Apparatus and Method for Deploying a Vehicle Arresting Device

Abstract

A system for deploying a vehicle arresting device ( 1 ) of the type comprising a net ( 3 ) or other flexible substrate intended to lie flat upon the ground with an array of upwardly-directed spikes ( 4 ) attached along its leading edge, and which is adapted to arrest a vehicle by penetrating and wrapping around its front tyres and pulling tight under the vehicle to stop further rotation of the wheels. The device is deployed across a road ( 2 ) from a folded condition on one side of the road through cables ( 6 ) and ( 7 ) attached to one side edge and wound in by a winch ( 5 ) on the opposite side of the road, while its other side edge is anchored by lanyards ( 12 ) and ( 13 ) on the first side of the road. The cables and lanyards each extend from the device at divergent oblique angles. The lanyards are themselves anchored to the ground at positions ( 14 ) and ( 16 ) spaced from the device so that it can self-correct in the fore and aft direction during deployment through arcuate movement of the lanyards about their anchor points.

1 . In combination: a vehicle arresting device comprising a flexible substrate of generally rectangular planform intended to lie flat upon the ground when deployed with an array of upwardly-directed spikes attached to the substrate along a leading edge thereof (in the sense of the intended direction of approach of a vehicle to be arrested); means for deploying said device across a vehicle pathway from a folded condition to one side of said pathway comprising respective first flexible tension members attached to the device in the corner regions at one side edge thereof and means for winding in said flexible tension members from a position to the side of said pathway opposite to said one side thereof; and means anchoring said device from said one side of said pathway comprising respective second flexible tension members attached to the device in the corner regions at the side edge thereof opposite to said one side edge and anchors anchoring said second flexible tension members to the ground at anchor positions spaced from their respective attachments to the device so that said device is permitted a range of movement in the fore and aft direction relative to said pathway during deployment by virtue of freedom of said second flexible tension members to move arcuately about their said anchor positions. 
     
     
         2 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein, in use, said first flexible tension members extend from said device at divergent oblique angles. 
     
     
         3 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein, in use, said second flexible tension members extend from said device at divergent oblique angles. 
     
     
         4 . A combination according  claim 1  wherein, in use, said first flexible tension members are attached to said device through connections adapted to release said first flexible tension members from said device under predetermined tension. 
     
     
         5 . A combination according to  claim 4  wherein, in use, said second flexible tension members are attached to said device through connections adapted to release said device from said second flexible tension members under predetermined tension. 
     
     
         6 . A combination according to  claim 5  wherein said second-mentioned predetermined tension is higher than said first-mentioned predetermined tension. 
     
     
         7 . A combination according to  claim 1  comprising a winch adapted to wind in both said first flexible tension members simultaneously and wherein, in use, one of said first flexible tension members runs directly from said device to said winch and the other of said first flexible tension members runs from said device to said winch over a pulley to change its direction from that in which it initially extends from said device. 
     
     
         8 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein said substrate is in the form of a net. 
     
     
         9 . A method of deploying across a vehicle pathway, from a folded condition to one side of said pathway, a vehicle arresting device comprising a flexible substrate of generally rectangular planform intended to lie flat upon the ground when deployed with an array of upwardly-directed spikes attached to the substrate along a leading edge thereof (in the sense of the intended direction of approach of a vehicle to be arrested), which method comprises winding in, from a position to the side of said pathway opposite to said one side thereof, respective first flexible tension members which are attached to the device in the corner regions at one side edge thereof, while said device is anchored from said one side of said pathway by means of respective second flexible tension members attached to the device in the corner regions at the side edge thereof opposite to said one side edge and anchors anchoring said second flexible tension members to the ground at anchor positions spaced from their respective attachments to the device so that said device is permitted a range of movement in the fore and aft direction relative to said pathway during deployment by virtue of freedom of said second flexible tension members to move arcuately about their said anchor positions. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  performed by use of a combination according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle arresting device, a plurality of flexible tension members, winding means and anchors all adapted for use in a method according to  claim 9 . 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9  performed by use of a combination according to  claim 3 . 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 9  performed by use of a combination according to  claim 4 . 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 9  performed by use of a combination according to  claim 5 . 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 9  performed by use of a combination according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 9  performed by use of a combination according to  claim 7 . 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 9  performed by use of a combination according to  claim 8 .