Abstract:
A set of inert mines are loaded into a canister, where each of the inert mines includes a locating feature for a dispersion strap. A breech includes a reusable slider housing. A closure cap covers another end of the canister. An obturator is inserted into a breech end of the canister and connected as an interface between the canister and a breech. The dispersing strap is anchored to the breech where the dispersing strap is woven around the inert mines within the canister such that the strap traverses the locating feature of at least some of the inert mines so as to disperse the mines in a simulated mine dispersion pattern when the canister is fired.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally related to munitions training apparatus and, more particularly, to a reuseable practice munition for distributing inert mines in a consistant mine field pattern. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The armed forces are continually seeking training methods that are safe and inexpensive, yet closely represent tactical equipment use and performance. Currently, armed forces personnel use very unsophisticated methods for training personnel in the use of in rack mounted mine dispenser systems. As generally used in this specification the term “tactical” refers to a fully armed system having live mines and/or refers to parts employed in such tactical systems. The term “training” is used herein to denote inert systems used for training personnel in the use of the tactical systems. One example of a typical mine dispenser is broadly described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,332 to Van Sloun, issued Aug. 21, 1984 entitled Dispersing Mine Dispenser, all of the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     A prior training system incorporated a U.S. Army model M88 mine dispenser as a training canister. The prior M88 training canister dispensed cast aluminum dummy mines rather than tactical mines in an attempt to make training safer and more realistic. All other hardware in the M88 training canister, including the canister itself, was tactical U.S. Army model M87 hardware. The prior M88 training canister suffered from the significant drawback that it was not reusable. Demonstrations and training using such systems involving non-reuseable tactical hardware proved very expensive. As a result, the military forces have resorted to substituting less expensive training systems. 
     For example, in an effort to reduce costs, crude blocks of wood are hand tossed from trucks to represent mine locations. In such simulations, canisters are not actually fired, thus putting the trainees at risk for mistakes when they use a fully assembled and armed tactical system. In addition, such “training mine” locations are not indicative of a tactical minefield. Resulting safety and training issues indicate a heretofore unsatisfied need for inert equipment that demonstrates and trains users with regard to the safety features of the tactical equipment. 
     A motivation of the present invention is to provide a training system that is inexpensive because it employs reusable elements. Another motivation is to provide especially a system that does not require servicing by higher echelons and/or special maintenance facilities to prepare them for reuse. It is yet another motivation of the invention to provide a system that requires substantially less labor to assemble and use than currently known systems in order to reduce the costs associated with using such a system. At the same time, the present invention provides a more effective and more versatile training system that most closely resembles tactical use and performance of an actual tactical system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In contrast to the prior art, the present invention provides a reusable training dispenser for dispensing simulated mines including a canister with a payload simulating tactical mines loaded into said canister. A breech includes a reusable slider housing mounted thereon, wherein the breech includes a keyed connector for quick connection to a fire pulse circuit. An obturator is connected as an interface between the canister and the breech. 
     In another embodiment, a plurality of inert mines are loaded into a canister in end-to-end relationship, where each of said plurality of inert mines includes a locating feature for a dispersion strap. A breech includes a reusable slider housing mounted thereon. A closure cap covers another end of said canister. An obturator is inserted into a breech end of said canister and connected as an interface between the canister and a breech. The dispersing strap is anchored to said breech where the dispersing strap is woven around said plurality of inert mines within the canister such that the strap traverses the locating feature of at least some of said plurality of inert mines so as to disperse said plurality of mines in a simulated mine dispersion pattern when said canister is fired. 
     One advantage of the invention is that it provides a significantly less expensive training system than taught by the prior art. The reloadable canister of the invention exhibits about a 10-time reduction in cost over using a tactical system loaded with dummy mines for training. 
     Another advantage of the invention is that it provides a training system canister that can be reloaded for use multiple times safely and reliably by armed forces users with minimal required training and using just a few common tools. The training canister can accommodate 20 or more uses and the most expensive non-explosive items of the training canister are reusable. Those items that are not reusable have been designed to be relatively inexpensive so that discarding them does not add undue cost. For example, the dispersion strap in the training system is significantly less expensive than a tactical system, because electrical signal communication required by the tactical hardware is not needed with the inert payload of the training system. At the same time the training system&#39;s strap maintains dispersion performance substantially equivalent to that of tactical dispersion systems. 
     It is another advantage of the present invention that the training system&#39;s reloadable canisters very closely match the performance of the tactical system canisters in all significant aspects, from size and shape to payload dispersion. 
     It is yet another advantage of the present invention that payload for the training canisters is flexible depending on training requirements. Inert dummy mines that match tactical mine dispersion most closely are most often used and are fully reusable. These can be replaced by, for example, sand mines that also resemble the tactical mine but are not reusable and degrade soon after deployment. Other payloads might include laser activated mines, paint ball mines, or weight-simulating slugs. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic cut away view of an exemplary reusable training dispenser as employed in one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic drawing of one type of inert mine used in one example of the invention shown. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a schematic drawing showing the relationship of the obturator, tube, and breech before assembly for one example embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a schematic drawing showing the relationship of the tube and breech before assembly for one example embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the dispersing strap configuration within the tube as used in one example of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 shows a partial view of a tube assembly with a connected breech assembly as used in one example of the invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the breech assembly as used in one example of the invention. 
     FIG. 7A shows a more detailed view of a connector sleeve and plug connector. 
     FIG. 7B features a D-shaped plug connector that allows easy orientation for reassembly. 
     FIG. 7C is a more detailed view of a breech assembly receptacle connector. 
     FIG. 8 shows a cut away view of the breech assembly shown in FIG. 7 as used in one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a detailed top view of a slider assembly and slider housing as taken along lines  9 — 9  of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a typical mine dispersing pattern. 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic cut away view of an exemplary reusable training dispenser as employed in an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 12 shows a conceptional block diagram of another alternate embodiment of the present invention including a payload comprising a plurality of laser activated mines. 
     FIGS. 13 and 14 show conceptional block diagrams of a training dispenser in accordance with the present invention loaded with a plurality of paint ball mines and sand mines respectively. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     While the invention will be described herein with respect to certain specific useful embodiments, it will be understood that these examples are by way of illustration and the invention is not limited by these examples. Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic cut away view of an exemplary reusable training dispenser as employed in one embodiment of the invention is shown. A reusable training dispenser  100  includes a tube  10 , a plurality of inert mines  12 , a breech assembly  14 , a closure cap  16 , an obturator  20 , a dispersing strap  22 , an anchor  24 , and a slider housing assembly  26 . 
     The closure cap  16  is sealed with an o-ring  5  at the end of the tube  10 . A blast shield  107  and the anchor  24  are affixed to the breech assembly  14  using screws or equivalent attachment means. The breech assembly  14  includes a breech o-ring  6  for providing a seal between the breech and tube. The strap  22  includes a loop  3  for attachment to the anchor  24 . A cover plate  126  covers the slider housing  26 . 
     In the reusable training dispenser  100 , tactical mines are replaced with an inert payload. In a preferred embodiment the plurality of inert mines  12  comprise six (6) cast aluminum dummy mines loaded into the tube  10  in end-to-end relationship. The dummy mines are keyed for proper alignment to allow easy loading of the 6-mine stack into the tube. Each inert mine  12  includes a plurality of spring fingers  18 . When loaded into the tube  10 , each successive inert mine  12  is interlocked with the adjacent inert mine  12  by a means of an alignment mechanism  28 . The alignment mechanism  28  is preferably a pin that is inserted into an alignment slot or hole  29  located at the bottom of each mine  12 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that other payloads may also be employed. The payload could also be, for example, sand mines, laser activated mines, a single slug, or other payloads that simulate the weight of the tactical payload. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a more detailed schematic drawing of one type of inert mine  12  used in one example of the invention shown. Details shown in FIG. 2 include a plurality of spring fingers  18 , a centrally located slot  30 , and alignment mechanism  28 , namely an alignment pin in this example. The spring fingers  18  may comprise any suitable metal as used in the corresponding tactical mines. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, a schematic drawing shows the relationship of the obturator  20 , tube  10 , and breech assembly  14  during assembly in one example embodiment of the invention. The dispersing strap  22  is connected to the breech assembly  14  by anchor  24  (shown in FIG.  1 ). The dispersing strap  22  is then threaded through a slot  36  in the obturator  20 . When assembled, the strap  22  is slotted through slot  30  on each inert mine  12 . The obturator  20  includes an alignment hole  34  that aligns with pin  28  of the mine at the obturator end of the tube  10 . The tube  10 , obturator  20  and breech assembly  14  are assembled using screws, for example, or other reusable attachment means. Breech assembly  14  also includes an alignment slot  32  for aligning with pin  28 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, a schematic drawing shows the relationship of the breech assembly  14  and a loaded tube  10  prior to assembly in one example embodiment of the invention. The breech assembly  14  includes a breech alignment pin  42  located to align the breech assembly  14  and slot  44  in tube  10  while maintaining a proper location for strap  22 . 
     A more detailed view of the weaving pattern of the dispersing strap  22  is shown below with reference to FIG.  5 . There shown is the strap  22  as woven around the mines. For purposes of illustration, the first five mines are not shown, but if present, would occupy slots  51 . The leading mine  12  nearest the cover is attached to the strap  22  by an attachment means, such as a hook  27 . The hook  27  may be attached to the strap  22  through a slot  127 . The hook  27  temporarily restrains the first launched mine  12  when fired so as to assure proper dispersion of the payload. Alternatively, a piece of Teflon® tape or an equivalent substance or device may be used for attachment to the mine  12 . 
