Apparatus for remotely lifting a buried explosive device

An apparatus for lifting a buried explosive device includes a T-shaped base including a flange member and a web member. The web member has one end fixed at a right angle to the midpoint of the flange member. A vertical upright member is fixed at one end to the midpoint of the flange member. A diagonal member is fixed at one end to the other end of the vertical upright member and fixed at another end to a second end of the web member that is distal the flange member. The vertical upright member is at least twice a length of the web member. The flange member, the web member, the vertical upright member and the diagonal member are L-channel members made of carbon fiber.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates in general to explosive ordnance disposal, and in particular to the removal of explosive devices that are buried in the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) personnel (operators) are often required to carry the necessary EOD tools on their person for a long distance. This requirement may arise because the EOD work area is not easily accessible to vehicles or because vehicles are not available or for other reasons. In any event, the EOD tools and equipment must be small in size (or easily disassembled into a small size) and small in weight to enable carriage by an EOD operator.

In the case of buried explosive threats, the EOD operator often removes the explosive threat from the ground before disarming or otherwise neutralizing the threat. The explosive threat may be manually removed from the ground. Manual excavation may be accomplished by digging around the explosive threat using an ice ax, pick, shovel, human hands, probe, etc. These methods have a high risk of injury or death to the OED personnel. Thus, a method of removing the explosive threat from the ground where the OED operator is remote from the explosive threat is desired.

Many devices are known for lifting objects remotely from the ground, but most of the known devices are large and heavy and are not man-portable by one person. There are some known, man-portable remote removal devices. These conventional remote removal devices include tripods that are erected over the buried explosive device. First, a portion of the explosive device is manually uncovered. A lanyard or other connector (for example, a connector from a Hook and Line (HAL) EOD kit) is fixed at one end to the explosive device. The other end of the connector is fixed to the hub of the tripod or fed through a pulley that is fixed to the hub of the tripod. A pull line is connected to the hub of the tripod or to the connector that feeds through the pulley. The pull line is remotely pulled by one or more OED operators to lift the explosive device from the ground. In the case of an explosive device weighing up to 400 pounds, the conventional devices mechanically fail and do not lift the explosive device out of the ground.

A need exists for an apparatus and method for remotely lifting explosive devices from the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the invention to provide an apparatus for lifting a buried explosive device. Advantageously, the L-channel members will nest together to save pack space. Another advantage of apparatus10is the ability to configure the various L-channel members in other configurations that are useful to EOD operators, for example, a stand-off stick or disrupter stand.

The invention will be better understood, and further objects, features, and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-6, an apparatus10for removing a buried explosive device42(FIG. 7) includes a T-shaped base12having a flange member14and a web member16. The web member16has one (first) end22fixed at a right angle to the midpoint44of the flange member14to form the T-shaped base12. A vertical upright member18is fixed at one (first) end to the midpoint44of the flange member14and is normal to the plane of the T-shaped base12. The vertical upright member18has a second end24that is distal the T-shaped base12. A diagonal member20has a first end fixed to the second end24of the vertical upright member18and is fixed at its second end to a second end26of the web member16that is distal the flange member14.

In an exemplary embodiment, the vertical upright member18is at least twice the length of the web member16. Particularly, the vertical upright member18is about 2.3 times the length of the web member16. The flange member14may be about the same length as the web member16. The difference in length between the vertical upright member18and the web member16produces a mechanical advantage when lifting explosive device42. This configuration is so because apparatus10functions as a lever having the form of a truss. The fulcrum of the lever is the midpoint44of flange member14.

The flange member14, the web member16, the vertical upright member18and the diagonal member20are, for example, L-channel members made of carbon fiber. The vertical upright member18may be made of at least two sub-members18a,18band the diagonal member20may be made of at least two sub-members20a,20b. The sub-members18a,18band20a,20bmay be connected together with fasteners32, such as threaded bolts and nuts. Fasteners32may be inserted in openings in the sub-members.

