Patent Publication Number: US-8522661-B2

Title: Mobile equipment for detonating explosives and a motorized unit for securing roads, tracks or similar

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This is a national phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT Application No. PCT/FR2009/0052431, filed Dec. 8, 2009, which claims the benefit of French application Ser. Nos. 08/06923 filed Dec. 10, 2008 and 09/02757 filed Jun. 8, 2009, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF ART 
     The present disclosure relates to a mobile equipment intended for detonating explosives such as for instance, improvised explosive devices (IEDs). 
     BACKGROUND 
     As known, the proliferation of improvised explosive devices, in particular in areas of conflict, is an ever increasing threat towards (both military or civil) vehicles and individuals following the roads and tracks where they are concealed, because such improvised explosive devices are manufactured in a relatively simple and traditional way from easily commercially available components and/or mechanisms being diverted from their initial use, allowing to design more specifically the cocking and ignition means thereof. Furthermore, the small size of such devices allows them to be concealed easily. 
     The activation mode of improvised explosive devices laid on roads occurs in particular from vibration or infrared, pressure, traction or breaking wire sensors, being concealed on the verges of roads or completely or partially buried in the ground and being activated upon the passage of the vehicles themselves, resulting in said devices being detonated. 
     However, in order to fight against the explosives, devices are already known comprising a supporting structure able to be attached at the front of a motorized vehicle such as a tank and mechanical means (with ploughs, beams, rollers, picks and discs) and/or electromagnetic means being integral with the structure so as to activate and destroy mines buried in the ground. However, such mine clearing devices are not adapted for processing traffic roads since they break up the ground upon their progress being in other respects very slow and are not studied nor designed for activating improvised explosive devices, often of small size, and detonating from different actuation modes. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present method, system and device aim at overcoming such drawbacks and relates to a mobile equipment of the above mentioned type, the design of which allows to efficiently act against improvised explosive devices and to secure the roads followed as such upon the progress of the vehicle. 
     To this end, the mobile equipment for detonating explosives, such as, more specifically, improvised explosive devices and of the type comprising a supporting structure able to be connected at the front of a motorized vehicle and on which means are provided for activating said explosives, is remarkable, according to the present method, system and device:
         in that said supporting structure consists in a front part with a beam arranged transverse to the forward direction of said vehicle and at least as wide as the latter, and a substantially longitudinal part, able to be connected, via its end, to said vehicle and being integral, via its other end, with said transverse beam front part, and   in that said activation means are mounted on said transverse beam front part and comprise at least:
           a mass decoy device;   a mechanical decoy device; and   an electrical thermal decoy device,
 
said devices being intended for activating, at the front of the vehicle, said explosives detonated respectively by pressure sensors, wire and antenna sensors and infrared sensors.
   
               

     Thus, thanks to the present method, system and device, the mobile equipment can cope with different actuation modes of the improvised explosive devices, allowing to reduce the vulnerability of the vehicle towards such threats. The simplicity of achievement is however to be noticed for the transverse beam structure advantageously remote from the pushing vehicle through the longitudinal rear part of the structure and the compactness of the material resulting therefrom through installing the different devices of the activation means on the transverse beam itself. 
     In a preferred embodiment, said mass decoy device comprises wheels arranged at the ends of said transverse beam, in the alignment with the wheels of the motorized vehicle and linked to said beam via oscillating arms submitted to the action of resilient means for pressing said wheels against the ground. Thus, the improvised explosive devices provided with a triggering pressure sensor are actuated upon the passage of the wheels of the device pressed against the ground by the resilient means. 
     For example, said resilient means are defined by combined spring-shock absorber devices connecting the transverse beam to said respective oscillating arms bearing said wheels. 
     Preferably, each end of said transverse beam is provided with at least two twin wheels being independent one from the other, allowing to secure a large track width for the passage of vehicles with variable axle widths. 
     Furthermore, so that the mobile equipment pushed by the vehicle follow to the best the trajectory (bend, curve) imposed by the latter, said oscillating arms bearing said wheels are orientably mounted at each end of said transverse beam around a vertical axis perpendicular to said beam. 
