Abstract:
A remote jettison system is provided to disconnect a mine roller from a tactical vehicle. The system enables personnel conducting mine roller operations to disengage the vehicle from the mine roller without leaving the vehicle. The remote jettison system has two assemblies: A mine roller assembly and a tactical vehicle assembly. The mine roller assembly, which is connected to the mine roller, can be remotely disconnected from the tactical vehicle assembly, which is mounted on the vehicle. The system utilizes one mechanized latch to release the mine roller assembly from the tactical vehicle assembly, allowing the force of gravity to cause them to separate.

Description:
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST 
     The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for Governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to mine rollers, and in particular to a system for remotely disconnecting a mine roller from a tactical vehicle. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Pushed mine rollers have historically been attached to the front of tactical vehicles, which are driven along a road surface or other areas suspected of containing mines or IEDs in order to prematurely detonate the mines before they can cause serious damage to the tactical vehicles and injure personnel. For example, the mine rollers have been mounted on M1 or M60 tanks modified with permanently attached mine roller mounting kits. Wheeled tactical vehicles, such as heavily modified Humvees, are more commonly used now, in part because they are lighter and more energy efficient. 
     Current mine rollers are typically released from the tactical vehicles by manually pulling two steel pins having cotter pins on either end to keep the pins retained in the pad-eyes of the mine roller system. The tongue load of the mine roller system (MRS) is applied to the pins, and a forklift or crane is often required to take off the tongue load as that the pins can be pulled manually, thereby disconnecting the MRS. Often, it is necessary to disconnect the MRS after a system failure or when the MRS is damaged by a mine or IED blast. This is especially troublesome during combat operations when personnel can be exposed to extreme danger while attempting to disconnect the MRS so they can evacuate the area in the vehicle. Thus, a need has been identified for a system that would allow operators to jettison the MRS from the vehicle remotely, e.g., from inside the vehicle, without exposing the operators to potentially dangerous enemy fire. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a remote jettison disconnect system (RJDS) for a mine roller. The typical mine roller has right and left arm pairs extending rearward from the mine roller for attaching to a tactical vehicle. The RJDS comprises two major assemblies: A mine roller assembly, which is attached to the arms of the mine roller; and a tactical vehicle assembly, which is attached to the tactical vehicle. 
     The mine roller assembly has an elongate strength member—typically a steel tube—with a pair of connection plates mounted thereon and spaced apart at a distance substantially equal to the center-to-center distance between the right and left arm pairs of the mine roller. The connection plates have through-plate apertures, and bolts are passed through the apertures and corresponding holes on the mine roller arm pairs to form a pivoting attachment of the mine roller to the connection plates. 
     The mine roller assembly has a pair of hitching plates mounted on the strength member at opposite ends thereof, a pair of J-hooking plates also mounted on opposite ends of the strength member, and a pair of dual function plates also mounted on the strength member at opposite ends. The hitching plates, J-hooking plates, and dual function plates all have rearward projecting sections with tapered arches that are sized and positioned to accept a pair of shafts installed on the tactical vehicle assembly, as discussed below. The arches of all six plats are laterally aligned with each other, i.e., the lateral centerlines of their arches are co-linear, so that they all will securely mount on the parallel co-linear pair of shafts on the tactical vehicle assembly when the RJDS is assembled Each dual function plate additionally has a rearward projecting upper section having a latch pin extending laterally therefrom for engagement with either a latch or a stop on corresponding plates on the tactical vehicle assembly. 
     The tactical vehicle assembly also has an elongate strength member—typically a steel tube—that is approximately the same length as the mine roller assembly strength member. Mounting plates are mounted on opposite ends of the strength member and have rearward projecting sections with mounting holes for mounting the strength member to corresponding support brackets on the tactical vehicle. A pair of shaft mounting plates are mounted on opposite ends of the strength member and have forward projections with horizontal through-plate apertures to accept corresponding parallel shafts. 
