Slurry line charge mine clearance system and method

• US 9,027,455 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Secretary of the Navy, U.S. Government As Represented By The Seceretary Of The Navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Woodall, Robert C, Reitmeyer, Gregory A, Garcia, Felipe A
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdosh, Samir
• Assistant Examiner(s): COOPER, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US13/669,725
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 89/11.3, 701/2, 149/60, 102/402, 102/403, 318/568.11, 318/581, 318/587, 86/50
• US Class Current: 89/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/14 Explosive line charges, e.g. snakes

Abstract

A mine clearing system and method remotely deploys line hose from a remotely controlled two-wheeled vehicle. The wheels are connected together via a central hub shaft. Individual battery operated hub motors on each wheel communicate to a central controller inside the hub shaft. The power source for the motors is contained within the hub shaft, with battery recharge ports located on the hub shaft. The line hose is wrapped around the central hub shaft. An operator uses a remote control console in communication with the central controller to independently control each wheel of the vehicle. A camera can hang from a hub shaft bearing on the outside of one wheel so as to be gravitationally stabilized during vehicle movement. The camera can broadcast signals to a display at the remote control console. Explosive slurry is pumped into the line hose and detonated.

Claims

1. A system for clearing land mines, comprising:

a remotely controlled vehicle;

a length of line hose spooled onto said vehicle;

a remote controller in communication with said vehicle, said vehicle responding to signals from said remote controller to move in a desired direction, movement of said vehicle paying out said line hose from said vehicle; and

an explosive slurry mixture contained within said line hose.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle further comprises:

two wheels;

a tubular axle connected between said two wheels, said line hose being spooled about said axle; and

a hub motor at each of said two wheels, each said hub motor responding to said signals to rotate a respective wheel to produce said movement of said vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a first camera disposed on said vehicle and in communication with said remote controller; and

a video screen on said remote controller, video signals from said first camera being displayed on said video screen.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a first axle bearing connected to one of said two wheels at a rotation axis of said one wheel, said first axle bearing freely rotating about said rotation axis; and

a rod connected between said first axle bearing and said first camera to support said first camera.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said first camera is a night vision camera.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a second camera disposed on said vehicle, said video screen displaying three dimensional images based on combined video signals from said first and second cameras;

a second axle bearing connected to an opposite one of said two wheels along said rotation axis and freely rotating about said rotation axis; and

a second rod connected between said second axle bearing and said second camera to support said second camera.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein said vehicle further comprises:

a receiver mounted within said axle and in communication with said remote controller and each said hub motor; and

a power source mounted within said axle and connected to provide power to said receiver, said first camera and each said hub motor.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a quick disconnect fitting between said axle and each of said two wheels.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a charging outlet for said power source.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a reservoir of said explosive slurry mixture; and

a pump connected between said reservoir and said line hose, wherein said line hose is filled with said slurry mixture by operation of said pump.

11. A method of clearing land mines from an area, comprising:

deploying a remotely controlled vehicle to a cleared area adjacent said mined area, said vehicle having a line hose spooled on a first axle thereof;

securing a free end of said line hose;

remotely maneuvering said vehicle through said mined area, said line hose being paid out from said vehicle during said maneuvering;

filling said line hose with an explosive slurry; and

detonating said slurry.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein maneuvering further comprises:

paying out a full length of said line hose; and

remotely guiding said vehicle out of said mined area.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

removing wheels from said vehicle to access said first axle;

connecting a second axle to said wheels, said second axle having new line hose spooled thereon; and

spooling further line hose onto said first axle.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein filling said line hose comprises connecting a pump between a slurry reservoir and said free end of said line hose.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein detonating further comprises:

disconnecting said pump;

removing said pump to an area not effected by said detonating;

attaching blasting caps to said line hose; and

activating said blasting caps to detonate said slurry.