US3626804A

US3626804A - Equipment for laying mines continuously on the move

Info

Publication number: US3626804A
Application number: US725259A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michel Paramythioti
Original assignee: Forces Armees Francaises
Current assignee: Forces Armees Francaises
Priority date: 1967-07-31
Filing date: 1968-04-22
Publication date: 1971-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-14
Also published as: NL6803321A; NO134674B; DE1703585A1; LU55234A1; DE1703585B2; NL157712B; GB1239241A; NO134674C; FR1604774A

Abstract

The invention relates to equipment for mounting on a special vehicle to form therewith a mine-laying device for the continuous laying of mines at high speed during movement of the vehicle with optimum concealment. A mine-laying carriage is held stationary with respect to the ground by displacement on the vehicle at a speed equal and opposite to the speed of advance thereof, the carriage mounting a tool in the form of a curved casing constituting a means for introducing the mines into the ground, which is pivoted about a horizontal axis of the carriage, a pusher of the same curvature also pivoted about this axis, and means for effecting the working stroke and return of the tool and for maintaining each mine in its buried position on withdrawal of the tool.

Description

States Patent Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority EQUIPMENT FOR LAYING MINES CONTINUOUSLY ON THE MOVE 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 89/1 A, 89/36 H, 102/8 Int. Cl F4" 7/00 Field of Search 89/1, 36 H;

102/]. 8; Ill/89, 99

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 426,043 4/1890 Murphey et al l l 1/89 2,789,522 4/l957 Barton l 1 1/89 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,076,430 7/1967 Great Britain 89/1 A Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle Ar!0rneysRobert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato ABSTRACT: The invention relates to equipment for mounting on a special vehicle to form therewith a mine-laying device for the continuous laying of mines at high speed during movement of the vehicle with optimum concealment. A mine-laying carriage is held stationary with respect to the ground by displacement on the vehicle at a speed equal and opposite to the speed of advance thereof, the carriage mounting a tool in the form of a curved casing constituting a means for introducing the mines into the ground, which is pivoted about a horizontal axis of the carriage, a pusher of the same curvature also pivoted about this axis, and means for effecting the working stroke and return of the tool and for maintaining each mine in its buried position on withdrawal of the tooL Patented Dec. 14, 1971 3,626,804

7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Dec. 14, 1971 3,626,804

7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 14, 1971 7 Sheets-Sheet S wow a Patented Dec. 14, 1971 3,626,804

7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 14, 1971 3,626,804

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 14, 1971 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Dec. 14, 1971 3,626,804

7 Sheets-Sheet '7 EQUIPMENT FOR LAYING MINES CONTINUOUSLY ON THE MOVE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to mine-laying apparatus and in particular to mine-laying apparatus which can be mounted on a special vehicle to constitute equipment for laying mines at high speed, continuously, and on the move, with optimum concealment.

The principal objects of the invention are as follows:

I. To efiect the introduction of each mine into the ground mechanically.

2. To hide the presence of the mines as near perfectly as possible without a subsequent operation.

3. To efi'ect these operations continuously at high speed on the move, that is without stopping the mine-laying vehicle.

The mine is introduced into the earth tangentially, without disturbing the ground and the surface layer is maintained in place to ensure concealment.

For the period of the mine-laying operation, the mine-laying apparatus is relatively stationary with respect to the ground and is moved with respect to the vehicle at a velocity opposite to that with which the vehicle advances, so as to be relatively stationary with respect to the ground because of the opposite movement.

The equipment comprises two essential parts:

A mobile carriage comprising the mine-laying apparatus proper; and

A rocking beam pivoted on the vehicle and comprising two parallel rails, on which the carriage moves, essentially horizontal and able to be tilted so as to regulate the orientation vertically.

The movable carriage can be constructed in any suitable way for example of two cross-braced plates, and carriers rollers permitting movement on a roller track which is preferably mounted on the longitudinal axis of the supporting vehicle.

On the carriage are assembled the elements necessary for laying the mines. It mounts a support for a casing of curved section carried by arms oscillating about a horizontal axis of the carriage; the cross section of the interior of the casing permits the passage in a flat position of the mine, which is ad mitted through a feeding flap pivoted on the casing and delivered by a pivoted ejection flap forming its bevelled lower extremity.