     A tetra-function plate is mounted on one end of the tactical vehicle assembly strength member. The tetra-function plate has a sloped inward curved inversion on its forward edge that forms a stop for accepting one of the latch pins on the mine roller assembly dual function plates. The tetra-function plate also has a horizontal through-plate aperture for accepting a corresponding shaft. 
     A latching assembly is mounted to the tactical vehicle strength member on the end opposite from the end where the tetra-function plate is mounted. The latching assembly has a modified shaft plate mounted to the strength member. The modified shaft plate has a horizontal through-plate aperture to accept one of the shafts. An actuator mounting panel is mounted on the modified shaft plate and has a latch inversion similarly sized and laterally aligned with the curved inversion of the tetra-function plate to accept the other latch pin. 
     A geared inverted plate is rotatably mounted to the actuator mounting panel adjacent to the latch inversion. The geared inverted plate has a finger-like extension which covers/closes the entrance to the latch inversion (and locks the latch pin in place when the system is assembled) when the geared inverted plate is rotated in one direction, and opens the entrance to the latch inversion (allows insertion of or releases the latch pin) when the geared inverted plate is rotated in the other direction. 
     A wheel gear is also rotatably mounted to the actuator mounting panel so that its gear teeth engage the gear teeth of the geared inverted plate. An electric actuator is coupled to the wheel gear and causes the wheel gear to rotate in response to electrical signals from a remote control box, thereby causing the geared inverted plate to rotate and its finger-like extension to retain/release the latch pin from the latch inversion. 
     As referred to above, the pair of shafts are inserted into apertures in corresponding plates. Specifically, the first shaft passes through and is retained in the apertures in the forward projecting sections of the tetra-function plate and an adjacent shaft mounting plate; the second shaft passes through and is retained in the apertures in the forward projecting sections of the modified shaft plate and the other shaft mounting plate. When installed, the shafts are substantially parallel to each other and to the strength members, and they are substantially co-linear. Each of the shafts has an inboard flange and an outboard flange to retain the shafts in the apertures. Each shaft also preferably has a covering sleeve that reduces friction and wear on the shaft. 
     Typically, the remote control box is located within the tactical vehicle so that personnel can operate it, and, thus, control the electric actuator without exiting the vehicle to release the latch pin, thereby allowing the mine roller assembly (and an attached mine roller) to drop away from the tactical vehicle assembly under the force of gravity. In an exemplary embodiment, the remote control box is hard-wired to an electrical box which passes the control signals from the remote control box to the actuator. The electrical box also distributes electrical power from the vehicle to the actuator and also to electrical equipment on the mine roller. 
     When the RJDS is assembled, the laterally aligned tapered arches on the hitching plates, J-hooking plates, and dual function plates of the mine roller assembly engage and rest upon the shafts installed on the tactical vehicle assembly. One of the latch pins on a dual function plate on the mine roller assembly enters and abuts the stop formed by the sloped inward curved inversion of the tetra-function plate on the tactical vehicle assembly. The other latch pin enters the latch inversion of the actuator mounting panel, and is held therein by the finger-like extension when the curved geared plate is rotated to the closed position by the actuator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will become readily apparent by referring to the following detailed description and the appended drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of the remote jettison disconnect system for a mine roller that includes a mine roller assembly connected to a tactical vehicle assembly, where only a portion of the mine roller is shown; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevated perspective view of the mine roller assembly disconnected from the tactical vehicle assembly, where most of the electrical wiring components are not shown; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevated perspective view illustrating the tactical vehicle assembly and a strength member front bumper of the tactical vehicle used to push the mine roller; 
         FIG. 3   a  is an enlarged view of the tactical vehicle mounting plate shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 3   b  is an enlarged view of the shaft mounting plate shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 3   c  is an enlarged view of the tetra-function plate shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of a latch mounted on the right side or the tactical vehicle assembly, where a left side panel is removed, therein illustrating an actuator mounted on an actuator mounting plate that is mounted on a modified shaft plate with a base plate, wherein the actuator mounting plate has a geared curved plate mounted with a curved finger-like projection that controls passage through the entrance of the sloped inward curved inversion on the actuator mounting plate; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of left side panel that covers components mounted on the actuator mounting panel; 
         FIG. 6   a  is a detail view of a hitching plate of the mine roller assembly illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6   b  is a detail view of a connection plate of the mine roller assembly illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6   c  is a detail view of a J-hooking plate of the mine roller assembly illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6   d is a detail view of a dual function plate of the mine roller assembly illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invented remote jettison disconnect system (RJDS) provides in-cab release of a mine roller mounted to a tactical vehicle, thus eliminating the need for personnel to exit the vehicle and be exposed to hazardous conditions while disconnecting the mine roller. The system  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , includes two assemblies: A tactical vehicle assembly  20  and a mine roller assembly  120 . In  FIG. 1  the assemblies  20 , 120  are connected. The tactical vehicle assembly  20  is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 3 . The tactical vehicle assembly  20  is mounted to a strength member front bumper  100  using at least two pairs of support brackets  102 , 104 . Holes  106  are for head lamps (not shown). The illustrated support brackets are mounted on the front  102  and the bottom  104  of the front bumper  100 , and are aligned to be mated to a pair of tactical vehicle mounting plates  22  on tactical vehicle assembly  20 . Each tactical vehicle mounting plate  22  has an upper rear mounting hole  24  and lower rear mounting hole  26  for attaching the vehicle mounting plate  22  to bumper  100 , as shown in  FIG. 3   a . The tactical vehicle mounting plate  22  has a mounting opening  25 , where the perimeter of the mounting opening  25  is welded to the tactical vehicle elongate strength member  30  at a location several inches from each end  32 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment illustrated and described herein, the tactical vehicle elongate strength member  30  is a rectangular steel tube that is about three inches by about five inches, having walls with a nominal thickness of about three eighths of an inch. 
     Adjacent to and outboard of each tactical vehicle mounting plate  22  is a shaft mounting plate  40 . Each shaft mounting plate  40  is mounted on the tactical vehicle elongate strength member  30 , projecting forward, substantially horizontal to the ground. As shown in  FIG. 3   b , each shaft mounting plate  40  has a mounting opening  45 , where the perimeter of the mounting opening  45  is welded to the tactical vehicle elongate strength member  30 . The shaft mounting plate  40  has a forward projection  42  with a horizontal through-plate aperture  44  for receiving and supporting a segment of a shaft  60 . 
     Adjacent to and outboard of the left tactical vehicle shaft mounting plate  40  is a tetra-function plate  50 . Each tetra-function plate  50  has an open base  52  for mounting on the tactical vehicle elongate strength member  30 . Typically, the open base  52  is U-shaped so that the tetra-function plate  50  can drop down on the rectangular tube shaped steel beam  30 . The tetra-function plate is secured with a base plate  57  that fastens the tetra-function plate to the tactical vehicle elongate strength member  30 . An upper front edge portion  53  of the tetra-function plate  50  curves upward. A lower front edge portion  54  curves downward, forming a sloped inward curved inversion  56  with an open forward portion. The inversion  56  functions as a stop for the outward depending heavy duty latch pin  162  on a dual function plate  160  on the mine roller assembly  120 . A lower front edge portion  58  of the tetra-function plate  50  has a through-plate aperture  59  for receiving and supporting a shaft  60 . The middle  55  and upper  51  portions of the tetra-function plate  50  are normally used to mount an electrical box mounting plate  72  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The electrical box mounting plate  72  supports the electrical box  76  which is in communication with the remote control box  74  and the actuator  91 . The control box  74  is typically located inside the cab of the