Minefield clearing apparatus

A minefield clearing apparatus for attachment to a vehicle and having: an interface assembly for raising and shunting aside mines and other objects buried below the ground surface including: an articulated rake having a pluraity of plow teeth which, in operation, extend below the ground surface; and a conveyor apparatus extending along the side of the vehicle and adapted to transport the contents of the earth raised by the articulated rake to the rear of the vehicle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to explosive mine destroying devices employed 
in wartime activities. In particular, it relates to a plowing device 
mountable on a tank or other armored vehicle for raising and shunting 
aside mines and unexploded ordinance buried beneath the ground surface. A 
mine collecting ramp located behind the device's plow face directs the 
uncovered contents of the earth to a chute having a conveyor bet for 
separation from soil, inspection and final disposal away from the 
vehicle's path. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Modern warfare has become highly mechanized. Foot soldiers of today are 
supported by an array of technological marvels. Supersonic aircraft and 
long range missiles pierce enemy territory from the air while heavily 
fortified tanks and high speed troop carriers enhance capabilities upon 
the ground. Both air and ground support are crucial in the winning of a 
battle. The failure of either may spell the difference between victory and 
defeat. 
Land mines have been developed to neutralize an opponent's ground support 
capabilities. These simple yet effective devices, buried below the 
ground's surface avoiding ready detection, explode violently when 
triggered. Triggering may be caused by: pressure exerted by a soldier's 
boot, vibration transmitted to the ground by a passing vehicle, or 
movement of a metallic object through a magnetic field. The explosive 
force of some mines is so great that a heavily armored and fortified tank 
may be destroyed. 
Various systems have been developed to detect and remove land mines from 
the path of oncoming troops and equipment. One such system utilizes a plow 
mounted on the front of a tank and driven through the soil to expose and 
sweep aside mines. These mine plows have been effective when combined with 
powerful, heavy tanks since, their power and tractive ability easily 
propel the plow through roots, clay, or uneven terrain. 
The standard mine plow has two separate blades for cutting the earth and 
exposing mines. These blades are generally oriented in V-shaped fashion at 
the front of a tank or other vehicle. When driven forward through the 
ground surface, two earthen berms are formed of spoil material pushed 
tangentially along the blades away from the path of the vehicle. The spoil 
material often contains mines and other unexploded ordinance which did not 
detonate upon contact with the plow. 
While V-shaped blades provide adequate protection for a single vehicle 
equipped with such, they are impractical for clearing large areas of 
mines. In clearing large areas, the plow is usually systematically moved 
in parallel paths across the entirety of the target area. Without 
overlapping the paths by a minimum of one half of the V-shaped blades, 
overall width, one can not be assured that the area being cleared is 
indeed free of mines. Such an overlap prevents previously exposed berm 
material from being plowed back into the previously cleared area. Due to 
the inefficiency of the currently available mine clearing devices in 
eliminating mines from large areas, a need has arisen for a more efficient 
device. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
Attempts have been made to overcome some of the deficiencies associated 
with prior art plows. Nonetheless, most of the development in the art has 
been concentrated upon improving plows with deficient V-shaped blades. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,694 issued Aug. 28, 1984 to Azulai et al discloses a 
mine clearing apparatus having two widely spaced plow blades oriented so 
as to form a "V" and a frame mountable to a vehicle for selectable 
positioning in a raised or lowered orientation. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,053 issued Nov. 12, 1985 to Bar-Nefy et al describes a 
minefield clearing apparatus mountable upon a vehicle having two widely 
spaced plow blades oriented so as to form a "V" and apparatus for 
automatically raising the plow from its lowered orientation to its raised 
orientation in response to backwards motion of the vehicle. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,053 issued Nov. 12, 1985 to Bar-Nefy et al shows a 
minefield clearing apparatus mountable upon a vehicle having two widely 
spaced plow blades oriented so as to form a "V", such blades have two plow 
sections. An upper section moves soil, sliced by the teeth of the lower 
section, laterally. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,844 issued May 27, 1986 to Bar-Nefy et al discloses a 
minefield clearing apparatus for attachment to a vehicle having two widely 
spaced plow blades so as to form a "V" which may be raised or lowered 
automatically from inside the vehicle. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,567 issued May 26, 1987 to Schreckenberg describes an 
apparatus for clearing light land mines provided with clearing elements 
which can freely move up and down independently of one another and which 
are disposed in a V-shaped movable carrier attachable to a vehicle. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,030 issued Sep. 1, 1987 to Bar-Nefy et al provides a 
minefield clearing apparatus for attachment to a vehicle having two widely 
spaced plow blades oriented so as to form a "V" and being a 
continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,844. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,940 issued Mar. 1, 1988 to Bar-Nefy et al discloses a 
tank mounted minefield clearing apparatus having a single plow section 
mounted parallel to the front of a vehicle and having a conveyor apparatus 
extending along the length of the plow section adapted to convey the 
contents of the earth raised by the plow section to one side of the 
vehicle. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,330 issued Mar. 20, 1990 to Kasher et al describes an 
automotive earth moving vehicle for civil and military applications having 
a blade which is comprised of two horizontally linked segments adapted to 
alternate between a single plane dozer mode and a V-shape plow mode. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,9l9,034 issued Apr. 24, 1990 to Firth discloses a mine 
clearing apparatus having at least one plow blade and mounted in such a 
way that such a blade is pivotable about two axes. The preferred 
embodiment of the invention discloses an apparatus with two separate 
blades orientated in V-shaped fashion. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,114 issued Jul. 3, 1990 to Matthews et al shows a mine 
clearing apparatus having float shoes that slide along the ground and 
adjust to maintain a chosen plowing depth. The float shoes are caused to 
move by powered adjusting means mounted upon a crossbeam and controlled by 
sensing means. The preferred embodiment of the inventive apparatus is 
provided with two blades oriented in V-shaped fashion. 