Apparatus10may be strengthened with a first brace28that extends at an angle from the vertical upright member18to one side of the flange member14. In addition, a second brace30may extend at an angle from another side of the flange member14to the web member16. Brace30is in the plane of the T-shaped base12. The first brace28and second brace30are fixed to flange member14on opposite sides of vertical upright member18. Braces28and30may be fixed at their respective ends to the other members using, for example, fasteners32, such as bolts and nuts. Braces28and30are, for example, L-channel members made of carbon fiber.

FIG. 8is a schematic side view of the apparatus10ofFIG. 1with a pull line34and an explosive device42connected to it. Pull line34has one (first) end fixed at the intersection of the second end24of the vertical upright member18and the diagonal member20. Pull line34may be, for example, a pull line from an EOD Hook and Line (HAL) kit. Pull line34may include pulleys or other devices. The other (second) end46of pull line34is free and is located distal the vertical upright member18. The other (second) end also known as the free end of line34is remote from apparatus10so that personnel pulling on line34will not be injured in case the explosive device42detonates while it is being pulled from the ground.

A connector36is configured to connect the apparatus10to the buried explosive device42. Connector36may be, for example, a lanyard or a connector found in a HAL kit. Connector36is fixed at one (first) end to the intersection of the second end26of the web member16and the diagonal member20. The other (second) end of connector36is fixed to the buried explosive device42. The top of the buried explosive device42is uncovered, for example, by manual means, so that connector36may be fixed to explosive device42.

The explosive device42that is disposed below the adjacent ground level G is fixed to the connector36. As shown inFIG. 9, the pull force on pull line34causes the apparatus10to rotate (counterclockwise inFIG. 9), thereby lifting the explosive device42up to ground level without mechanical failure of the apparatus10. Apparatus10functions as a lever having the form of a truss. In particular, apparatus10may lift an explosive device42having a weight up to about 400 pounds. Once explosive device42is out of the ground, the EOD operators may better evaluate how to disarm or otherwise render device42harmless.

The L-channel members include flange member14, web member16, vertical upright member18, diagonal member20and braces28,30.FIG. 10is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary L-channel member38. Each L-channel member includes a pair of legs40,40normal to each other. In one exemplary embodiment, the L-channel members all have the same thickness and cross-sectional area. The thickness t of each L-channel member may be in a range of about 0.085 inches to about 0.165 inches. More particularly, the thickness t is about 0.125 inches. In one embodiment, each leg is of the same width w. The width w may be in a range of about 1.0 inches to about 2.0 inches. More particularly, the width w of the equal width legs is about 1.5 inches.

A suitable example of carbon fiber L-channel has a tensile strength of 512 ksi and a tensile modulus of 33.4 Msi. Carbon fiber L-channel may be obtained from, for example, DragonPlate.com, Elbridge, N.Y., USA. The commercial off the shelf L-channel may be sold in 4 foot lengths.

Apparatus10is carried by the EOD operator, along with many other items. In one embodiment, apparatus10has a weight less than about 5 pounds. More particularly, apparatus10has a weight of no more than about 3 pounds. In one exemplary embodiment, the length of vertical upright member18is in the range of about 36-42 inches and the lengths of web member16and flange member14are in the range of about 16-21 inches. Because upright member18and diagonal member20may be made of sub-members18a,18band20a,20b, the disassembled lengths of upright member18and diagonal member20are about one-half their respective assembled lengths. In terms of U.S. military applications, the back-packable length of the L-channel members is no more than about 24-30 inches. Advantageously, the L-channel members will nest together to save pack space.

Another advantage of apparatus10is the ability to configure the various L-channel members in other configurations that are useful to EOD operators, for example, a stand-off stick or disrupter stand. In addition, when multiple EOD operators each carry an apparatus10, the L-channel members of the multiple apparatus may be combined to construct, for example, a ladder or a pedestrian bridge.

Any numerical parameters set forth in the specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding.