Patent ID: 6539871
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: F42B

Abstract:
A method for making an inert degradable practice mine comprising the steps of:(a) covering a flat work surface with a polyethylene sheet to serve as a release film; (b) weighing out a predetermined amount of sand to a lesser predetermined amount of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA); (c) mixing to evenly distribute the PVA throughout the sand making a sand/PVA mixture; (d) providing a cylindrical mold having an internal circumference and placing a release sheet around the internal circumference of the cylindrical mold; (e) filling the cylindrical mold with the sand/PVA mixture; (f) consolidating the sand/PVA mixture to make a consolidated form; (g) removing the consolidated form from the cylindrical mold; and (h) heating the consolidated form at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time period to make an inert degradable hardened mine form mimicking the shape and launching characteristics of a tactical mine.