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in 
combination, is seen to describe the instant minefield clearing apparatus 
as claimed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present inventive minefield clearing apparatus seeks to overcome the 
difficulties and disadvantages possessed by the aforementioned prior art 
devices. 
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an 
improved minefield clearing apparatus which will deposit only one berm as 
a result of its plowing action. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a minefield clearing 
apparatus with a ramp placed immediately behind the plow face for 
collecting mines and other objects exposed by plowing. 
It is still another object of the invention to provide a minefield clearing 
apparatus with a rake extension member for directing mines and other 
objects exposed by plowing toward the ramp. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a minefield clearing 
apparatus with a conveyor belt for transporting mines and other objects 
exposed by plowing from the front of the vehicle to which the inventive 
apparatus is attached to its rear. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a minefield clearing 
apparatus with an improved interface assembly for secure attachment to a 
vehicle. 
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a minefield clearing 
apparatus with a segmented plow face permitting pivotal movement of each 
segment about an axis substantially parallel to the path of travel of the 
vehicle to which the apparatus is attached. 
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and 
arrangements thereof in a minefield clearing apparatus for the purposes 
described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in 
accomplishing its intended purposes. 
These and other objects of the present inventive minefield clearing 
apparatus will become readily apparent upon further review of the 
following specification and drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings a minefield clearing apparatus 1 is shown in 
FIG. l attached to the front of a tank 2. The apparatus 1 has: an 
interface assembly 3 which is rigidly fixed to the front of the tank 2; a 
singular plow face 4 which extends traversely of the path of forward 
travel of tank 2 being the same as the longitudinal axis 5 of the tank 2; 
and frame G reinforcing the plow face 4 and being joined by pins 7 to 
interface assembly 3. 
It will be seen in FIG. 2 that the plow face 4 is attached to frame 6 
having a shape, when viewed from above, similar to that of a right 
triangle. Plow face 4 extends laterally and inwardly from its distal end 8 
to its inner end 9 being closer to tank 2. During minefield clearing 
operations as the plow face 4 is moved through the ground surface, mines 
10, unexploded ordinance, or other objects unearthed by plow face 4 will 
move along the front of plow face 4 and will he deposited as part of an 
earthen berm 11 adjacent to end 9 and outside of the path of the tank 2. 
The plow face 4 is provided with a row of teeth 12 and 13 alternatingly 
positioned along its length and is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Teeth 12 
have a forward facing projection 14 assisting in lifting objects buried 
beneath the ground surface. Each of teeth 13 has a substantially vertical 
leading edge without a forward facing projection. Teeth 13 provide the 
plow face 4 with added ground cutting ability and strength. Teeth 12 and 
13 are joined by horizontal stiffening members 15. Stiffening members 15 
are vertically separated from one another, span the length of the plow 
face 4 and join adjacent teeth 12 and 13. During minefield clearing 
operations, teeth 12 and 13 and stiffening members 15 form a lattice or 
grid permitting objects of small size to pass therebetween while 
simultaneously retaining objects of larger dimensions such as mines. The 
grid additionally reduces drag upon the plow face 4 while in use since a 
significant quantity of earthen material which would otherwise be retained 
against the plow face 4 and plowed into berm 11 will return to the ground 
surface with little movement. 
The teeth 12 and 13 are mounted to rails 16 comprising the leading edge of 
frame 6, and extend outwardly therefrom. Rails 16 reinforce the plow face 
4 and are supported above and below by push beam assemblies 17. Additional 
support for the rails 16 is provided by intermediate push bars 18 which 
are joined to brackets 19 by pins 20. 
Attached to the forward ends of push beam assemblies 17 are skid shoe 
bearing arms 21 and supporting shoes 22 best seen in FIG. 3. It is 
contemplated that each skid shoe bearing arm 21 will be of identical 
configuration and interchangeable. Damage caused in the field by an 
exploding mine 10a can be efficiently repaired by replacement of arm 21 or 
attached shoe 22 which may be joined, to each other and to push beam 
assemblies 17, by removable pins 50 or other fastening devices. The ground 
engaging skid shoe 22 is adjustable in height. Altering the depth at which 
the teeth 12 and 13 penetrate the ground surface is accomplished by manual 
adjustment of telescoping legs or supports 23 which, in turn, raise or 
lower the attached skid shoe 22. Brace support bar 51 of appropriate 
length may be fastened to the telescoping legs 23 providing additional 
support thereto. 
