Improvements in or relating to minefield breaching

Abstract

A mine clearance system for a tracked or wheeled vehicle. The system comprises a front-end plough system located in front of the vehicle and a rear-end plough system located behind the vehicle. The

Description

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide or relate to improvements in minefield breaching. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a mine clearance system fora tracked or wheeled military vehicle, the system comprising a front-end plough system located in front of the host vehicle and a rear end plough system located behind the host vehicle, the rear end plough system is full width, extending at least to the limits of the vehicle tracks or wheels. Plough systems often are created from a main ground-engaging blade, which may have ground-penetrating tines, a skim board or mould board, which can cut and divert soil mass that is excavated, and side extensions pieces, which further guide excavated soil, stones and mines to a spoil-heap, located beyond the edge of the cleared width. The blade is often connected by a means of raising and lowering, often through use of a hydraulic cylinder or other actuator, and a means of controlling the blade angle, through one or more linkage pieces or further hydraulic cylinders. The raising and lowering means may be used to increase or reduce downward forces if required. The front-end plough system (or front plough) may comprise a left-hand and righthand plough sub-system for each track I wheel and each sub-system extends at least the width of the respective track or wheel, with a central gap therebetween. Military vehicles are often provided with metal or rubber tracks with one left-hand and one right hand track, or with wheels arranged in pairs with a total of 4, 6, 8, or 10 wheels, but always arranged approximately in a line on the left and a line on the right. “Track” may be used to describe the line of action of either a wheel, caterpillar track, chain, rubber track or any ground-contacting means of propelling a vehicle and as such “track-width” is a term commonly used to describe the coverage of the line of action of tracks or wheels of vehicles. In some embodiments the front-end plough system may clear the full clearance width to a generally consistent, reduced depth. Compared to full-depth, full-width clearance this considerably reduces the draught force and skid loading and therefore vehicle rotation. The rear end plough system (or rear plough) may therefore act to increase this cleared depth to a greater depth, though with a smaller draught force acting on the rear plough system than if cleared in one pass. In some embodiments a clearance / breaching system could plough with front at full depth and rear at full depth to balance vehicle rotation; this may not save much in terms of draught force but could help traction. In some embodiments a front-end plough system uses a minimum number of tines to clear the section in front of the vehicle tracks. Compared to full-depth, full-width clearance this considerably reduces the draught force and skid loading and therefore vehicle rotation. The rear-end plough system may therefore only require to excavate or rake full depth across at least the central gap and partial depth extending at least to the limits of the vehicle tracks / wheels to displace previously excavated mines. This embodiment prioritises protection of the vehicle by clearing the “track-width” sections of mines, often pressure-activated. Pressure-activated mines located in the gap between track-width sections may not be triggered by the vehicle passing over. Additional vehicle protection can be applied by use of “disturber chains” or similar devices to trigger the otherwise uncleared mines that may pass underneath the host vehicle. In some embodiments the front-end plough sub-systems can move independently of each other. In some embodiments the front-end plough system is full width, extending at least to the limits of the vehicle tracks / wheels. The front-end plough system may comprise a plurality of front-end plough subsystems. In some embodiments the front-end plough sub-systems can move independently of each other. In some embodiments the front- and rear-end plough systems can move independently of each other. In some embodiments one or more tines may be provided on plough systems / sub-systems. Different tines, cutting edges, skim boards, and mould boards may be configured to doze, excavate, or rake and / or displace to different depths so that different parts of a front and / or rear plough system could be configured to provide different functions and / or to alter the balance of the system. Some embodiments provide or relate to a front and rear balanced plough. Linkages may be designed from analytical principles or empirical data to achieve the reactive forces and moments of the plough systems, which result from pushing or pulling the ground-engaging portion of the plough systems through the ground. With a combination of draught force acting to retard the motion of the vehicle, with the uplift or downdraught forces at the front and rear ploughs, the dual-plough system can react these forces through generation of balancing moments. In some embodiments the front plough comprises a plurality of sub-systems, typically but not limited to left-hand, centre and right-hand, which are partially or entirely free to move independently so as to ensure optimum ground contouring ability over uneven ground. In some embodiments the rear plough system comprises a plurality of subsystems which could comprise left-hand, centre and right-hand sub-systems, which are partially or entirely free to move independently so as to ensure optimum ground contouring ability over uneven ground. In some embodiments front and / or rear plough systems can be lifted to a stowed position. In some embodiment front and / or rear plough systems can be solely or further folded to be stowed on top of the vehicle. Some systems allow dynamic adjustment of pushdown and uplift through adjustment of plough blade attitude. Some systems allow dynamic adjustment of pushdown and uplift through force applied to actuators used for raising and lowering. The present invention also provides a crewed vehicle having a system as described herein. The present invention also provides a UGV having system as described herein. Some embodiments are configured to allow a Remote (Robotic) Combat Vehicle (RCV) to push a mine plough through the ground when the RCV has a lower traction than traditional breacher vehicles. Generally, the crew in mine clearance vehicles do not like passing over mines, even if the mines are between the tracks. Using an RCV removes this concern as there are no human occupants and enables a front and rear configuration to be adopted. A system may be fitted directly to a vehicle. Alternatively or additionally a system may be provided as one or more modules. Some embodiments are provided as a minefield breaching mission payload for an uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV). Some embodiments are configured as a Modular Mission Payload (MMP) suitable for minefield breaching operations. Some embodiments are configured to lift the plough systems clear of the ground into an initial stowed position. Some embodiments are solely or further configured to fold the plough systems to stow on top of the vehicle. Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together. Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims. The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures. Example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein. The terminology used herein to describe embodiments is not intended to limit the scope. The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are singular in that they have a single referent, however the use of the singular form in the present document should not preclude the presence of more than one referent. In other words, elements referred to in the singular can number one or more, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and / or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, items, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Figures 1 to 5 illustrate a UGV-based mine clearance system. Figures 6 to 8 illustrate a crewed vehicle based mine clearance system. Figures 9 to 12 illustrate the two-pass nature of the front and rear plough systems acting in tandem to create full-width and full-depth mine clearance: Figure 9 shows the clearance profile of a front-end plough system with full-width clearance to partial depth across the width. Figure 10 shows the clearance profile of the matching rear-end plough system, which achieves full-depth clearance across the full width on the second pass. Figure 11 shows the clearance profile of a front-end plough system with track-width clearance to full depth and leaves a central gap Figure 12 shows the clearance profile of the matching rear-end plough system, which achieves full-depth clearance of the central gap and partial-depth clearance of the previously cleared track-width sections, thereby achieving fullwidth clearance. The embodiments are based around two main features: • The design of the mine plough minimises the tractive effort required to push the mine plough. • The design of the linkage maximises the traction available from the vehicle. A plough requires a skid to maintain contact with the ground to enable ground contouring. Variation in soil conditions result in differences in the soil force characteristics. As the skid loading is a ratio of draught force; the number of tines increases the draught force which therefore increases the skid load. A full width front only plough will generate a large draught force and skid loading and will rotate the vehicle backwards onto its rear roadwheel. No restoring moment will be generated, and it is unlikely the vehicle will be able provide the maximum traction possible, thus the vehicle is unlikely to plough successfully. The front and rear plough systems formed in accordance with the present invention attempts to balance the system. In these embodiments a (relative to the direction of travel) front end plough system uses a minimum number of tines to clear the section in front of the vehicle tracks. Compared to full width clearance this considerably reduces the draught force and skid loading and therefore vehicle rotation. To provide full width clearance the centre section can be ploughed on the rear of the vehicle and using a suitably designed linkage; the rear skid force can be used to provide a vehicle restoring moment to provide a level vehicle maximising track contact area. These features were included to minimise the amount of soil movement and therefore make the plough easier to push. A result of moving less soil is a ploughed lane which is more raked than dozed. To provide full width clearance the centre section can be ploughed on the rear of the vehicle and using a suitably designed linkage; the rear skid force can be used to provide a vehicle restoring moment to provide a level vehicle maximising track contact area. The addition of a hydraulic system to either pushdown or uplift the front and I or rear plough systems to provide an adjustable balancing moment on the vehicle. The adjustment can be done either manually, preset or automatically. Pushdown increase the skid loading and raises the vehicle; uplift decreases the skid loading and lowers the vehicle. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A mine clearance system for a tracked or wheeled vehicle, the system comprising a front-end plough system located in front of the host vehicle and a5 rear-end plough system located behind the host vehicle, the rear end plough system is full width, extending at least to the limits of the vehicle tracks or wheels, in which the front-end plough system comprises a plough sub-system for each track and each sub-system extends at least the width of the respective track or wheel, with a central gap therebetween.io2. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which the rear-end plough system excavates or rakes full depth across at least the central gap and partial depth extending at least to the limits of the vehicle tracks / wheels to displace previously excavated mines.

153. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the front-end plough sub-systems can move independently of each other.

4. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the front-end plough 20 system is full width, extending at least to the limits of the vehicle tracks / wheels.

5. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the front-end plough sub-systems can move independently of each other.17 12256. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the front and rear end plough systems can move independently of each other.

7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which front and / or rear 5 plough systems are provided with one or more tines.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, in which a plurality of tines are provided and different tines provide different ground penetration depths.io 9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which front and / or rear plough systems can be lifted to a stowed position.

10. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which front and / or rear plough systems can be solely or further folded to be stowed on top of the vehicle.1511. A system as claimed in any preceding claim which allows dynamic adjustment of pushdown and uplift through adjustment of plough blade attitude.

12. A system as claimed in any preceding claim which allows dynamic20 adjustment of pushdown and uplift through force applied to actuators used for raising and lowering.

13. A crewed vehicle having a system as claimed in any preceding claim.

14. An uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) having a system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12.

15. A UGV as claimed in claim 14, whereby the vehicle is remote controlled, 5 tele-operated, autonomously controlled, or any other.

16. A vehicle as claimed in any of claims 13 to 15, in which the system is fitted directly to the vehicle.io 17. A vehicle as claimed in any of claims 13 to 15, in which the system is provided as one or more detachable modules.17 1225

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