ROV terrain disruptor

Abstract

A terrain disruption device includes an air or gas flow generation device mounted on a remote operated vehicle having an extendible arm, wherein the air or gas flow generation device includes an elongate (optionally detachable) ducting arrangement to direct the air or gas flow and an optional nozzle. The air or gas flow generation device and/or the elongate ducting arrangement may be mounted on the extendible arm. Preferably, the air or gas flow generation device is powered by a fan, more preferably an electric ducted fan.

Claims

1. A terrain disruption device for uncovering unexploded ordnance located beneath the terrain, the terrain disruption device comprising: an air or gas flow generation device configured to generate air or gas flow and be mounted on a remote operated vehicle (ROV) having a camera and an extendable arm, the air or gas flow generation device including a powered fan and an elongate ducting arrangement to direct air or gas flow, and a component or tool powered by the air or gas flow generated by the air or gas flow generation device; wherein the air or gas flow generation device is configured to generate the air flow or the gas flow that disrupts the terrain in the vicinity of unexploded ordnance, so as to uncover the ordnance without causing activation of the ordnance.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elongate ducting arrangement is detachable.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the powered fan and the elongate ducting arrangement is configured to be mounted on the extendable arm.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the powered fan is an electric ducted fan.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the powered fan is operated to provide a negative airflow to create a vacuum effect.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elongate ducting arrangement is comprised of one or more modules.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the elongate ducting arrangement comprises at least two telescopic modules.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein an end of the elongate ducting arrangement distal to the powered fan has a nozzle.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the nozzle is formed as a hollow sharpened end.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the nozzle is formed in a hollow spike.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elongate ducting further includes an air bleed arrangement that is configured to provide an air flow across a lens of the camera.

12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a disc cutting tool.

13. The device according to claim 12, further comprising an impeller that is powered by the air flow or the gas flow from the air or gas flow generation device, the disc cutting tool being operably linked to the impeller.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the disc cutting tool further comprises a bird's mouth element.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein: an end of the elongate ducting arrangement distal to the powered fan has a nozzle; and at least one of the powered fan, the elongate ducting arrangement, and the nozzle is manufactured from a lightweight composite material.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the lightweight composite material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: aluminium; carbon fiber reinforced resin; and glass fiber reinforced resin.

17. A method of uncovering unexploded ordnance, the method comprising: deploying a remote operated vehicle (ROV) fitted with a terrain disruption device in the vicinity of the ordnance, the ROV having a camera and an extendable arm, and the terrain disruption device comprising: an air or gas flow generation device configured to generate air or gas flow and mounted on the ROV, and a component or tool powered by the air or gas flow generated by the air or gas flow generation device, and operating the air or gas flow generation device to remove loose terrain from around the ordnance, wherein: the air or gas flow generation device comprises a powered fan and an elongate ducting arrangement to direct air flow or gas flow, and the air or gas flow generation device is configured to generate the air flow or the gas flow that disrupts the terrain in the vicinity of unexploded ordnance, so as to uncover the ordnance without causing activation of the ordnance.

18. A kit of parts comprising: a remote operated vehicle (ROV), the ROV including a camera; an air or gas flow generation device configured to generate air or gas flow; an elongate ducting arrangement; a nozzle; and a component or tool powered by the air or gas flow generated by the air or gas flow generation device, wherein: the air or gas flow generation device is a powered fan; and the air or gas flow generation device is configured to generate the air flow or the gas flow that disrupts terrain in the vicinity of unexploded ordnance, so as to uncover the ordnance without causing activation of the ordnance.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the camera is mounted on the extendable arm.

20. The kit according to claim 18, wherein the camera is mounted on the ROV.

21. The device according to claim 10, wherein the hollow spike has a trapezoidal shape such that a rearward surface of the hollow spike acts as a barb, flange or lip.

Description

(1) Embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an ROV fitted with a electric ducted fan arrangement;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an end on view of the ducted fan mounted to the extending arm;

(4) FIG. 3a shows a side view of a nozzle configured into a hollow spike arrangement with a cutting disc;

(5) FIG. 3b shows a schematic of the cutting disc arrangement shown in FIG. 3a;

(6) FIG. 4 shows a side view of a nozzle arrangement impaled into an ordnance; and

(7) FIG. 5 shows a side view of an ROV with a pressurised gas system.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a remote operated vehicle 1 with an extendable arm 2 attached thereto. The extendable arm 2 has an electric ducted fan unit 3 mounted thereon, which may be powered by the ROV's own battery supply or a separate battery supply (not shown). In order to allow the ducted fan 3 to be remote from the immediate vicinity of the ordnance, an elongate ducting 4 (which may be of fixed length or adjustable) is attached, and at the end of the elongate ducting 4 is a nozzle 5. The nozzle 5 may be fixed (as shown) such that combined and co-ordinated movement of the ROV 1 and the extendable arm 2 provide control of the direction of the airflow from the end of the nozzle 5. Alternatively, the nozzle 5 may have a directable portion (not shown) to allow the direction of air flow to be readily adjusted during operation without movement of the ROV 1 or extendable arm 2.

(9) The extendable arm 2 may have a number of other auxiliary components or tools appended thereto, such as a pincer 7 and/or a camera 6.

(10) FIG. 2 shows an end on view of ducted fan 13 mounted on an extendable arm 12, with camera 16 and pincer 17 attached thereto. The ducted fan 13 is comprised of a series of fan blades 18 surrounded by a shroud or duct 19. The duct 19 is attached to the elongate ducting 14 to allow the ducted fan 13 to be located remote from the disrupted terrain and hence, reduce dirt ingress into the ducted fan assembly 13.

(11) FIG. 3a shows a side elevation of an elongate ducting 24 which terminates in a nozzle 25 formed into the shape of a hollow spike or hollow sharpened end 29. The hollow spike 29 may further comprise some form of barb or lip (not shown), which may assist the retention of an impaled ordnance (not shown) onto the spike 29. The elongate ducting 24 may also house a cutting disc 20 (optionally mounted on pivot 28, and optionally comprising a bird's mouth element 22) which may be powered by the airflow, as is more clearly shown in FIG. 3b. In operation, the airflow from the electric ducted fan arrangement shown in FIG. 1 will pass through the elongate ducting 24 out of the hollow spike 29 to disrupt the soil as described in relation to FIG. 1. The hollow spike 29, after disrupting and removing the terrain from around the ordnance (not shown), may then impale said ordnance in an attempt to retract it.

(12) FIG. 3b shows an end view of the elongate ducting 24 and a cutting disc 20 which is operably attached to an impeller arrangement 21. The disc 20 and impeller 21 are co-axially mounted on pivot 28 about which they are free to rotate. Upon a positive air flow being produced, the impeller 21 is forced to rotate, thus causing the cutting disc 20 to rotate.

(13) In an alternative arrangement, the impeller 21 and cutting disc may be located remote from the elongate ducting 24, and an air bleed may be taken from the elongate ducting 24 to power the disc cutting arrangement (not shown).

(14) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the extendable arm 32, with an elongate ducting 34 mounted thereon. The elongate ducting 34 has an in-line impeller driven cutting disc 30 mounted therein, the positive air flow 35 being provided by the ducted fan (not shown). The nozzle 39 is in the form of a frustroconical hollow spike, which has been impaled into an unexploded ordnance 31. The nozzle 39 has a trapezoidal shape so that the rearward surface 38 may act as a barb, flange or lip such that the ordnance 31 may not readily slip from the nozzle 39. Thus, the ordnance may be extracted from its current location.

(15) FIG. 5 shows a schematic of a remote operated vehicle 41 having an extendable arm 42. The extendable arm 42 has an elongate ducting 44 attached thereto, and at the end of the elongate ducting 44 is a nozzle 49. The air or gas flow is provided by a plenum chamber 43 which houses a pressurised gas, which may be pre-charged (i.e. single use). Alternatively, pressurised gas may be generated in-situ by a compressor 46 connected to the chamber 43 via control valve 47.

(16) The output from the chamber 43 is fed via the elongate ducting 44. The flow may be varied by control valve 45, which may be a ball valve operated by a stepper motor to allow incremental changes to the flow rate.

(17) It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modification of detail can be made within the scope of the invention. Each feature disclosed in the description and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination.

(18) Moreover, the invention has been described with specific reference to the excavation and deactivation of ordnance. It will be understood that this is not intended to be limiting and the method of the invention may be used more generally in applications where an object, particularly a hazardous object, needs to be remotely excavated and (optionally) removed from its original location.