     Advantageously, said oscillating arms are designed so as to make up a fuse so as to leave the beam and the remaining devices as such further to the explosion of a device through the contact of the wheels. 
     In a preferred embodiment, said mechanical decoy device comprises a series of vertical spring members distributed throughout the whole length of said transverse beam and the free ends of which have claws and come in contact with the ground, a sling linking the free ends of the spring members and extending parallel to said transverse beam and at least one vertical pole mounted on said beam. Thus, the improvised explosive devices detonated by wire, antenna or similar sensors are activated at the front of the vehicle. It is noticed that the action of the claws on the ground is superficial, so that the roads followed by the equipment are not damaged. 
     In particular, said claws and said sling are mounted on said vertical spring members by quick fasteners, so that such wear parts are easily replaced. 
     In a preferred embodiment, said thermal decoy device comprises at least one heating plate linked to an electric source of power for generating at least one heating area with an adjustable operating temperature and arranged in a plane orthogonal to said transverse beam. Thus, the improvised explosive devices detonated by infrared sensors are detected and activated. 
     More particularly, said thermal decoy device comprises two parallel heating plates, mounted in a protective casing, being supported, around a joint, by a bracket issued from said transverse beam. 
     According to another characteristic of the present method, system and device, the mobile equipment further comprises controllable clearing means arranged before said supporting structure and allowing, when they occupy a working position, to clear outside obstacles being able to be in its way. Thus, the progress of the vehicle is not stopped, hardly slow down, for the time necessary to clear the obstacles being met (damaged vehicles, blocks of stones, items of any type, etc.) by the clearing means and, furthermore, the source or origin of untimely triggering (false alarms) of some activation means by such obstacles then cleared to the verges of the track being followed, is thereby processed. 
     Advantageously, said controllable clearing means could comprise at least one blade for pushing said obstacles arranged, in a working position, at least approximately transverse to said forward direction and orthogonally with respect to the ground, and a supporting frame associating, in a jointed and controllable way, said pushing blade with said supporting structure. 
     In a preferred embodiment, said supporting frame consists in two sub-units assembled together around a jointing axis parallel to said transverse beam of said supporting structure, one of said sub-units being linked on one side to said front part of said supporting structure, around a jointing axis parallel to said transverse beam and the other sub-unit being linked to the other side of said pushing blade around a vertical jointing axis, orthogonal to said transverse beam. 
     And in order to apply the rotation movements of said supporting frame and of said pushing blade around said respective jointing axes, said controllable clearing means further comprise actuators, for instance jacks. 
     Thus, the blade could be presented, to the best, with respect to the obstacle being met, as it can rotate to the right or to the left around the vertical axis and more or less rock upwards or downwards around the corresponding horizontal axis, whereas the supporting frame could be lifted or lowered around the corresponding horizontal axis with respect to the supporting structure of the equipment. 
     For instance, said pushing blade could have a lower edge, facing the ground, comprising rotating rollers for coming in contact with the ground. Such rollers will make it brush against the ground without touching or penetrating it as its main function is to push the obstacles, further preventing its wear. 
     Furthermore, said mass decoy device comprises, in addition to the wheels arranged at the ends of said transverse beam, internal wheels identical to the previous ones and linked to said beam via oscillating arms submitted to the action of corresponding resilient means. Thus, via such wheel units, a path can be secured (road, track, etc.) throughout the whole width and thus ensure the safe traffic of the convoy following the motorized vehicle pushing the mobile equipment. 
     The present method, system and device also relates to a motorized unit, intended for securing roads, tracks or similar being able to comprise explosives and remarkable in that it comprises a motorized vehicle and a mobile equipment such as defined above and able to be attached at the front of said motorized vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The figures of the appended drawing will better explain how the present method, system and device can be implemented. In these figures, like reference numerals relate to like components. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the mobile equipment with its explosive activation means according to the present method, system and device, attached at the front of an armoured vehicle. 