The interface assembly 3 joins the minefield clearing apparatus 1 to a 
vehicle such as tank 2 and is best seen in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. The 
interface assembly 3 has a mounting hood 24 which may be manufactured with 
various cross sectional configurations in order to closely fit the vehicle 
to which it is to be attached. Nonetheless, the configuration disclosed in 
the preferred embodiment has a V-shaped cross section. The hood 24 is 
joined by pins 25 fitted through mount locks 26 integrally joined to the 
tank 2. The mount locks 26 pass through holes 27 placed in the hood 24. 
Extending horizontally forward from the mounting hood 24 is a hinge bar 28 
to which frame 6 may he joined. Joining is accomplished by inserting pins 
29 through aligned holes in hinge bar brackets 52 and transverse push beam 
30. 
A second embodiment of a minefield clearing apparatus shown in FIGS. 8 and 
9. This particular embodiment of the apparatus provides conveyor belts 31 
and 32 for transporting the contents of the earth raised by the plow face 
4 to the rear of the vehicle along a line substantially parallel to the 
direction of travel of the vehicle. Conveyor belts 31 and 32 are mounted 
within a mine collecting chute 33 and mine collecting ramp 34 
respectively. The chute 33 forms a continuous channel from the front to 
the rear of the vehicle permitting movement of contents of the earth 
uncovered by the plow face 4 therein. The chute 33 has a first continuous 
belt track 35 for support above the ground surface and first side walls 36 
mounted perpendicularly to each other above track 35 for retaining 
materials. Track 35 is capable of being rotated when the tank 2 is driven 
over the ground surface and may be frictionally engaged by roller 53 with 
conveyor belt 31 which forms the floor of the chute 33. When engaged, the 
motion of tank 2 over the ground surface will cause belt 31 to turn. The 
ramp 34, on the other hand funnels and lifts the contents of the earth 
uncovered by plow face 4 to a height above the ground surface and deposits 
such within chute 33. The ramp 34 has a second continuous belt track 37 
for support and a belt 32 forming a portion of the ramp floor 38. Track 37 
is capable of being rotated when the tank 2 is driven over the ground 
surface and in a manner similar to that described for belt 31, motion may 
be imparted to conveyor bet 32. 
As conveyor belts 31 and 32 are directly driven by continuous belt tracks 
35 and 37, their speed of rotation is dependent upon the speed of the 
vehicle over the ground surface. While the vehicle is moving slowly over 
the ground surface, belts 31 and 32 will rotate slowly. As the vehicle 
accelerates, belts 31 and 32 will accelerate and an increased flow of 
materials may be transported over them. When the vehicle comes to rest 
belts 31 and 32 will stop. 
Funneling objects buried beneath the ground surface uncovered by plow face 
4 to ramp 34 is a rake extension member 60, having teeth 12 and 13 mounted 
thereon in a fashion similar to plow face 4, angularly joined to frame 6. 
Member 60 extends from inner end 9 of the plow face 4 forward and away 
from tank 2. This "funnel" prevents mines and unexploded ordinance from 
bypassing the ramp 34 increasing confidence that the area plowed by the 
instant minefield clearing apparatus is free of mines. 
A third embodiment of a minefield clearing apparatus is shown in FIGS. 10 
and 11. Whereas each of the previously discussed embodiments were equipped 
with a single plow face 4 extending traversely of the path of forward 
travel of tank 2, it is desirable to divide the plow face into pivotable 
segments 38 and 39. Pivoting segments 38 and 39 permit a more consistent 
plowing depth across the length of the plow face by the apparatus moving 
across uneven terrain. Pivotal movement about pins 40 is accomplished as 
skid shoes 22 attached to the ends of segments 38 and 39, not shown in 
FIGS. 10 and 11, ride over uneven terrain raising or lowering segments 38 
and 39 relative to central push beam assembly 17. Additional support for 
the pivot mechanism is provided by pivot bars 41 joined at on end to push 
beam assembly 17 and at the other to guide rods 42 extending from pivot 
plate 43 joining rails 16. 
When the apparatus 1 is no longer required for a particular mine clearing 
operation, the plow face 4 and frame 6 can be disconnected from the 
interface assembly 3 mounted upon tank 2 by removal of pins 7. By means of 
a small winch (not shown) mounted upon the tank 2 or a third vehicle, the 
plow face and frame assembly 4 and 6 may be placed upon a small trailer 
(not shown) and transported to a desired location. 
it is to be understood that the present minefield clearing apparatus is not 
limited to the embodiments described above but encompasses any and all 
embodiments within the scope of the following claims.