     The obturator  20  for an exemplary embodiment may preferably comprise a single, molded piece of polymeric material with few features. In relation to the tactical system, it is an inexpensive part that can be used once and replaced if necessary. While inexpensive, the polymeric material used in the obturator&#39;s fabrication still allows it to maintain its integrity under the expulsion gas pressure and temperature. The dispersing strap  22  may advantageously be made from standard webbing  23  (best shown in FIG. 3) with a sewn loop for attachment to the breech. The strap is prone to damage when the training system is fired, but is easily replaced and may be discarded after a single use. The webbing strap is also much easier to load into the canisters than the tactical strap because the critical alignment along the tactical strap for electronic communication is not necessary in the training munition. 
     As shown in FIG. 10, mine dispersion patterns substantially equivalent to tactical patterns are produced by the reusable training dispenser. The desired tactical pattern is replicated despite cost saving simplifications in the reloadable training system because the strap is still loaded into the canisters in the weaving pattern of the tactical canisters and attached to the breech block. The portion of the dispersing strap  22  that is subject to the expulsion gas is coated with a conformal coating such as, thinned silicone, so that it maintains its integrity to perform as an energy-absorbing tether and disperses the mines. A further innovation of the invention in order to maintain the correct dispersion is hooking the end of the strap to the first inert mine to exit the tube so that the strap is not pulled through the mine stack. 
     To operate in the same way as a tactical canister, the reuseable training canister receives a fire pulse from a launcher rack in which it is mounted. The launcher rack is a known assembly which is not shown in order to simplify and maintain focus upon the description of the invention. The electrical connection between the rack connector and the slider assembly to which the fire pulse is delivered is made in an exemplary reusable training dispenser with miniature connectors. The electrical connector design is novel and significantly different from the electrical connector design of the tactical version. 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, a partial view of a tube assembly with a connected breech assembly is shown. Connected to the breech assembly  14  is a slider housing  26 . A top view is taken of the top of the slider housing  26  along lines  7 — 7 . A removable shorting plug  113  may be inserted into connector  66  during reloading for safety reasons. 
     Referring now to FIG. 7, a top view of the slider housing  26 , as used in one example of the invention, is shown with the shorting plug  113 , housing cover and screw removed. Assembled within the slider housing is a slider assembly  70 . The slider assembly  70  includes a slider, an initiator  73 , fire pulse wires  71 , and a connector sleeve  72 , that is terminated by mating plug connector  75 . Fire pulse wires  71  are attached from the connector  75  to an initiator  73 . A breech assembly receptacle connector  76  accepts the slider sleeve  72  and plug connector  75 . 
     FIG. 7A shows a more detailed view of the connector sleeve  72  and plug connector  75 . The connector sleeve  72  includes a cutout  77  for strain relief for the fire pulse wires  71  when the wires are bent over for insertion of the slider assembly into the slider housing. FIG. 7B features the D-shaped plug connector  75  that allows easy orientation for quick connection reassembly. FIG. 7C is a more detailed view of the breech assembly receptacle connector  76  that is also D-shaped for receiving the D-shaped plug connector  75 . Other types of keying arrangements may be employed to allow quick connection of the fire pulse circuit to the breech assembly. 
     Referring now to FIG. 8, a cut away view of the slider assembly shown in FIG. 7 is there shown as used in one embodiment of the invention. Assembled within a bore  15  within the breech assembly  14  are a pressure cartridge  78 , a compression spring  82  and an orifice cup  67 . A barrier  80  is placed between the slider housing  26  and the breech assembly  14 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 9, a detailed top view of the slider housing assembly  26  is shown as taken along lines  9 — 9  of FIG.  6 . There shown in a top view is connector sleeve  72  having fire pulse wires  71  connected to the initiator  73  and bent over for assembly. Initiator  73  bears against a helical spring  86  to keep it in the out-of-line safe position when not installed in a launcher rack and armed. Plunger  84  may advantageously include a helical compression spring. Plunger  84  is aligned with a slot  85  in the slider housing  26 . In operation, the slider assembly operates to fire the pressure cartridge  78  (as shown in FIG. 8) in order to fire the mine dispersion munition. The plunger is depressed by a mechanism in the launcher rack allowing the slider assembly to slide in line once armed by another mechanism in the launcher rack. 