         FIG. 1A  is a top schematic view of the motorized unit consisting in the detonating equipment and the armoured vehicle. 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are enlarged partial perspective views of said mobile equipment with its mass decoy and mechanical decoy devices. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the motorized unit with said mobile equipment provided with clearing means. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of said mobile equipment of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the clearing means. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The mobile working equipment  1  shown on  FIGS. 1 and 1A  is intended for detonating explosives, such as improvised explosive devices being partially or completely buried in the ground of a road or a track or also concealed on the verges thereof, so as to secure it. 
     Thus, for ensuring its motion, the mobile equipment  1  is connected to the front  2  of an armoured military vehicle  3  for making up, with the latter, a motorized unit  4 . 
     The equipment  1  mainly comprises a supporting structure  5  making up its frame and activating means  6  for improvised explosive devices, being mounted on the structure. 
     More particularly, the supporting structure  5  comprises a front part  7  with a beam  8  arranged horizontally and transversally to the forward direction D of the vehicle  2  and being at least as wide as the latter, and a substantially longitudinal rear part  9  in the form of side members or similar  10 . Such a rear longitudinal part  9  is arranged in the vertical longitudinal plane of symmetry P of the vehicle, according to the direction D and it is connected, at its front end  11 , perpendicularly to the transverse beam  8  in its middle via a link schematically designated as  13  on  FIG. 1A  and being, preferably, a roll joint according to the side members and, at its other rear end  12 , to the rigid front part  2  of the vehicle  3  via a connection device  14  with a clevis, around a horizontal axis  15  perpendicular to the plane of symmetry P of the vehicle and, thus, parallel to the transverse beam. 
     To this transverse beam  8  activation means  6  are associated, being thus arranged remotely from the vehicle  3  via the rear part  9  with side members of the equipment, protecting said vehicle from the explosion of the devices should they be detonated. Such activation means  6  comprise, in this embodiment shown on  FIG. 1 , a mass decoy device  16 , a mechanical decoy device  17  and an electrical thermal decoy device  18 , such devices being specially designed for activating the improvised explosive devices respectively detonated by pressure sensors, wire and antenna sensors and infrared sensors. 
     The aim of the device  16  is to act on the pressure sensors of the improvised explosive devices and, to this end, it comprises in this particular embodiment as shown on  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , two identical units  20  having two wheels  21  each, arranged at the ends of the transverse beam  8  of the structure  5  and applying on the ground under resilient constraint for triggering the sensors, as will be explained later on. The two units  20  of wheels  21  are obviously arranged in the alignment of the wheels  22  of the armoured vehicle  3  and are than the latter so as to thereby secure the progress thereof. 
     As is shown on the FIGS., the two wheels  21  of each unit  20  are arranged on a twin basis, but are independent from each other and each wheel is supported by an oscillating arm  23 . Thus, an end of the latter is connected to the wheel through an axis  24  and the other opposite end of the arm  23  is also linked through an axis  25  to a supporting part  26  associated with the beam  8 . Les axes  24  and  25  are parallel therebetween and to the transverse beam  8 , so that each wheel  21  is able to deflect angularly with respect to the supporting part  26  around its respective axis  25 . 
     Thus, for applying a pressure on the ground, resilient means  27  are provided and are defined, for each wheel, by a combined spring-shock absorber device  28  being arranged between the oscillating arm  23  supporting the wheel  21  and a projecting part  29  of the supporting part  26 . 
     Furthermore, the two units  20  of wheels  21  of the equipment  1  can be oriented and are therefore able to follow the trajectory imposed by the armoured vehicle  3 . To this end, each supporting part  26  bears a vertical axis  30 , perpendicular to the horizontal transverse beam  8  and engaging in a cylindrical ring  31  being integral with the beam. 
     Furthermore, the oscillating arms  23  are made so as to make up a fuse, so that they withstand the driving loads but (easily) give way upon a device exploding and prevent the mobile equipment and the remaining devices from being deformed or even destroyed. 