This mine is pushed down the curved passage of the casing by a pusher having the same curvature as the casing, and carried by an oscillating arm which is joumaled about the same axis. The arm is provided with an abutment face for a driving roller and carries a scraping tool.

A sector-shaped lever is pivoted on a horizontal axis parallel to the previously mentioned axis on the carriage. This lever is moved by a double-acting hydraulic ram, and controls the casing by an intermediate set of crank arms, and the arm of the pusher by a roller mounted at its end.

The carriage is connected to at least one sensing wheel movable in and out of operation by a double-acting hydraulic cylinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING By way of example only, a vehicle and apparatus for mine laying embodying the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective schematic views of the vehicle and mine-laying apparatus respectively before and during operation;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the apparatus in the rest position; and

FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views of the apparatus similar to that of FIG. 3 showing it in successive positions assumed during a cycle of operations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A movable carriage 1, comprising for example two

crossbraced sideplates

30 and 31, carries all the apparatus necessary to mine laying at a stationary position and can thus be used alone by stopping the supporting vehicle. It is here furnished with four rollers 2 by which it can travel on rails. It comprises the following elements:

A principal tool 3 constituted by a casing of the shape of a section of an arc of a circle, movable around a horizontal axle 4 passing through the center of this circle. and of which the interior cross section permits the passage of a mine to a flat position.

The casing has on its external surface an inlet or feeding flap or shutter 5 pivoted about an axis 28, and at its bevelled or chamfered lower end 32 an ejection flap 6 likewise pivoted about an axle 29. The upper end of the casing 3 is connected to the end of an arm 7 which can oscillate about the axle 4.

A pusher 8 of the same curvature as the casing is arranged for movement in the interior thereof and mounts at its lower end an arrangement 9 for arming the mine 26. The upper end of the pusher is connected with the end of an arm 10 which is likewise pivoted about the axle 4 and which comprises an abutment face 11. A scraper 12 is fixed to the arm 10.

A generally sector-shaped lever 13 can oscillate about a horizontal axle 14 on the casing parallel to the axle 4 being driven by a double-acting hydraulic ram 15. The lever is connected to the arm 7 indirectly by means of two crank arms 16 and carries at its end a flexible roller 17 for engagement with the abutment face 11 of the arm 10 of the pusher 8.

A sensing wheel I8 mounted at the end of a swinging arm 19 is controlled by a small hydraulic cylinder or jack 20.

The carriage I, by means of its rollers 2, moves between two rails which together constitute a beam 21 pivotable about a horizontal axis fixed with respect to the vehicle, this movement being controlled by the action on its free end 27 of a stabilizing cylinder 23', this cylinder 23 is fed by means of a servovalve 24 (FIG. 4) controlled by an electric current varied by the oil pressure in the cylinder 20 controlling the sensing wheel 18 of the carriage I.

This beam is mounted for example along the longitudinal axis of the support vehicle 33 between the housings 34 and the caterpillar tracks 35 (FIGS. I and 2).

The feeding of the mines is efi'ected through a fixed channel 25 issuing from a distribution arrangement for the mines.

The operation of the apparatus is illustrated in the sequence of the FIGS. 3-8 of the accompanying drawings.

a. FIG. 3. Position during transit The beam 21 is held level by the cylinder 23 (assisted if required by a mechanical lock device not shown), the correction system for vertical positioning being out of circuit. The carriage l is in the forward position, the sensing wheel I8 is raised by the cylinder 20, and the flap 5 has not received a mine.

b. FIG. 4. Beginning the minelaying cycle.

The position is the same as the position during transit except that the sensing wheel I8 has been lowered into contact with the ground by the cylinder 20 and the vertical orientation correcting system is in action; its function is described in paragraph (g).

The piston of the hydraulic cylinder 15 is in the withdrawn position, the tool 3 and the pusher 8 are maintained in the raised position by the lever 13 through the crank arm I6 and the roller I7. A mine 26 is fed on to the flap 5 from the supply channel 25.

c. FIG. 5.

The carriage l is in effect stationary with respect to the ground because of the backward movement on the beam 21 of the moving vehicle in the direction of the arrow F. The cylinder 51 is energized and causes the lever 13 to tilt thereby driving the arm 7 of the tool 3 by means of the crank anns I6. the function of which is to ensure, by a suitable kinetic arrangement, a progressive moving off of the tool assembly (and its progressive return to its upper position at the end of the cycle).

By the operation of this kinetic arrangement, the roller 17 is not carried by the abutment face 11 and the pusher descends jointly with the tool.

The end 32 of the tool 3 engages the ground, the flap 6 being held closed by the thrust or pressure of the earth. In the position corresponding to that of FIG. 5, the thrust of the earth ensures the closure of the flap effecting a pivoting of the mine into the casing just before the end 9 of the pusher 8. d. FIG. 6. Lower position The piston of the hydraulic cylinder is at the end of its movement and an automatic arrangement (not shown) ensures the commencement of a reverse movement without any delay interval.

The mine is then in its final horizontal position, the pusher 8 locking itself in its lowest position so as to prevent return movement of the mine.

e. FIG. 7. Ejection of the mine Energized no wover its smaller section, the hydraulic cylinder 15 withdraws the lever 13 which returns the tool by means of the crank arms 16, the roller 17 having not yet made contact with the abutment face 11. The pusher 8 remains locked in its lower position thereby holding the mine in place; the flap 6 consequently opens and slides over the body of the mine while the mechanism 9 ensures that the mine is armed.

During the withdrawal of the tool 3, the flap 5 remains closed due to the presence of the earth on its upper part which has the form ofa skid.

While the pusher 8 remains locked, the scraper l2 likewise remains fixed and prevents the surface layer of the earth being carried up by the casing 3.

At the moment when the roller 17 makes contact with the abutment face 1 l, the pusher 8 becomes unlocked and returns at high speed into the tool under the thrust of the roller 17.

f. FIG. 8.

The carriage l finally reaches the rear end of its path, the tool 3 and pusher 8 returning to their initial positions. The whole assembly then returns to the initial position of FIG. 4 by reverse movement of the carriage on the beam 21 by operation of the hydraulic jack l5 and the cycle can then recommence.

g. Operation of the system for correcting the vertical orientation.

In the time during which the mine is buried, the vehicle has moved over the ground and might well have encountered irregularities of the surface which will have the effect of altering the height of the axle 4 above the ground which must not occur. To prevent such an occurrence, the beam 21 is pivotally mounted on the chassis about the horizontal axle 22 and its movement is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder 23, the piston of which acts on its free end 27.

When the vehicle goes from the position for transit to that for laying mines, the operator can actuate the hydraulic cylinder which engages the sensing wheel 18 with the ground, The energization of the double-acting cylinder 23 is controlled by the servovalve 24 operated by the pressure in the cylinder 20 which is hydraulically locked in a position which effectively determines the depth at which the mines are buried. If, as a consequence of the movement of the vehicle, the beam 21 tends to rise, the wheel 18 is less firmly supported by the ground so that the pressure in the cylinder 20 decreases and this change affects by means of the servovalve 24 the supply of hydraulic medium to the lesser side of the cylinder 23 which corrects the movement. Similarly, if the beam 21 drops, the pressure in the cylinder 20 increases and the inverse action reestablishes equilibrium. This servosystem thus assures that a constant predetermined pressure is maintained in the cylinder 20 and thereby vigorously maintains the distance of the carriage above the ground whatever the movement of the vehicle, this being so not only during mine laying but during the return to action.

According to a modification, the stabilizing system is effected by a vertical movement of the rollers with respect to the carriage under. control of the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 20.

