progression machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which ground support pads (8) extend parallel to the longitudinal axis (X'X) at the front of the front blade (7) in the direction of progression and are mounted under this blade (7), and / or ground support rollers (9) maintain this blade (7) at the determined height from the ground (S).

6. Progression machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which infrared decoy means generated by at least one infrared transmitter (25) and / or magnetic decoy means generated by at least one transmitter of magnetic field (26), the transmitters (25, 26) being arranged in the upper part of the front blade (7) and / or the hull (11).

7. Progression machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which at least one camera (31) is arranged in the upper part of the front blade (7) and / or of the hull (11).

8. Progression machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the armor of the hull (11) is composed of steel armor plates supplemented by ceramic plates (12).

9. Progression machine according to claim 8, in which the ceramic plates (12) are arranged in the lower part of the hull, on the ground side (S).

10. Progression machine according to any one of claims 8 or 9, in which overprotection of the hull is provided by a cage (13) constituted by additional elements arranged around the hull (11).

11. Progression machine according to claim 10, in which the cage (13) comprises a lattice of bars.

12. Progression vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 11, in which a telescopic armored mast is mounted on the armored hull and carries observation means.

13. Progression machine according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the supporting structure (2) is equipped with a drive unit provided with a tracked train (3).

14. Progression machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it is controlled in mobility by a robotic unit, remotely controlled by waves hardened against electromagnetic interception emissions.

15. Progression machine according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it has a rear blade (36) connected to the hull (11) on the side opposite the front blade (7), the rear blade (36) being in the low position (36b) when the machine (1) is moving backwards and in the high position (36a) in the forward progression situation.

16. A progression machine according to claim 15, wherein the rear blade (36) extends transversely in a shape chosen from flat, convex and "V" shaped in the direction of progression.

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