Patent ID: 9062940
Filing Date: 2015-06-23
Classification: F41H

Abstract:
1. A steerable mine detonation roller apparatus adapted to be coupled to and uncoupled from a steered pushing vehicle, the steered pushing vehicle supported on pushing vehicle support members, each pushing vehicle support member configured to traverse a path, said steered pushing vehicle being steerable such that each pushing vehicle support member follows a turning radius, wherein the roller apparatus comprises coupling means for coupling the roller apparatus to and uncoupling the roller apparatus from the steered pushing vehicle, a frame and at least two spaced apart ground engaging members adapted to support the roller apparatus and adapted to exert a force on mines situated in the path of the roller apparatus, the force sufficient to cause detonation of such mines, the at least two spaced apart ground engaging members each pivotally attached to the frame so as to pivot with respect to the frame about respective spaced apart substantially vertical axes, and wherein at least one of the at least two spaced apart ground engaging members is steerable with respect to the frame, the apparatus further comprising a sensor for mounting on the pushing vehicle to sense a parameter related to the turning radius of the steered pushing vehicle, and a steering mechanism operatively connected to the at least one steerable ground engaging member, the steering mechanism including an actuator that varies the configuration of the steering mechanism, and a control system including a controller configured to receive from the sensor an input signal related to the turning radius of the steered pushing vehicle, to generate an actuator control signal related to the input signal from the sensor, and to control the actuator according to the actuator control signal, wherein the so controlled actuator configures the steering mechanism to pivot the at least one steerable ground engaging member with respect to the frame so as to steer the apparatus to follow a detonation path which provides that, in use, the path traversed by all pushing vehicle support members has been traversed by the ground engaging members of the roller apparatus and wherein a turning radius of at least a part of an innermost of the at least two spaced apart ground engaging members of the roller apparatus is less than the turning radius of an innermost of the pushing vehicle support members, and a turning radius of at least a part of an outermost of the at least two spaced apart ground engaging members of the roller apparatus is greater than the a turning radius of an outermost of the pushing vehicle support members.