     The device  17  aims, as far as it is concerned, at acting on the wire or antenna sensors of the improvised explosive devices. To the end, it comprises a set of vertical spring members  34  fastened to the beam and regularly distributed along the latter, so as to define, at the front of the equipment, a protective front at least as wide as the vehicle  3 . Such spring members  34  are under the shape of a rod and have their end  35  being claw-free, as shown on  FIG. 2 , allowing to catch the wires laid or slightly buried in the ground. A transverse sling  36  being substantially parallel to the beam  8  connects the vertical spring members  34 , said sling being arranged at some height from the ground, but close to the latter so as to intercept the antennas of the sensors. In order to easily replace them for wear reasons, the claws and the sling are mounted on the spring members through quick fasteners designated by  37  on the FIGS. 
     The device  17  also comprises two vertical poles  38  mounted in housings  39  provided at the ends of the transverse beam, so as to intercept the sensor air wires. The height of the poles  38  is higher than that of the armoured vehicle  3  provided with its own antennas. 
     Finally, the aim of the equipment  18  is to act on the infrared sensors for actuating the improvised explosive devices being positioned on the verges of the roads so as to be detonated by the thermal signature generated by the engine unit of the armoured vehicle. 
     Thus, in the example shown on  FIG. 1 , the thermal decoy device  18  comprises two identical parallel heating plates  40 , being arranged in a plane orthogonal to the transverse beam  8 , that is in the vertical longitudinal plane of symmetry of the vehicle. Such two heating plates  40  are thus facing the front right side and the front left side, so as to emit a heating area toward the verges of the road and corresponding, for instance, to the thermal signature of the engine unit of the vehicle, thereby decoying the infrared sensors of the improvised explosive devices being triggered before the passage of the motorized unit  4 . 
     Such heating plates  40  are accommodated in a protective casing  41  jointed at  42  at the free end of a bracket  43 , the other end of which is integral with the transverse beam  8  substantially in the middle thereof. An electric source of power (battery or other), not shown and issued from the armoured vehicle  3  supplies the energy needed for heating the plates via electric resistors. As shown on  FIG. 1 , the bracket  43  shifts to the front of the equipment  1 , the thermal decoy device  18 , allowing the explosion of the devices to be triggered before the passage of the motorized unit  4 . The temperatures of such plates are furthermore electronically regulated. 
     Such mobile equipment  1  with the devices thereof allows a limitation of the effects of several types of threats triggered by multiple actuation mode sensors. 
     Furthermore, as shown on  FIG. 4 , the mobile equipment  1  of the motorized unit  4  is provided, at the front of its supporting structure  5 , with means  50  for controllably clearing the road or the track followed by the vehicle  3 . Indeed, on the ground of the latter, different obstacles could be present, such as broken down or damaged vehicles, blocks of stones or all kinds of other objects, resulting in the progress of the motorized unit  4  slowing down, the aim of which is to open up a safe track being able to be used subsequently by other following vehicles. 
     To this end, it is seen on  FIGS. 4 to 6  that the clearing means  50  are defined, in this embodiment, by a pushing blade  51 , similar to the blade of a bulldozer and a supporting frame  52  connecting in a joint and controllable way the supporting structure  5  of the mobile equipment  1  to the pushing blade  51 . Usually, the latter is positioned, in the working position shown on  FIG. 5 , in a plane substantially orthogonal to the ground S and is slightly bent in cross-section. The height and the width thereof are determined so as to cope with the different obstacles being met and to protect the activation means  6  of the explosive devices and the supporting structure  5  of the equipment in general. 
     Geometrically, the supporting frame  52  is positioned in the median continuation of the supporting structure  5  of the mobile equipment  1 , that is in the longitudinal plane of symmetry P of the motorized unit  4 . And, structurally, it consists in two rigid sub-units or arms  53  and  54  (a first and a second one) associated therebetween in a bent way around a horizontal jointing axis  55  parallel to the transverse beam  8  of the front part  7  of the supporting structure  5  and, thus, perpendicular to the plane P. 