tactical vehicle (not shown for clarity of illustration) and controls the actuator  91 , via connections with the electrical box  76 , to provide in-cab release of the mine roller assembly, thus eliminating the need for personnel to exit the tactical vehicle. The electrical box  76  effectively functions as a junction bow. It receives power from the tactical vehicle, distributes power to the actuator  91  as well as to the electronics on the mine roller itself, and distributes signals between the control box  74  and actuator  91 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , a latching assembly  90  is mounted on the right side of the tactical vehicle assembly  20 . An actuator  91  for mechanized operation of a latch  97  is mounted on an actuator mounting panel  85 , which is mounted to an upper portion  86  of a modified shaft plate  80  with a base plate  87 . The modified shaft plate  80  has an open base  82  for mounting on the tactical vehicle elongate strength member  30 . Typically, the open base  82  is U-shaped so that the modified shaft plate  90  can drop down on the rectangular tube shaped steel beam  30 . The modified shaft plate  80  is secured with the base plate  87 . In  FIG. 4  a protective left side panel  85 ′ (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) is removed. The actuator  91  can open or close a finger-like extension  97  of a geared curved plate  94  rotating on axle  93 . The geared curved plate  94  is rotated by engaged wheel gear  92  to control movement of the finger-like extension into or out of the latch inversion  96  on panel  85  and latch inversion  96 ′ on plate  85 ′. The inversion is substantially parallel to a segment of the shaft  60 . 
     The shaft  60  is supported by a lower portion  88  of the modified shaft plate  80  having a through-plate aperture  89  for receiving and supporting the shaft. An entering upper portion  83  of panel  85  of inversion  96  is curved and sloped upward and lower portion  84  is curved and sloped downward. Similarly, an entering upper portion  83 ′ of plate  85 ′ of inversion  96 ′ is curved and sloped upward and lower portion  84 ′ is curved and sloped downward. The combined effect is that when the finger-like extension  97  is closed, resting on a stop bolt  81 , the latch pin  162 ′ of mine roller assembly  120  will be snugly held by the latch  97 . When the finger-like extension  97  is retracted, the latch pin  162 ′, under the gravitational force of the tongue pressure of the mine roller, will rotate and be jettisoned from the latch. 
     Each shaft  60 , as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  can be fitted with a sleeve  61 , such as a tough low friction plastic or metal, where the sleeve reduces wear of the shaft. Each sleeve  61  has an in-board flange  64  and an out-board flange  62 , where the flanges function as lateral stops to limit movement of hitched elements. 
     In  FIG. 2  the mine roller assembly  120  is shown disconnected from the tactical vehicle assembly. The mine roller assembly  120  is pivotally fastened to a left pair of arms  202  and a right pair of arms  202 ′ of a mine roller (only the arms are shown), where both pairs of arms are equally spaced and parallel, and both pairs have opposing pairs of connection holes  204 , 204 ′. Each pair of arms is connected to a connection plate  122 , 122 ′ on the mine roller assembly using a heavy duty bolt  124 , 124 ′. Each bolt preferably has a handle  126 , 126 ′, to help remove the bolt. The junction of the connection plates  122 , 122 ′ and the pairs of arms  202 , 202 ′ is a pivot point. The mine roller assembly  120  rocks back and drops when it is jettisoned, i.e., when the latch pin  162 ′ is released by the finger-like extension  97  of the latching assembly  90 . The heavy duty bolts  124 , 124 ′ can be utilized as emergency or backup release points for separating the RJDS and the tactical vehicle from the mine roller when the remote jettison system is inoperable or otherwise not used. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the connection plates  122 , 122 ′ are mounted near the ends of a mine roller assembly elongate strength member  130 . As shown in  FIG. 6   b , each connection plate  122 , 122 ′ has a roughly rectangular section  122 R with a mounting opening  122 M, and a triangular section  122 T with a through-plate aperture  122 H, where the through-plate aperture  122 H can accommodate a heavy duty bolt  124 , 124 ′. The perimeter of the mounting opening  122 M is welded to the elongate strength member  130  of mine roller assembly  120 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the elongate strength member  130  is a rectangular steel tube that is about three inches by about five inches, having a nominal wall thickness of about three eights of an inch. The elongate strength member  130  is at least as long as the distance separating the left pair of arms  202  and the right pair of arms  202 ′. 
     Each of the connection plates  122 , 122 ′ are flanked outboard by hitching plates  140 , 140 ′, respectively. Each hitching plate  140 , 140 ′ is mounted to the elongate strength member  130 , such that a hitching projection section  140 P (see  FIG. 6   a ) of the plate projects substantially opposing the triangular section  122 T of the connection plate  122 . As shown in  FIG. 6   a , hitching plate  140  has a rectangular section  140 R with a mounting opening  140 M, wherein a perimeter of the mounting opening  140 M is welded to the mine roller assembly&#39;s elongate strength member  130 . The hitching projection section  140 P is a thick arched projection with a tapered arch  140 S that can hitch on an outboard segment of a shaft  60  on the tactical vehicle assembly  20 . 
     Each of the connection plates  122 , 122 ′ are also preferably flanked in-board by J-hooking plates  150 , 150 ′, respectively. Each J-Hooking plate  150 , 150 ′ is welded to the elongate strength member  130  (shown in ghost with dashed lines in  FIG. 6   c ), such that a hitching projection section  150 P of the plate projects substantially opposing the triangular section  122 T of the connection plate  122 . As shown in  FIG. 6   c , J-hooking plate  150  has a “J” section  150 J with a length that follows the contour of the elongate strength member  130 , wherein a portion of the length of the J-section  150 J is welded to the elongate strength member  130 . The hitching projection section  150 P is a thick arched projection with a tapered arch  150 S that can hitch on an inboard segment of a shaft  60  on the tactical vehicle assembly  20 . In the exemplary embodiment, the arc  150 A is about 153 degrees (180−117+90=153) with a range of plus ten to minus ten degrees, and then the arc opens into a linear slope. The J-hooking plate  150  keeps lateral movement of the mine roller assembly  120  to a minimum as each connection plate  122  is sandwiched between a J-hooking plate  150  and a hitching plate  140 . 
     In addition to the hitching plates  140 ′ and the J-hooking plates  150 ′ proximate to the right end of the mine roller elongate strength member  130 , and the hitching plate  140  and the J-hooking plates  150  proximate to the left end of the mine roller elongate strength member  130 , there is a pair of dual function plates  160 , 160 ′ located inboard of J-hooking plates  150 , 150 ′, respectively. As identified in  FIG. 6   d  each dual function plate  160 , 160 ′ has a latch projection  160 U with an opening  160 L for outward depending heavy duty latch pin  162 , 162 ′ (see  FIG. 2 ) and a hitching projection  160 P that has a thick recessed tapered arch  160 S that can hitch on another inboard segment of a shaft  60  on the tactical vehicle assembly  20 . The left and right dual function plates  160 , 160 ′ are substantially mirror images, the only difference being that on one side, for example the right side, the right heavy duty latch pin  162 ′ (see  FIG. 2 ) will be engaged by the mechanized latch  90  (see  FIG. 4 ) on the tactical vehicle assembly  20 , while on the left side the left heavy duty latch pin  162  will come into contact with a stop  56  (sloped portion  56  of tetra-function plate  50 , see  FIG. 3   c ) on the left side of the tactical vehicle assembly  20 . The mechanized latch can be opened remotely, for instance from the cab of the tactical vehicle. Each dual function plate  160 , 160 ′ has a rectangular section  160 R with a mounting opening  160 M, where a perimeter of the mounting opening is welded to the mine roller elongate strength member  130 . The heavy duty latch pins  162 , 162 ′ are substantially parallel to the mine roller elongate strength member  130 . 
