Mine Clearing Apparatus

Abstract

A mine clearing apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The mine clearing apparatus comprises a skid arrangement and an arm. The skid arrangement is for sliding along ground while applying pressure to the ground in order to trigger detonation of mines in the ground. The skid arrangement has a plurality of apertures therein to enable gas and/or ejecta, generated by a mine detonation triggered by the skid arrangement, to pass through the skid arrangement. The arm is for coupling the skid arrangement to the vehicle and for causing the skid arrangement to apply pressure to the ground in order to trigger detonation of mines in the ground.

1 . A mine clearing apparatus for a vehicle, the mine clearing apparatus comprising:
 a skid arrangement for sliding along ground while applying pressure to the ground in order to trigger detonation of mines in the ground, the skid arrangement having a plurality of apertures therein to enable gas and/or ejecta, generated by a mine detonation triggered by the skid arrangement, to pass through the skid arrangement; and   an arm for coupling the skid arrangement to the vehicle and for causing the skid arrangement to apply pressure to the ground in order to trigger detonation of mines in the ground.   
     
     
         2 . The mine clearing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the apertures increase in size in a length and/or width dimension as the aperture extends in a depth dimension away from the ground. 
     
     
         3 . The mine clearing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skid arrangement comprises a plurality of elongate skids arranged to slide along and apply pressure to the ground, in order to trigger detonation of mines in the ground. 
     
     
         4 . The mine clearing apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of the elongate skids is elongate in a length dimension that is aligned with a length dimension of the vehicle when the arm couples the skid arrangement to the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The mine clearing apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least some of the plurality of apertures are located between adjacent skids. 
     
     
         6 . The mine clearing apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising one or more connectors arranged to connect adjacent elongate skids, of the plurality of elongate skids, in a spaced configuration such that at least one aperture, of the plurality of apertures, is present between adjacent pairs of elongate skids. 
     
     
         7 . The mine clearing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more connectors are arranged to space adjacent elongate skids from each other in a width dimension that is aligned with a width dimension of the vehicle when the arm couples the skid arrangement to the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The mine clearing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein when the one or more connectors are arranged such that when the plurality of elongate skids contact the ground, the one or more connectors are spaced from the ground. 
     
     
         9 . The mine clearing apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a thickness of each elongate skid is tapered. 
     
     
         10 . The mine clearing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the thickness of each elongate skid is tapered, such that the thickness reduces in a depth dimension in a direction away from the ground. 
     
     
         11 . The mine clearing apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of an underside of one or more of the plurality of elongate skids is curved. 
     
     
         12 . The mine clearing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the arm comprises one or more apertures arranged to enable gas and/or ejecta, generated by a mine detonation explosion triggered by the skid arrangement, to pass through the arm. 
     
     
         13 . The mine clearing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is a fluid powered arm that is configured to apply ground-wards pressure to the skid arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . The mine clearing apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one fluid powered actuator configured to apply ground-wards pressure to the arm in order to cause the arm to apply pressure to apply ground-wards pressure to the skid arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The mine clearing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one fluid powered actuator is a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle comprising the mine clearing arrangement of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 16 , wherein a proximal end of the arm is coupled to a front of a body of the vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , the proximal end of the arm is pivotally coupled to the front of the body of the vehicle and a distal end of the arm is coupled to the skid arrangement. 
     
     
         19 . A mine clearing apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of interconnected elongate skids for sliding along ground and applying pressure to the ground in order to trigger detonation of mines in the ground, wherein the plurality of interconnected elongate skids are configured to enable gas, generated by a mine detonation triggered by the skid arrangement, to pass between the interconnected elongate skids; and   an arm for coupling the plurality of interconnected elongate skids to the vehicle and for causing the skid arrangement to apply pressure to the ground in order to trigger detonation of mines in the ground.   
     
     
         20 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of interconnected elongate skids for sliding along ground and applying pressure to the ground in order to trigger detonation of mines in the ground, wherein the plurality of interconnected elongate skids are configured to enable gas, generated by a mine detonation triggered by the skid arrangement, to pass between the interconnected elongate skids; and   a fluid-powered arm for coupling the plurality of interconnected elongate skids to a front body of the vehicle and for causing the skid arrangement to apply ground-wards pressure to the plurality of interconnected elongate skids in order to trigger detonation of mines in the ground.