GB2419567A

GB2419567A - Vehicle for use in mined areas

Info

Publication number: GB2419567A
Application number: GB0423924A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David James Burgess
Original assignee: CONSTANT DEVELOPMENTS Ltd
Current assignee: CONSTANT DEVELOPMENTS Ltd
Priority date: 2004-10-27
Filing date: 2004-10-27
Publication date: 2006-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2024-10-27
Also published as: GB2419567B; GB0423924D0

Abstract

A vehicle (20) for use in mined areas, which vehicle (20) comprises first, second and third pairs of wheels (22, 24, 26), a first axle (28) for the first pair of wheels (22), a second axle (28) for the second pair of wheels (24), a third axle (28) for the third pair of wheels (26), a ground-clearing structure providing a high ground clearance of the type found on tractors, a transmission system of the type found on tractors whereby the vehicle (20) is capable of fast ground speeds for personnel transportation purposes, and a mine shield (32) which extends underneath the axles (28) for providing protection against exploding mines whilst maintaining a low centre of gravity (34) for the vehicle (2) for optimum safe travel purposes over rough terrain.

Description

A VEHICLE FOR USE IN MINED AREAS

This invention relates to a vehicle and, more especially, this invention relates to a vehicle for use in mined areas.

There are many different types of purpose-built vehicles for use in mined areas. Generally, mine clearance vehicles have a good level of protection against exploding mines but the vehicles tend to be slow moving and heavy. Persons may be injured from exploding mines or ordinance and slow moving vehicles, for example tanks, are not good for use in transporting injured personnel. Also, for example from exploding mines or ordinance to safer areas for treatment. Heavy vehicles are often not sufficiently portable to reach mined areas easily, for example by being carried by air.

Modern rapid deployment forces require vehicles that are able to provide required speed and mobility, and that are also able easily to be transported to the mined areas. There are two known vehicles which attempt to provide these requirements. The first known vehicle is that known as a Casspir from Mechem of South Africa. The second vehicle is that known as a Buffalo from Technical Solution Group Inc. of the USA.

Both of these vehicles are similar and, whilst they are an improvement on previous vehicles for use in mined areas, they suffer from a disadvantage of a high centre of gravity. This makes the vehicles unstable for travel purposes over rough terrain.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a vehicle for use in mined areas, which vehicle comprises first, second and third pairs of wheels, a first axle for the first pair of wheels, a second axle for the second pair of wheels, a third axle for the third pair of wheels, a ground-clearing structure providing a high ground clearance of the type found on tractors, a transmission system of the type found on tractors whereby the vehicle is capable of fast ground speeds for personnel transportation purposes, and a mine shield which extends underneath the axles for providing protection against exploding mines whilst maintaining a low centre of gravity for the vehicle for optimum safe travel purposes over rough terrain.

With the low centre of gravity of the vehicle of the present invention, there is less risk of the vehicle rolling over when travelling over rough terrain than there is with the above mentioned known Casspir and Buffalo vehicles.

The vehicle of the present invention may include connection means for connecting to mine clearing equipment. The vehicle may be used with or without the mine clearing equipment. Any suitable and appropriate mine clearing equipment may be employed.

The mine shield may be in the form of a mine and ballistic protection hull.

The centre of gravity may be on the axles.

The transmission system may provide for speeds in the range of 0.5 km/hr. Preferably, the transmission system provides for speeds in the range of 1.3 - 68.4 km/hr. Higher or lower speeds may be provided for.

The transmission system may have 54 speeds. More or less than 54 speeds may be employed.

The transmission system may have low crawler gears for allowing the use of heavy mine clearance equipment, for example dozer blades. Such equipment would normally only be used on heavy tracked vehicles such as tanks.

The vehicle of the present invention may include gas and coil spring suspension means. The use of the gas and coil spring suspension means may provide improved axle articulation, thereby giving improved mobility and also a more comfortable ride. The more comfortable ride may be especially important for providing a reduced risk of further injury to injured personnel being carried by the vehicle. The persons may be injured, for example, from exploding mines and/or exploding ordinance.

The vehicle may include an armoured area for carrying injured personnel.

The vehicle may include a flat area for receiving loads.

The mine shield may advantageously be made from a light weight alumina ceramic material. Other materials including steel may be employed if desired.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a known vehicle of the type known as a Buffalo; Figure 2 is a rear view of the vehicle shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a vehicle of the present invention; and Figure 4 is an end view of the vehicle shown in Figure 3.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a known vehicle 2 for use in mined areas. The vehicle comprises a first pair of wheels 4, a second pair of wheels 6, and a third pair of wheels 8. Each pair of wheels 4, 6, 8 has an axle 10. The vehicle 2 has a driving cab 12 and leaf springs 14.