     In the hitched position, the latch is closed, and the elongate strength members on both assemblies are about at the same height and the heavy duty latch pins  162 , 162 ′ are substantially parallel and directly above the corresponding shaft  60  on the tactical vehicle assembly  20 . When latched, the mine roller assembly has a fixed position, and unlike a ball hitch where there can be wide horizontal rotational movement and some vertical rotational movement, all movement is locked out. The only movement that is allowed is at the pivot point between the mine roller assembly and the left pair of arms  202  and the right pair of arms  202 ′, where both pairs of arms are equally spaced and parallel, and both pairs have opposing pairs of connection holes  204 , 204 ′ that function substantially as horizontal bearings. Each pair of arms  202 , 202 ′ is connected to a corresponding connection plate  122 , 122 ′ on the mine roller assembly  120  using a heavy duty axle bolt  124 , 124 ′ that can be secured, for example with an axial pin having a handle  126 , 126 ′ that permits vertical rotational movement of the mine roller. 
     When assembled and in operation, the tactical vehicle assembly  20  is typically mounted to the front of a tactical vehicle by mounting plates  22 , 22 ′ so that the strength member  30  and shafts  60  are substantially parallel to the ground surface. The mine roller assembly  120  is attached to the tactical vehicle assembly  20  by placing the tapered arches  140 S,  150 S and  160 S of the hitching plates  140 , 140 ′, J-hooking plates  150 , 150 ′ and dual function plates  160 , 160 ′, respectively, over corresponding exposed portions of the shafts  60 . 
     When the mine roller assembly  120  is rotated and positioned so that the plates  140 , 140 ′,  150 , 150 ′,  160 , 160 ′ are substantially parallel to the ground and the tapered arches  140 S,  150 S, and  160 S are facing downward, the shafts  60  support the weight of the mine roller assembly. Also when the mine roller assembly  120  is in this position, latch pin  162  is disposed within and abuts against the stop of inversion  56  of the tetra-function plate  50  and the other latch pin  162 ′ is disposed within latch inversion  96  of the latching assembly  90 . 
     When an operator activates the actuator  91  via remote control  74  to rotate geared curved plate  94  so that the finger-like extension  97  moves into the closed position (as illustrated in  FIG. 4 ), the latch pin  162 ′ is retained in that position, thereby retaining the mine roller assembly  120  in this position. The mine roller assembly  120  can be attached to the mine roller arm pairs  202 , 202 ′ with bolts  124 , 124 ′ either before or after it is attached to the tactical vehicle assembly  20 . 
     When it becomes necessary to release the mine roller—and the attached mine roller assembly  120 —from the tactical vehicle, the operator simply uses the remote control  74  to activate the actuator  81  to rotate the geared curved plate  94  so that the finger-like extension  97  moves into the open position (i.e., so that it does not block the entrance of latch inversion  96 ). When this occurs, latch pin  162 ′ is released, allowing the mine roller assembly  120  to rotate and pivot about the bolts  124 , 124 ′ and the shafts  60  so that the plates  140 , 140 ′,  150 , 150 ′, and  160 , 160 ′ can rotate downward under the influence of the tongue weight of the mine roller into a substantially vertical position and the tapered arches  140 S,  150 S, and  160 S can fall away from the shafts  60 , thereby releasing the mine roller assembly  120  from the tactical vehicle assembly. Thus unencumbered by the mine roller, the tactical vehicle can evacuate the area, for example in an emergency situation. 
     It is to be understood that the foregoing description and specific embodiments are merely illustrative of the best mode of the invention and the principles thereof, and that various modifications and additions may be made to the invention by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, the elongate strength members can be other than rectangular tubes and can be made of a material other than steel. Additional plates can be added to the strength members to provide additional supporting structure, or one or more of the disclosed plates, such as the J-hooking plate, may be omitted to save weight as long as there is sufficient supporting structure to support the weight of the mine roller and maintain the mine roller assembly&#39;s position and attachment to the tactical vehicle assembly.