MINE CLEARING GRAPPLE AND MINE CLEARING VEHICLE INCORPORATING SUCH A GRAPPLE

Abstract

This mine-clearing grapple (1) is equipped with at least one tooth or claw (16, 17), designed to grip an object, particularly a mine. This at least one tooth or claw (16, 17) is attached to a support structure (2, 3), which is equipped with reversible attachment means (9, 10) for use with a manipulator tool, particularly one mounted on a vehicle. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Mine clearance grapple and mine clearance vehicle incorporating such a grapple Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a grappling hook, more particularly intended to enable operators to clear mines from a surface, a field, etc., by optimizing the safety of said operators on the one hand, and corollarily by reducing the risks of damage to equipment and other complementary vehicles with which such a grappling hook may be associated. Prior state of the art

[0002] Mine clearance operations are always extremely delicate due to the risk of explosions from mines and other explosive devices (IEDs, shells, submunitions, etc.). When these operations are carried out manually, even if the operators wear protective suits and helmets, their physical integrity can still be seriously compromised in the event of an explosion.

[0003] Moreover, the mines and other explosive devices in question are traditionally buried and, in order to have access to their neutralization device, it is necessary first of all to bring the mines out of the ground, and consequently, to position them properly in order to have access to these neutralization devices.

[0004] In the absence of suitable tools, said operators cobble together a pseudo-grappling hook from objects not dedicated to this purpose, to allow on the one hand to scrape the minefield in question, and corollarily, to possibly turn over the mine or mines.

[0005] It is easy to understand that these tools are not suitable for preserving the safety of said operators.

[0006] Mine-clearing devices, typically equipped with a blade, similar to bulldozers, are also known, scraping the field until the mines are unearthed. However, during such operations, the risk of explosion of these mines is significant, potentially causing substantial damage to the mine-clearing vehicle, notwithstanding its armor plating.

[0007] The objective of the present invention is to provide a mine-clearing grappling hook, capable of being placed in a specific location and typically on a minefield, by means of a suitable vehicle, and in particular equipped with an operational arm, and therefore sufficiently far from the vehicle itself to avoid the risk of damage to said vehicle. Description of the invention

[0008] For this purpose, the invention relates to a mine-clearing grapple equipped with at least one tooth or claw, intended to pick up an object and in particular a mine.

[0009] According to the invention, this tooth or claw is attached to a support structure, provided with means for reversible attachment to a manipulator tool, in particular fixed on a mobile vehicle.

[0010] In other words, the invention consists of equipping a grapple ensuring the primary function of digging up, or even turning over, mines, with means suitable for allowing its reversible attachment on a manipulator tool, and thus allowing operators to have a certain safety and, when the manipulator tool is typically made up of an arm of determined length, typically 2 to 6 meters, to limit the risks of damage to said vehicle.

[0011] For the purposes of this invention, the term "mine" means mines proper, but also all explosive devices (IEDs, shells, submunitions, etc.).

[0012] According to a first advantageous feature of the invention, the support structure consists of at least one tube, fixed on an upper plate and whose free end is curved and receives said at least one tooth or claw of the grapple.

[0013] According to another advantageous feature of the invention, in which the grapple comprises two teeth or claws, the support structure consists of two tubes, articulated on an upper plate and whose free end is curved and receives the teeth or claws of the grapple.

[0014] In this embodiment of the invention, the upper plate has two through-holes, substantially symmetrical to each other with respect to the longitudinal axis of the grapple, and intended to cooperate with elements and in particular screws attached to the tubes in order to adjust the respective spacing of the latter with respect to the longitudinal axis, and therefore consequently the spacing of the teeth or claws.

[0015] These lights advantageously include discreetly distributed extensions to facilitate the adjustment of the tooth spacing as needed at different angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the grapple.

[0016] The tubes are curved at their upstream end and the teeth or claws are themselves fixed on complementary tubes adapted to slide along the curved upstream ends of the tubes constituting the support structure of the grapple.

[0017] These curved upstream ends of the tubes constituting the support structure are provided with through holes adapted to cooperate with pin-type elements, inserted into the holes and into corresponding holes provided in the tubes to which the teeth are fixed. In this way, it is possible to adjust the height of the teeth relative to the upper plate of the grapple.

[0018] The invention also relates to a mine-clearing vehicle comprising a manipulator arm at the end of which are respectively articulated a fork, said fork comprising a plurality of claws capable of lifting objects and in particular mines, and situated in the same plane, separated from each other by at least one spacer, and an antagonistic tooth or claw, capable of crossing the plane defined by said fork, said mine-clearing vehicle incorporating a grapple of the type previously described.

[0019] The grapple is equipped with reversible fastening elements capable of clipping into the spacers separating the claws that make up the fork. Brief description of the figures

[0020] The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the resulting advantages will be more apparent from the following embodiment examples, given by way of illustration and not limitation, in support of the attached figures.

