Sensor system for explosive detection and removal

• US 9,488,450 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2013
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Cunningham
• Original Assignee: John Cunningham
• Inventors: Cunningham, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Barker, Matthew M
• Application Number:
  US13/905,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20130255574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/24 for particular purposes or particular vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/245 for handicapped persons
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/32 convertible for other use
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/5438 with a moveable base B60P1/5485 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/18 specially adapted for use in particular purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/28 constructed to operate at successively higher levels
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/36 mounted on road or rail vehicles; Manually-movable jib-cranes for use in workshops; Floating cranes with pneumatic or hydraulic motors B66C23/54; vehicle or ship aspects B60 - B63
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3618 with two separating hooks
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/963 Arrangements on backhoes for alternate use of different tools backhoes per se E02F3/30; quick-acting devices to connect tools to arms E02F3/3609, for arms to tractors or the like E02F3/627
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/964 of several tools mounted on one machine E02F3/962 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/166 movable, tiltable or pivoting, e.g. movable seats, dampening arrangements of cabins seats for vehicles in general B60N2/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2025 Particular purposes of control systems not otherwise provided for E02F3/16, E02F3/26, sub-groups of E02F3/43, E02F3/651, sub-groups of E02F3/84, E02F3/907, E02F5/145 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/136 Magnetic, electromagnetic, acoustic or radiation systems, e.g. ground penetrating radars or metal-detectors
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/20 with ground-penetrating elements, e.g. with means for removing buried landmines from the soil F41H11/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/22 the elements being excavation buckets
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/02 : Land vehicles with enclosing armour, e.g. tanks endless-track vehicles, steering thereof B62D ; vehicles for placing portable or sectional bridges E01D15/127; vehicles carrying floating bridges E01D15/22
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/04 : Armour construction in general F41H5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/227 : Explosives, e.g. combustive properties thereof detecting explosives in air G01N33/0057
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 : for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 : operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/17 : operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A sensor system for detecting one of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), landmines or other buried explosives, the sensor system is mounted in place of a standard backhoe digging bucket of a backhoe vehicle. The sensor system includes a mounting portion having arc swing points for hanging the sensor system on a backhoe arm, and a holding pin opening for receiving a holding pin when positioned in a mounting position on the backhoe arm; and an electronic sensor wand arm assembly mounted to the mounting portion.

Claims

1. A landmine sensor system configured to detect one of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), landmines or other buried explosives, the landmine sensor system being mounted in place of a backhoe digging bucket of a backhoe vehicle, the landmine sensor system comprising:

a mounting portion having arc swing points formed by a pair of curved slots for hanging the landmine sensor system on a fixed holding pin which is part of a backhoe arm of the backhoe vehicle, and a removable holding pin opening configured to receive a removable holding pin when positioned in a mounting position on the backhoe arm; and

an electronic sensor wand arm assembly mounted to the mounting portion via a spring assembly which allows for lateral movement of the electronic sensor wand arm assembly with respect to the mounting portion on condition that the electronic sensor wand arm assembly impacts an obstacle as the backhoe arm swings from side to side.

2. The landmine sensor system of claim 1, further comprising a wherein the spring assembly comprises a spring mounted at one end to an outer plate adjustably disposed at a rear of the mounting portion, and an adaptor movably engaged at a front of the mounting portion and having a rod extending from an inner side thereof, the adaptor having an outer side which is connected to the electronic sensor wand arm assembly, wherein the other end of the spring is attached to the rod, such that adjustment of a tension of the spring allows for lateral movement of the electronic sensor wand arm assembly.

3. The landmine sensor system of claim 2, wherein the outer plate is held in place by a plurality of adjustable fasteners that allow the outer plate to be adjusted in order to set the tension of the spring, thereby to adjust the amount of lateral movement of the electronic sensor wand arm assembly.

4. The landmine sensor system of claim 1, further comprising a paint marking holder system mounted to a side of the mounting portion for holding a paint can used for marking both cleared areas and possible IEDs.

5. The landmine sensor system of claim 1, wherein paint can mounting holders are disposed on two sides of the mounting portion for holding two paint cans for dispensing two different colors, with one color being used to mark an area clear, and another color being used to mark one of a buried explosive or a detected signal that indicates a possible explosive device.

6. The landmine sensor system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of indicator lights positioned on the backhoe vehicle to indicate the strength of the signal of the landmine sensor system.

7. The landmine sensor system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electric sensing system that maintains a constant height of the backhoe arm.

8. The landmine sensor system of claim 1, wherein the spring assembly includes a tension spring having one end connected to the mounting portion and the other end connected to the electronic sensor wand arm assembly.

9. The landmine sensor system of claim 1, wherein the spring assembly includes a spring mounted at one end to an outer plate adjustably disposed at one portion of the mounting portion, and an adaptor movably engaged at another portion of the mounting portion and having a rod extending from an inner side thereof, the adaptor having an outer side which is connected to the electronic sensor wand arm assembly, wherein the other end of the spring is attached to the rod.

10. The landmine sensor system of claim 9, wherein the outer plate is held in place by a plurality of adjustable fasteners that allow the outer plate to be adjusted in order to set the tension of the spring, thereby to adjust the amount of lateral movement of the electronic sensor wand arm assembly.

11. A sensor system for detecting one of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), landmines or other buried explosives, the sensor system being mounted in place of a backhoe digging bucket of a backhoe vehicle, the sensor system comprising:

a mounting portion having arc swing points for hanging the sensor system on a backhoe arm, and a holding pin opening for receiving a holding pin when positioned in a mounting position on the backhoe arm;

an electronic sensor wand arm assembly mounted to the mounting portion; and

a spring assembly including a spring mounted at one end to an outer plate adjustably disposed at a rear of the mounting portion, and an adaptor movably engaged at a front of the mounting portion and having a rod extending from an inner side thereof, the adaptor having an outer side which is connected to the electronic sensor wand arm assembly, wherein the other end of the spring is attached to the rod, such that adjustment of a tension of the spring allows for lateral movement of the electronic sensor wand arm assembly, thereby to protect the electronic sensor wand arm assembly as the backhoe arm swings from side to side.

12. The sensor system of claim 11, wherein the outer plate is held in place by a plurality of adjustable fasteners that allow the outer plate to be adjusted in order to set the tension of the spring, thereby to adjust the amount of lateral movement of the electronic sensor wand arm assembly.