     Furthermore, the first arm  53  of the supporting frame  52  is facing the supporting structure  5  and is linked, via its end opposite the one jointed to the second arm  54 , with radial tabs  56  issued from the horizontal transverse beam  8 , around a jointing axis  57  parallel to the jointing axis  55  of the arms. And the second one  54  of them is facing the pushing blade  51  and is linked, via its end opposite the one jointed to the first arm  53 , to the rear part  58  of the blade around a vertical axis  59  ( FIG. 5 ), orthogonal to the axes  55  and  57 . 
     And actuators, such as hydraulic jacks  60 ,  61  and  62  provide the control of the clearing means  50  and of the different movements thereof. 
     Thus, the hydraulic jack  60  is arranged between the two arms  53  and  54 , linking their opposite ends, so as to allow the arms to come closer or remote around the jointing axis  55 , according to the rotation R 1  being selected and to cause the pushing blade  51  to tip over downwards or upwards around such an axis  55  with respect to the first arm  53 . 
     The hydraulic jack  61  is provided between the first arm  53  and the radial tabs  63  being integral with the transverse beam  8 , so as to allow the clearing means  50  (frame and blade) to be moved downwards or upwards with respect to the supporting structure  5  around the jointing axis  57 , according to the rotation R 2  being selected, in the vertical plane P. 
     And the hydraulic jack  62  is provided between the second arm  54  and the rear part  58  of the pushing blade  51 , so as to allow the latter to be oriented to the left or to the right around the jointing axis  59 , according to the rotation R 3  being selected and thereby clear the obstacles from the selected side while pushing them to the exterior of the track without additionally damaging the activation devices  16 ,  17 . 
     Such jacks can naturally be controlled from the piloting cabin of the vehicle  3 . 
     Thus, through such jacks  60 ,  61 ,  62  and the rotations R 1 , R 2 , R 3  they generate around the axes  55 ,  57 ,  59 , the clearing means  50  could be presented the best possible for clearing the cumbersome obstacle being on the ground S of the track to be secured. More specifically, the supporting frame  52  could take any position in the plane P between the high and low extreme ones and the pushing blade  51 , with respect to the first arm  53  of the frame, could tip over more or less so as to “tackle” to the best the obstacle and, with respect to the supporting frame, can rotate to the right or to the left so as to clear the obstacle from the track, whereas the motorized unit  4  progresses. 
     Furthermore, it should also be noticed that the pushing blade  51  could come in abutment and in contact with the ground S either directly via its lower edge  64  or, preferably, via metallic rollers or rolls rotatable mounted and arranged in line at the level of the lower edge. One  65  of them is shown in broken lines on  FIG. 5 . Thus, the pushing blade  51  slightly touches the ground S without penetrating into the latter. Moreover, the downward movement of the blade, from a high position to a low position, could occur through gravity, the jack  60  only being active for the reverse kinematics. 
     It should also be noted on  FIGS. 4 and 5  that the equipment has two pairs or units  66  with two wheels  67  each, herein referred to as internal wheel units comparatively to the external units  20  of wheels  21 . Such units  66  of internal wheels  67  are linked to the horizontal transverse beam  8  of the structure  5  and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical plane P. And, of course, they are structurally and functionally identical to the external units  20 , that is that the twin wheels  67  of each unit  66  are independent and supported by an oscillating arm  23  associated with the beam and receiving a combined spring-shock absorber device  28 . 
     Thus, the spots left by the four units  20 ,  66  of external wheels  21  and internal wheels  67 , after their passage, allow a large and determined track width to be covered and, thus, secured for a safe traffic of the convoy following the motorized unit  4 . As the mobile equipment  1  has then a lot of wheels, the maneuvers thereof in narrow locations of the track (hairpins . . . ) will be tricky. In order to facilitate them, a fluid lifting system or similar, not shown, is then provided at the level of the interface with the armoured for lifting the whole mobile equipment and, after the maneuver, put it back on the track.