Green energy mine defeat system

• US 8,240,239 B1
• Filed: 07/16/2011
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kevin Mark Diaz
• Original Assignee: Kevin Mark Diaz
• Inventors: Diaz, Kevin Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin P
• Application Number:
  US13/184,505
• Time in Patent Office: 395 Days
• Field of Search: 89/11.3, 102/402, 86/50
• US Class Current: 89/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/13 Systems specially adapted for detection of landmines
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/18 with ground-impacting means for activating mines by the use of mechanical impulses, e.g. flails or stamping elements
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/28 using brushing or sweeping means or dozers to push mines lying on a surface aside; using means for removing mines intact from a surface
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/005 Unmanned ground vehicles, i.e. robotic, remote controlled or autonomous, mobile platforms carrying equipment for performing a military or police role, e.g. weapon systems or reconnaissance sensors F41H11/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A semi-continuous duty, Green Technology, self-charging 14, unmanned electric vehicle providing protection and security from underground mines. A deflector blade 11 follows natural existing contours to maintain straight line paths, while simultaneously carrying a mine detector 10, a vertical reciprocating ram set 30, 32 and 33 that preloads soil while also creating forward motion, followed by an energy dissipation and containment canopy system 22, 24, 26 & 29. The comprehensive system provides protection from mines on existing pathways in desert environments using a self-sufficient energy source. In addition, the total system utilizes only Green Technology for all modes of operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus on a vehicle for containing landmine blasts, comprising:

a plurality of energy dissipating struts coupled to said a vehicle and a blast plate,

wherein said struts are energy absorbing and connected on one end to said vehicle and on the opposite end to said blast plate;

the blast plate having a blast-resistant expanding billows, with a curtain system and an unfolding canopy mounted thereon, the expanding billows, with the curtain system and unfolding canopy providing three dimensional expansion in the event of a landmine detonation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a gas ejection system that ejects as following being triggered by a feedback loop system.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the gas ejection system ejects gas following a break in the feedback loop system to deploy the unfolding canopy and provide downward force.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the feedback loop system is broken by a detonation.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a vertically oriented reciprocating probe, the probe being geometrically controlled by a vehicle-mounted controller that controls the probe with a hinged, articulated bracket; and

at least one preloaded, pressurized strut that provides downward force.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a bottom of a hinged frame may contain a lower control arm with an axial actuator, wherein the lower control arm may have a controlled advance throughout a timed cycle of operation.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of vertically controlled probes.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a robotic, remote controlled vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a deflector with hinged plates mounted to the vehicle, the deflector pivotably mounted with hinge pins, wherein each hinge pin is bearing mounted to the vehicle provide a pivot axis segment that overlaps to provide a deflected angle from the vertical adjusting to an existing ground surface;

the deflector further supported by guide rollers for contoured movement on an uneven surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the deflector is further counterweighted so as to diminish the force of the deflector on the uneven surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising mine detector, wherein the mine detector is self contained and mounted behind a deflector in at least one of integrally attached fashion as to keep a predetermined minimum distance between the mine detector and the ground.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a turret that houses at least one removable black box, at least one camera and a data processor, wherein the camera is mounted in a protective enclosure and the data processor provides for at least one of data transmission, card checking and motion detection.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a mine marking system comprising the deployment of a marker upon detection of a mine.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a tube that deploys the marker upon detection of a mine and wherein the marker expands to a predetermined size and shape upon deployment.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a plurality of markers are housed on the vehicle and are deployed individually by a robotic arm mounted on the vehicle and anchored to a desired position.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a path marking system mounted on a rear of the vehicle that provides an indication of a path over which the vehicle has traveled.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a sensor that detects low spots that have not been cleared and a predetermined marking applied to the low spots.

18. A landmine blast containment system comprising:

a vehicle;

a strut dissipating blast plate;

a blast resistant billows;

a blast resistant curtain; and

a probe assembly that is vertically controlled and that is formed with a hinged assembly of linkages, the assembly of linkages comprising a first pin mounted to a rear portion of the vehicle with a spline bracket that controls at least one link in a vertical plane, a second pin connected to an adjacent link with a reciprocating head and a third pin connected to an axial linear actuator that terminates with a ball-type connection at a base of the vehicle;

wherein the probe assembly simultaneously reacts with the strut dissipating blast plate and wherein the strut dissipating blast plate is coupled to the blast resistant and absorbent billows and curtain.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a foldable canopy-positioned extension that contains fragmentation and further dissipates energy.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a gas ejection system;

a gas pressure vessel; and

an electrical feedback loop;

wherein the gas ejection system and gas pressure vessel are housed in a protective enclosure and substantially instaneously release gas when the electrical feedback loop is broken.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the electrical feedback loop is broken by an explosion.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a deflector with hinged plates, wherein the hinged plates individually pivot through the use of hinge pins and which contours to a surface over which the vehicle is moving.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a plurality of counterweighted rollers that support the deflector and which decrease the weight of the deflector on the surface over which the vehicle is moving.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a mine detector, the mine detector mounted in one of an integral attached manner proximate a bottom face of the deflector and oriented such that it maintains a predetermined distance from the surface over which the vehicle is moving.

25. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a marker that marks the ground over which the vehicle is moving, wherein the marker comprises a plurality of flags that are extracted from a holding area of the vehicle by a robotic arm and placed in a desired location.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the ground is marked with one of a plurality of spring-loaded flags in the shape of a pyramid.

27. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

an identification system that scans one of local signal data, card data and biometric data to determine identification of people in areas proximate to the system and wherein the identification system is mounted in a secure, protective housing.

28. The system of claim 18, further comprising a motion detector.

29. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a path marker, wherein the path marker disperses at least one of a specialized paint marking at predetermined intervals under the vehicle that indicate a path is safe for travel.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the path marker provides markings having a width of about 32 inches.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the path marker further marks low spots that have not been cleared of landmines.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the marking is coded and can be read to provide any of a plurality of information.

33. The system of claim 18, wherein the vehicle is powered by a green energy source.