[0021] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the grapple according to the invention.

[0022] Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the downstream end of the grapple.

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic perspective and exploded view of the upstream end of the grappling hook.

[0024] Fig. 4 is a schematic top-view representation of the grappling hook of Fig. 1

[0025] Figure 5 is a schematic lateral representation of the upstream end of the grappling hook of the [Fig.l].

[0026] Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective representation of the grappling hook of Fig. 1 with angular misalignment of one of its teeth.

[0027] [Fig.7] is a top view of [Fig.6].

[0028] Figure 8 is a schematic representation in the open position of a tool mine clearance mounted on the mine clearance device of the invention

[0029] Fig. 9 is a view analogous to Fig. 8 in the closed position.

[0030] Figure 10 is a schematic representation illustrating the reversible attachment of the grapple of the invention on the fork described in figures 8 and 9.

[0031] Fig. 11 is a side view of Fig. 10.

[0032] Fig. 12 is a schematic perspective view of the underside of the illustration of the [Fig.10]

[0033] Fig. 13 is a schematic perspective representation of the grappling hook received on the device of figures 8 and 9 according to another configuration.

[0034] Fig. 14 is a top view of the illustration in Fig. 13. Detailed description of the invention

[0035] The grapple (1) according to the invention, in this case equipped with two teeth or claws (16, 17), has been shown in relation to figures 1 to 7.

[0036] This consists of two tubes or hook arms (2) and (3), that is to say, they have an elbow allowing their upstream free end to be oriented substantially perpendicular to the rest of the tube.

[0037] Upstream refers to the direction of progression of the vehicle on the fork of which this grapple is intended to be reversibly secured, as will be described in more detail later.

[0038] These two tubes (2) and (3) are articulated (4, 5) at the level of an upper plate (6), so that their free end is capable of adopting several orientations, as can be seen in figures 4, 6 and 7.

[0039] This upper plate (6) has two coplanar lateral extensions (8) and (9), at the ends of which are attached reversible fastening elements (10) and (11) for the grapple on the fork (32) of a handling device, which will be described in more detail later. For example, these reversible fastening elements (10) and (11) are made of elastomer, i.e., with elastic properties, but any other reversible fastening element could be suitable.

[0040] The downstream end of the upper plate (6) is provided with a screw (12) intended to allow the attachment of a cable (13), said cable being intended to constitute the cable of a winch mounted at the front of a mine-clearing vehicle, to allow in operation, once the grapple has been detached from the fork (32) and moved away from said vehicle, to be towed.

[0041] The two free ends of the tubes (2) and (3) oriented perpendicularly with respect to the general direction of the grapple, are intended to receive by sliding tubes (14) and (15) on each of which is fixed a tooth or claw (16) and (17) of the grapple itself.

[0042] In order to allow for a plurality of possible orientations of the teeth (16, 17) on the one hand, and of depth of scraping within the minefield on which the grapple is intended to operate on the other hand, said grapple is equipped with two distinct adjustment systems.

[0043] The first is described more specifically with reference to Figures 4, 6, and 7. In fact, when it is desired to spread the claws or teeth (16, 17), this is made possible firstly by the articulation of the tubes (2) and (3) on the upper plate (6), as mentioned previously. To this end, said tubes are not only articulated (4) and (5) on the upper plate (6), but also fixed to the latter by knurled screws (18, 19), each passing through a through-hole (20) and (21) formed at the upstream edge of the lateral extensions (8) and (9) of said upper plate (6). These through-holes (20) and (21) are oriented in an arc precisely to allow the movement of the two tubes (2) and (3) relative to their respective articulation points (4) and (5).

[0044] Ideally, these through-lights (20) and (21) are provided with discreetly distributed extensions, typically allowing, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], a tube spacing of 10, 20 and 30° relative to the main longitudinal axis of the grapple.

[0045] In doing so, in the example described, a 60° clearance can be provided between the two tubes and therefore corollarily between the two teeth (16) and (17), depending on the needs of the terrain.

[0046] Furthermore, as previously stated, the teeth (16) and (17) are attached to tubes (14) and (15), which are themselves capable of sliding on the curved ends of tubes (2) and (3). These tubes (14) and (15) are pierced with through holes, as are the curved ends of tubes (2) and (3). These holes are capable of coinciding with each other to allow the height of the claws or teeth (16) and (17) to be fixed, again according to the requirements of the terrain. For this purpose, said tubes (14) and (15) are locked by means of keys of a type known per se.

[0047] As stated in the preamble, this grappling hook is intended to be reversibly attached to the fork (32) of a manipulator tool (30) of a mine-clearing vehicle. Such a fork is schematically illustrated in relation to Figures 8 (in open position) and 9 (in closed position).

[0048] The fork shown corresponds to that already described in the Applicant's document EP 4 283 241. The manipulator tool (30) is intended to be mounted at the end of a manipulation arm (31), itself mounted on the said mine-clearing vehicle not shown.

[0049] The manipulator tool (30) in question is fundamentally composed of a fork (32) comprising a plurality of claws or teeth, parallel to one another, and whose base lies in a plane (33). These claws, for details of which reference should be made to the previously cited document, have between them two spacers (34) and (35), respectively, the spacer (35) being, however, absent between the two central teeth or claws (36) and (37) for the reason that will follow. Indeed, this first series of teeth or claws is designed to cooperate with a single opposing claw (38) which, as can be observed in [Fig. 9], is designed to pass between the claws (36) and (37) and thus to cross the plane (33).

[0050] These different claws are articulated at the free end of the manipulation arm (31) and moved in rotation at the level of their respective articulation axis by jacks or equivalent system (briefly schematically shown in figures 8 and 9).

[0051] Figures 10 to 12 illustrate the reversible attachment of the grapple of the invention to the fork (32). The clipping of the reversible fastening means (9) and (10) onto the spacers (35) separating the tines of the fork (32) can thus be observed. In this configuration, it can be seen that, particularly in [Fig. 11], the upstream end of the grapple protrudes slightly beyond the end of the fork. (32). This clipping is made possible because of the elastic properties of means (9) and (10).

[0052] Once the specific location has been reached by means of the manipulator arm (31) and the fork (32), the grapple must be detached from the fork. To this end, the opposing claw (38) is tilted and comes to rest against the plate (7) located at the upstream end of the upper plate (6). This simple pressure detaches the grapple, and in particular the means (9) and (10), from the spacers (35). The grapple is then free from the fork (32), but remains attached to the mine-clearing vehicle by the winch cable (13), which allows traction to be applied to the grapple, thus enabling it to perform its function.

[0053] According to a variant of the invention, the grapple is not fixed under the fork (32) as illustrated in connection with figures 10, 11 and 12, but on said fork (32). In this case, the grapple is retrieved by the fork (32), which slides under said grapple, and therefore without human intervention, and the downstream end (36) of the upper plate (6) is curved and cooperates in particular by clipping with a corresponding member (37), provided in the vicinity of the base of the claws constituting the fork (32).

[0054] The full benefit of the present invention is clear, as it allows for the optimization of operator safety conditions and the preservation of the integrity of the demining vehicle and its various components.

Claims

Demands

1. Mine-clearing grapple (1) provided with at least one tooth or claw (16, 17), intended to take charge of an object and in particular a mine, characterized in that said at least one tooth or claw (16, 17) is attached to a support structure (2, 3), provided with reversible attachment means (9, 10) to a manipulator tool (30), in particular fixed on a vehicle.

2. Mine-clearing grappling hook (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with two teeth or claws (16, 17), and in that the support structure consists of two tubes (2, 3), articulated (4, 5) on an upper plate (6), and whose free end is curved and is intended to receive the teeth or claws 16, 17).

3. Mine-clearing grapple (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper plate (6) has two through-holes (20, 21), substantially symmetrical to each other with respect to the longitudinal axis of the grapple, and intended to cooperate with elements (18, 19) and in particular screws attached to the tubes (2, 3) in order to adjust the respective spacing of the latter with respect to the longitudinal axis, and therefore consequently the spacing of the teeth (16, 17).

4. Mine clearance grapple (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the slots (20, 21) have discreetly distributed extensions to facilitate adjustment of the spacing of the teeth (16, 17) as required at different angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the grapple.

5. Mine-clearing grapple (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the tubes (2, 3) are curved at their upstream end and in that the teeth or claws (16, 17) are themselves fixed on complementary tubes (14, 15) adapted to slide along the curved upstream ends of the tubes (2, 3) constituting the support structure of the grapple.

6. A mine-clearing grapple (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the curved upstream ends of the tubes (2, 3) constituting the support structure are provided with through holes adapted to cooperate with pin-type elements, inserted into said holes and into corresponding holes provided in the tubes (14, 15) on which the teeth (16, 17) are fixed, such that so as to allow the height adjustment of said teeth relative to the upper plate of the grapple.

7. A mine-clearing vehicle comprising a manipulator arm (31) at the end of which are articulated, on the one hand, a fork (32), said fork comprising a plurality of parallel claws positioned in the same plane (33), capable of lifting objects, in particular mines, and separated from each other by at least one spacer (35), and on the other hand, an opposing tooth or claw (38) capable of traversing the plane (33) defined by the fork (32), said mine-clearing vehicle incorporating a grapple (1) according to any one of the claims! QA

8. of U. Mine clearance vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the grapple (1) is reversibly attached to the fork (32), and is detached from said fork (32) by action of the antagonistic tooth or claw (38) on a pallet (7) of the upper plate (6) of the grapple (1).

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