     Refer now simultaneously to FIGS. 7-9 showing different views of the slider assembly and breech in a typical installation. The mating plug connector  75  is attached to the fire pulse wires  71  leading to an initiator  73 . A sleeve  72  holds the connector  75  and fire pulse wires  71  so that the required electrical connection is made reliably. Orientation is important to prevent the fire pulse wires from becoming pinched and shorted. Since the slider assembly is an expended device in the canisters, it must be replaced each time a canister is fired. This electrical connection configuration renders the system, including the slider assembly housing  26 , reusable so that reloading can be accomplished quickly and reliably. In one optional embodiment, the connector plug  75  may be delivered with a safety shorting shunt so that the slider assembly is always shorted during handling and assembly until the point when the electrical connection is made. While that connection is being made, however, there is still a short in the system preventing unwanted discharge, because another shorting plug  113  is connected to the rack connector  66  in the breech housing until the entire reloading is complete. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1-5, the following steps describe assembly and/or reloading procedure for the reloadable training dispenser in an exemplary embodiment. 
     1. Four rivets  131  are inserted into holes  132  (as shown, for example, in FIG. 11) in the closure cap end of tube  10  and compressed until the rivets are retained. 
     2. The o-ring  5  is lubricated and mounted to the closure cap  16 . 
     3. The closure cap is inserted at the end of tube  10 . 
     4. The breech assembly  14  and obturator  20  with strap  22  are oriented such that the hole  34  in the obturator  20  lines up with slot  32  in the breech assembly  14 . 
     5. The anchor  24  is inserted into the loop  3  in strap  22 . The strap is kept untwisted from anchor to obturator. 
     6. The blast shield  107  and anchor  24  along with obturator  20  with strap  22  are affixed to the breech assembly  14  using screws. 
     7. Prior to inserting the first inert mine  12 , the alignment pin is oriented to the 10 o&#39;clock position relative to slot  44  of tube  10 , where slot  44  defines the 12 o&#39;clock position. 
     8. The hook  27  is attached to the strap  22  and hooked over the front corner of the leading mine. Then the strap  22  is placed in the slot at the 12 o&#39;clock position. The strap is not to contain a twist, and the mine alignment pin is oriented at the  10  o&#39;clock position. Slot  44  in tube  10  lines up with tape/strap at 12 o&#39;clock position. 
     9. The strap is woven into mine slots as best shown in FIG.  5 . 
     10. Alignment pins and slots for subsequent mines are similarly loaded leaving a short strap length. 
     11. Hole  34  in the obturator  20  mates to alignment pin  28  on the sixth mine  12  nearest the breech end of tube  10 . 
     12. O-ring  6  is lubricated and affixed to the breech. 
     13. Pin  42  on breech assembly  14  is aligned with slot  44  in tube  10 . 
     14. The strap  22  is folded into the breech cavity  19  and the breech is pressed into the obturator. 
     15. The breech is secured to the tube  10  using six screws. 
     Now referring to FIGS. 6-9, assembly of the slider housing into the breech proceeds according to the following steps. 
     1. Shorting plug  113  is inserted into connector  66 . 
     2. The spring  86  is placed into the slider housing. 
     3. The slider assembly  70  is inserted into the slider housing  26 . 
     4. Spring  82  is inserted into the breech bore  15 . 
     5. The expulsion cartridge  78  with o-ring is loaded into breech bore  15  aligned with the spring  82 . 
     6. The spring and plunger  84  are inserted into the breech. 
     7. Barrier  80  is positioned on the slider housing. 
     8. The plunger  84  is aligned to slot  85  in the slider housing. 
     9. The slider housing assembly is attached to the breech with two screws. 
     10. The slider connector plug  75  is pressed to engage it to the connector receptacle  76  in breech assembly  14 . 
     11. The cover plate is attached to the slider housing. 
     Referring now to FIG. 10, a reusable training dispenser  100  is shown immediately after firing to illustrate a typical mine dispersion pattern. The dispersion pattern is indicated by directional arrows  110  showing the dispersion direction of each inert mine  12 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 11, an alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown including a slug  114  loaded into canister  10 . A slug matching the tactical weight can be used if tactical dispersion is not required. The slug facilitates ease in recovering hardware. In this alternate embodiment the use of the dispersion strap is eliminated since only the single slug is launched to simulate mine payload. One useful slug shape is a dumbbell shaped slug. Otherwise, the training dispenser  200  is constructed substantially in the same manner as described above. 
     Referring now to FIG. 12, a conceptional block diagram of another alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown including a payload comprising a plurality of laser activated mines  202  loaded into dispenser  100 . Laser activated mines are known and may be constructed with substantially the same shape as the inert mines  12 . They are loaded into the dispenser in the manner described above with reference to the inert mines. Similarly, FIGS. 13 and 14 show conceptional block diagrams of a training dispenser  100  in accordance with the present invention loaded with a plurality of paint ball mines  204  and sand mines  206  respectively. 
     The invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the Patent Statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles of the present invention, and to construct and use such exemplary and specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention may be carried out by specifically different equipment and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment details and operating procedures, may be accomplished without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention.