Mobile explosives detonator

Abstract

An explosives detonator is configured to be moved across land by a vehicle platform to detonate explosives positioned on or in the land. The explosives detonator includes a frame and a plurality of rollers coupled to the frame. The plurality of rollers are configured to engage and roll along the land relative to the frame about respective roller axes as the vehicle travels along the land. The rollers are weighted to exert pressure on the land and activate any pressure-sensitive explosives, such as mines.

1 . An explosives detonator configured to be moved across land by a vehicle platform to detonate explosives positioned on or in the land, the explosives detonator comprising:
 a frame,   a plurality of rollers coupled to the frame and configured to engage and roll along the land relative to the frame about respective roller axes as the vehicle travels along the land, and   a roller mount system configured to mount each of the rollers to the frame for movement relative to the frame between a use configuration, in which each of the roller axes extend perpendicularly to a front-to-back centerline of the frame, and a transportation configuration, in which each of the roller axes extend parallel to the front-to-back centerline of the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The explosives detonator of  claim 1 , wherein, collectively, the plurality of rollers have a first width in the use configuration and a second width less than the first width in the transportation configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The explosives detonator of  claim 2 , wherein the first width is greater than 12 feet and the second width is less than or equal to 12 feet. 
     
     
         4 . The explosives detonator of  claim 1 , wherein the roller mount system includes a plurality of roller orientation locks, each roller orientation lock included in the plurality of roller orientation locks being coupled to a respective roller included in the plurality of rollers and including a roller mount fixed to each respective roller for movement with the respective roller between the use configuration and the transportation configuration, a lock pin assembly configured to engage selectively with the roller mount to block movement of each respective roller and roller mount relative to the frame between the use configuration and the transportation configuration, and a lock guide plate fixed to the frame for movement therewith and configured to control engagement between the lock pin assembly and roller mount. 
     
     
         5 . The explosives detonator of  claim 4 , wherein the lock pin assembly includes a lock pin, an orientation-selector pin spaced apart from the lock pin, and a pin link interconnecting the lock pin and the orientation-selector pin to control movement of the lock pin and the orientation-selector pin in unison with one another between a locked position engaged with the roller mount and an unlocked position withdrawn from the roller mount so that each respective roller is free to pivot between the use configuration and the transportation configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The explosives detonator of  claim 5 , wherein the lock pin is configured to extend into a first roller-mount aperture formed in the roller mount in the use configuration and a second roller-mount aperture formed in the roller mount in the transportation configuration, and the orientation-selector pin is configured to extend into a first selector aperture formed in the lock guide plate and a third roller-mount aperture formed in the roller mount in the use configuration and is configured to extend into a second selector aperture formed in the lock guide plate and a fourth roller-mount aperture formed in the roller mount in the transportation configuration, the first selector aperture being offset from the third roller-mount aperture in the transportation configuration and the second selector aperture being offset from the fourth roller-mount aperture in the use configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The explosives detonator of  claim 5 , wherein the orientation-selector pin is pivotable about the lock pin in the unlocked position between a use-selection position, in which the orientation-selector pin is received in a first selector aperture formed in the lock guide plate and a transportation-selection position in which the orientation-selector pin is received in a second selector aperture formed in the lock guide plate. 
     
     
         8 . The explosives detonator of  claim 7 , wherein, when each respective roller is in the use configuration and the orientation-selector pin is in the transportation-selection position, the lock pin is blocked from moving to the locked position, and wherein, when each respective roller is in the transportation configuration and the orientation-selector pin is in the use-selection position, the lock pin is blocked from moving to the locked position. 
     
     
         9 . The explosives detonator of  claim 5 , wherein the lock pin assembly further includes a pin-retainer unit configured to block the lock pin and the orientation-selector pin from moving to the unlocked position. 
     
     
         10 . The explosives detonator of  claim 9 , wherein the pin-retainer unit includes a retainer plate coupled to at least one of the lock pin, the orientation-selector pin, and the pin link and formed to include a first retainer aperture and a second retainer aperture, a retainer pin fixed to the lock guide plate configured to extend in the first retainer aperture when the lock pin is in the locked position and the respective roller is in the use configuration and configured to extend in the second retainer aperture when the lock pin is in the locked position and the respective roller is in the transportation configuration, and a retainer-lock pin coupled removably with the retainer pin and configured to lock withdrawal of the retainer pin from the first and second retainer apertures when the lock pin is in the locked position. 
     
     
         11 . The explosives detonator of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a frame foundation coupled to each of the plurality of rollers, a frame arm configured to couple to the vehicle and coupled to the frame foundation and for pivotable movement of relative to the frame foundation between the use configuration, in which the frame arm extends parallel to the front-to-back centerline of the frame, and the transportation configuration, in which the frame arm extends perpendicular to the front-to-back centerline of the frame, and an arm lock configured to block movement of the frame arm relative to the frame foundation in both the use configuration and the transportation configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The explosives detonator of  claim 11 , wherein the frame lock includes a support bracket fixed to the frame arm, an arm latch coupled to the support bracket, and a plurality of arm catches coupled to the foundation frame and configured to engage the arm latch to block movement of the frame arm relative to the frame foundation. 
     
     
         13 . The explosives detonator of  claim 12 , wherein the arm latch includes a latch sheath coupled to a distal end of the support bracket and spaced apart from the frame arm, a latch pin received in the latch sheath and configured to engage selectively with a respective arm catch included in the plurality of arm catches in the use configuration and the transportation configuration, and a handle coupled to latch pin and configured to be grasped by a user to move the latch pin from a locked position engages with the respective arm catch and an unlocked position withdrawn from the respective arm catch. 
     
     
         14 . The explosives detonator of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of catches includes a first catch configured to engage with the arm latch in the use configuration, a second latch configured to engage with the arm latch in the transportation configuration when the frame arm extends toward a first lateral side of the frame foundation, and a third catch configured to engage with the arm latch in the transportation configuration when the frame arm extends toward an opposite second lateral side of the frame foundation. 
     
     
         15 . The explosives detonator of  claim 11 , wherein the frame foundation includes a foundation base and an arm mount fixed to the foundation base and configured to support the frame arm for pivotable movement between the use configuration and the transportation configuration, and the frame arm includes an arm body coupled to the arm mount and an arm rotation stop coupled to the arm body and configured to engage the arm mount in the transportation configuration to block further rotation of the frame arm relative to the frame foundation. 
     
     
         16 . The explosives detonator of  claim 1 , wherein each of the rollers includes a plurality of roller rings arranged to lie side by side to one another, an axle extending through each ring included in the plurality of roller rings, and a pair of bushings coupled to each respective end of the axle to allow rotation of the axle relative to the frame. 
     
     
         17 . The explosives detonator of  claim 16 , wherein each ring has a central aperture having a first diameter configured to receive the axle and the axle has a second diameter less than the first diameter so that each ring has only a tangential point of contact with the axle. 
     
     
         18 . The explosives detonator of  claim 17 , wherein the first diameter is at least twice that of second diameter. 
     
     
         19 . The explosives detonator of  claim 17 , wherein each of the rollers further includes a debris guard mounted at each end of the axle between the plurality of roller rings and each respective bushing. 
     
     
         20 . The explosives detonator of  claim 19 , wherein each debris guard has a central aperture with an inner diameter about equal to the second diameter of the axle and an outer radius greater than the first diameter of the central aperture of each ring and less than an outer radius of each ring included in the plurality of rollers.