Electro-discharge system for neutralizing landmines

• US 9,739,574 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: VLN Advanced Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Vijay, Mohan, Panarella, Emilio, Xu, Meisheng, Yan, Wenzhuo, Daniels, Bruce, Tieu, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Bret
• Application Number:
  US15/144,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20170241750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 89 113
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0653 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/13 Systems specially adapted for detection of landmines
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/136 Magnetic, electromagnetic, acoustic or radiation systems, e.g. ground penetrating radars or metal-detectors
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/16 Self-propelled mine-clearing vehicles; Mine-clearing devices attachable to vehicles
• 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

Abstract

A landmine-neutralization system has a vehicle including a water supply tank and an electrical power supply and an electro-discharge apparatus. The electro-discharge apparatus includes one or more electro-discharge nozzles each having a discharge chamber that has an inlet for receiving water from the water supply tank and an outlet, a first electrode extending into the discharge chamber and being electrically connected to one or more high-voltage capacitors that are connected to, and chargeable by, the electrical power supply, a second electrode proximate to the first electrode to define a gap between the first and second electrodes and a switch to cause the one or more capacitors to discharge across the gap between the electrodes to create a plasma bubble which expands to form a shockwave that escapes through one or more exit orifices of the one or more nozzles ahead of the plasma bubble to thereby neutralize a landmine.

Claims

1. A landmine-neutralization system comprising:

a vehicle including a water supply tank and an electrical power supply;

an electro-discharge apparatus supported by the vehicle, the electro-discharge apparatus comprising;

one or more electro-discharge nozzles, each nozzle having a discharge chamber that has an inlet for receiving water from the water supply tank and an outlet;

a first electrode extending into the discharge chamber and being electrically connected to one or more high-voltage capacitors that are connected to, and chargeable by, the electrical power supply;

a second electrode proximate to the first electrode to define a gap between the first and second electrodes; and

a switch to cause the one or more capacitors to discharge across the gap between the electrodes to create a plasma bubble which expands to form a shockwave that escapes through an exit orifice of the discharge chamber ahead of the plasma bubble to thereby neutralize a landmine.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vehicle comprises a landmine detector.

3. A method of neutralizing a landmine, the method comprising:

moving a vehicle having a water supply tank, an electrical power supply and an electro-discharge apparatus in proximity to the landmine, wherein the electro-discharge apparatus comprises one or more electro-discharge nozzles each including a discharge chamber that has an inlet for receiving water from the water supply tank and an outlet and a first electrode extending into the discharge chamber and being electrically connected to one or more high-voltage capacitors that are connected to, and chargeable by, the electrical power supply and a second electrode proximate to the first electrode to define a gap between the first and second electrodes; and

causing the one or more capacitors to discharge across the gap between the electrodes to create a plasma bubble which expands to form a shockwave that escapes through one or more exit orifices of the one or more nozzles ahead of the plasma bubble to thereby neutralize a landmine.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 comprising disposing on the vehicle a landmine detector.