What I claim is:

l. Mine-laying equipment for the automatic continuous concealed laying of mines in the ground on the move at high speed, the equipment comprising a carrier vehicle, slidably supported on said carrier vehicle a mine-laying carriage, means for immobilizing the carriage with respect to the ground by displacement thereof on the carrier vehicle at a velocity equal and opposite to the velocity of advance of the carrier vehicle, a tool carried on the carriage having the fonn of a curved casing for introducing mines into the earth, means pivoting the tool about a horizontal axis on the carriage slidably disposed in said tool and, a pusher having the same curvature as the tool, means pivoting the pusher about said horizontal axis, means for effecting working strokes and return strokes of the tool and including means moving said pusher to thrust mines individually into the ground during the working strokes of the tool for maintaining the individual mines in a buried position during the return stroke of the tool, a double-acting hydraulic cylinder mounted on the carriage, a crank member, means mounting the crank member for pivoting by the cylinder about an axis parallel to the pivotal axis of the tool, an arm secured to the tool, connecting arms operably connecting the crank member and the arm, an arm secured to the pusher, a shoulder on the pusher arm, and a roller carried by the crank member and engageable with the shoulder for effecting delayed ascent of the pusher.

2. Mine-laying equipment for the automatic continuous concealed laying of mines in the ground on the move at high speed, the equipment comprising a carrier vehicle, a mine-laying carriage slidable horizontally on the carrier vehicle, means for rendering the carriage stationary with respect to the ground by displacement thereof on the carrier vehicle at a velocity equal and opposite to the velocity of advance of the vehicle during a mine-laying operation, a tool carried on the carriage having the form of a curved casing for introducing mines successively into the earth, means pivoting the tool about a horizontal axis on the carriage, a pusher having the same curvature as the tool, means pivoting the pusher about said horizontal axis, means for effecting working strokes and return strokes of the tool and including means moving said pusher to thrust mines into the ground during the working strokes of the tool for maintaining the mine in its buried position during the return stroke of the tool, a feeding shutter pivoted at the lower end thereof on the tool, the feeding shutter being nonnally open and closable on contact with the ground, and an ejection shutter pivoted at the upper end thereof at the lower end of the tool and operable to close the chamfered lower opening of the tool engageable with the ground.

3. Mine-laying equipment for the automatic continuous concealed laying of mines in the ground on the move at high speed, the equipment comprising a carrier vehicle, a mine-laying carriage slidably supported on said carrier vehicle, means for immobilizing the carriage with respect to the ground by displacement thereof on the carrier vehicle at a velocity equal and opposite to the velocity of advance of the carrier vehicle, a tool carried on the carriage having the form of a curved casing for introducing mines into the earth, means pivoting the tool about a horizontal axis on the carriage, a pusher having the same curvature as the tool, means pivoting the pusher about said horizontal axis, means for effecting the advance and return of the tool and for maintaining the mine in its buried position during the return of the tool, an arming mechanism, the arming mechanism being mounted at the free end of the pusher and having means to effect arming of the mine during burial thereof.

4. Mine-laying equipment for the automatic continuous concealed laying of the mines in the ground on the move at high speed, the equipment comprising a carrier vehicle, a

mine-laying carriage slidably supported on said vehicle means for immobilizing the carriage with respect to the ground by displacement thereof on the carrier vehicle at a velocity equal and opposite to the velocity of advance of the carrier vehicle during a mine-laying operation, a tool carried on the carriage having the fonn of a curved casing for introducing mines successively into the earth, means pivoting the tool about a horizontal axis on the carriage, a pusher having the same curvature as the tool, means pivoting the pusher about said horizontal axis, means for effecting working strokes and return strokes of the tool and including means moving said pusher to thrust mines individually into the ground during the working strokes of the tool for maintaining the individual mines in a buried position during the return stroke of the tool, a guide track for the carriage, roller means on the carriage engaging the track, the guide track being along the longitudinal axis of the carrying vehicle, and means for causing movement of the carriage along the track during each cycle from the front to the rear at a speed equal to the speed of advance of the vehicle, then from the rear to the front, and for effecting feeding of a mine at the end of said movement.

5. Mine-laying equipment according to claim 4 having stabilizing means for stabilizing the orientation of the carriage vertically regardless of pitching of the vehicle, a sensing wheel, a hydraulic device on the carriage for applying the sensing wheel to the ground, and means controlling the stabilizing means in dependence on the pressure in the hydraulic device.

6. Mine-laying equipment according to claim 5 having means pivoting the guide track on the vehicle, said stabilizing means comprising a double-acting hydraulic ram operable to pivot the guide track relative to the vehicle, and means including a servovalve operable to actuate the ram to tilt the track in dependence on the pressure in said hydraulic device.

7. Mine-laying equipment according to claim 5 wherein said stabilizing means comprises means for adjusting the position vertically of the roller means on the carriage in dependence on the pressure in the hydraulic device.

l l i I! II

Claims

1. Mine-laying equipment for the automatic continuous concealed laying of mines in the ground on the move at high speed, the equipment comprising a carrier vehicle, slidably supported on said carrier vehicle a mine-laying carriage, means for immobilizing the carriage with respect to the ground by displacement thereof on the carrier vehicle at a velocity equal and opposite to the velocity of advance of the carrier vehicle, a tool carried on the carriage having the form of a curved casing for introducing mines into the earth, means pivoting the tool about a horizontal axis on the carriage slidably disposed in said tool and, a pusher having the same curvature as the tool, means pivoting the pusher about said horizontal axis, means for effecting working strokes and return strokes of the tool and including means moving said pusher to thrust mines individually into the ground during the working strokes of the tool for maintaining the individual mines in a buried position during the return stroke of the tool, a double-acting hydraulic cylinder mounted on the carriage, a crank member, means mounting the crank member for pivoting by the cylinder about an axis parallel to the pivotal axis of the tool, an arm secured to the tool, connecting arms operably connecting the crank member and the arm, an arm secured to the pusher, a shoulder on the pusher arm, and a roller carried by the crank member and engageable with the shoulder for effecting delayed ascent of the pusher.

2. Mine-laying equipment for the automatic continuous concealed laying of mines in the ground on the move at high speed, the equipment comprising a carrier vehicle, a mine-laying carriage slidable horizontally on the carrier vehicle, means for rendering the carriage stationary with respect to the ground by displacement thereof on the carrier vehicle at a velocity equal and opposite to the velocity of advance of the vehicle during a mine-laying operation, a tool carried on the carriage having the form of a curved casing for introducing mines successively into the earth, means pivoting the tool about a horizontal axis on the carriage, a pusher having the same curvature as the tool, means pivoting the pusher about said horizontal axis, means for effecting working strokes and return strokes of the tool and including means moving said pusher to thrust mines into the ground during the working strokes of the tool for maintaining the mine in its buried position during the return stroke of the tool, a feeding shutter pivoted at the lower end thereof on the tool, the feeding shutter being normally open and closable on contact with the ground, and an ejection shutter pivoted at the upper end thereof at the lower end of the tool and operable to close the chamfered lower opening of the tool engageable with the ground.

4. Mine-laying equipment for the automatic continuous concealed laying of the mines in the ground on the move at high speed, the equipment comprising a carrier vehicle, a mine-laying carriage slidably supported on said vehicle, means for immobilizing the carriage with respect to the ground by displacement thereof on the carrier vehicle at a velocity equal and opposite to the velocity of advance of the carrier vehicle during a mine-laying operation, a tool carried on the carriage having the form of a curved casing for introducing mines successively into the earth, means pivoting the tool about a horizontal axis on the carriage, a pusher having the same curvature as the tool, means pivoting the pusher about said horizontal axis, means for effecting working strokes and return strokes of the tool and including means moving said pusher to thrust mines individually into the ground during the working strokes of the tool for maintaining the individual mines in a buried position during the return stroke of the tool, a guide track for the carriage, roller means on the carriage engaging the track, the guide track being along the longitudinal axis of the carrying vehicle, and means for causing movement of the carriage along the track during each cycle from the front to the rear at a speed equal to the speed of advance of the vehicle, then from the rear to the front, and for effecting feeding of a mine at the end of said movement.

6. Mine-laying equipment according to claim 5 having means pivoting the guide track on the vehicle, said stabilizing means comprising a double-acting hydraulic ram operable to pivot the guide track relative to the vehicle, and means including a servo-valve operable to actuate the ram to tilt the track in dependence on the pressure in said hydraulic device.