The vehicle 2 has a mine shield 16 which is fitted above the axles 10 and also above the wheels 4, 6, 8. The mine shield 16 causes the vehicle 2 to have a high centre of gravity 18. The high centre of gravity provides inherent instability at high speed, and also during braking on and off roads.

The vehicle 2 also has a standard truck power train which, together with the leaf spring suspension afforded by the leaf springs 14 also provides inadequate ride and handling facilities, both on and off roads.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown a vehicle 20 of the present invention and for use in mined areas. The vehicle 20 comprises a first pair of wheels 22, a second pair of wheels 24, and a third pair of wheels 26. Each pair of wheels has an axle 28.

The vehicle 20 has a ground-clearing structure 30 providing a high ground clearance of the type found on tractors. The vehicle 20 also has a transmission system of the type found on fast tractors whereby the vehicle is capable of fast ground speeds for personnel transportation purposes.

A suitable fast tractor is, for example, a JCB FASTRAC.

The vehicle 20 has a mine shield 32 which extends underneath the axles 28 as shown in Figure 4 and which thereby provides protection against exploding mines whilst maintaining a low centre of gravity 34. The low centre of gravity provides for optimum safe travel purposes over rough terrain.

The vehicle 20 includes connection means at position 36 for connecting to mine clearing equipment. The mine clearing equipment can be used instead of the illustrated tractor digging arm 38 and bucket 40.

The mine shield 32 may be in the form of a mine and ballistic protection hull. The hull may be V-shaped if desired. Other shapes for the hull may however be employed.

As can best be seen in Figure 3, the centre of gravity 34 is on the axles 28.

The tractor-type transmission system used in the vehicle 2 has 54 speeds, enabling a wide speed range from 1.3 - 68.4 km/h. Low crawler gears allow the use of heavier mine clearance equipment such for example as heavier doser blades, than would normally be used on heavy tracked vehicles such as tanks.

The vehicle 20 has gas springs 40 towards the rear as shown. The vehicle 20 has coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers 42 towards the front as shown. The use of the gas and coil spring suspension 40, 42 provides improved axle articulation, which itself provides for improved mobility and a better ride facility, thereby reducing the risk of further injury to casualties being carried by the vehicle 20.

The vehicle 20 may use proven remote drive control systems in order to reduce risks to an operator from exploding ordinance and mines.

Injured personnel may be carried at speed by the vehicle 2 in an armoured area 44.

The vehicle 20 has a flat area 46 (not shown) for receiving loads.

The mine shield 32 may be made of any suitable and appropriate materials. As illustrated, the mine shield 32 is of a V-shape in cross-section.

The under-axle installation of the mine shield 32 provides the lower centre of gravity 34 which in turn provides improved stability for the vehicle 20.

Advanced shielding materials such for example as light weight alumina ceramic materials may optimise protection against exploding mines and ordinance, whilst affording lower weight. Lower weight in turn provides less ground pressure and the facility for improved mobility.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modification may be effected.

Claims

1. A vehicle for use in mined areas, which vehicle comprises first, second and third pairs of wheels, a first axle for the first pair of wheels, a second axle for the second pair of wheels, a third axle for the third pair of wheels, a ground-clearing structure providing a high ground clearance of the type found on tractors, a transmission system of the type found on tractors whereby the vehicle is capable of fast ground speeds for personnel transportation purposes, and a mine shield which extends underneath the axles for providing protection against exploding mines whilst maintaining a low centre of gravity for the vehicle for optimum safe travel purposes over rough terrain.

2. A vehicle according to claim I and including connection means for connecting to mine clearing equipment

3. A vehicle according to claim 2 and including the mine clearing equipment.

4. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the mine shield is in the form of a mine and ballistic protection hull.

5. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the centre of gravity is on the axles.

: :: :s1:. I ** * * . : * * I * * * I *. * S.. * * :. * *

6. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the transmission system provides for speeds in the range of 0.5 - 80 km/hr.

7. A vehicle according to claim 6 in which the transmission system provides for speeds in the range of 1.3 - 68.4 km/h.

8. A vehicle according to claim 6 or claim 7 in which the transmission system has 54 speeds.

9. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the transmission system has low crawler gears for allowing the use of heavier mine clearance equipment than would normally be used on heavy tracked vehicles.

10. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including gas and coil spring suspension means.

11. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including an armoured area for carrying injured personnel.

12. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including a flat area for receiving loads.

1. *S. *. . * *..

* * * * * S * *S S S * S S * S S * * S. * * . : _* * *

13. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and in which parts of the vehicle are made from a light weight alumina ceramic material.

14. A vehicle for use in mined areas, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. * *

* S S * *** *SS * *.

* * S * S. * * * * S * * * : . *. : .:: :.