GB2501744A

GB2501744A - Weight distribution system for handheld sweep apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2501744A
Application number: GB1207783.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glenn Michael Thompson; Alan David Redman; Roland Jenkins; Oliver James Simmonds
Original assignee: Audiotel International Ltd
Current assignee: Audiotel International Ltd
Priority date: 2012-05-03
Filing date: 2012-05-03
Publication date: 2013-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 2032-05-03
Also published as: GB201207783D0; GB2501744B

Abstract

A detector support apparatus 1 comprises a harness 3 configured for engagement with the torso 4 of a user 2. A pivot arm 6 has a proximal end configured to pivotably engage with the harness and extends upwardly and forwardly from the harness such that, in use, a distal end of the pivot arm extends forwardly of the user. An engagement mechanism 9 at the distal end of the pivot arm is used to attach a detector 10. The detector may be an electronic ordinance detector, mine detector, metal detector or any detector designed to be used in a sweeping motion over the ground. The detector is supported in front of the user's body by the pivot arm and can then be swept across the front of the user's body by pivoting of the arm about the harness using minor effort by the user's hand and arm. At least a portion or substantially all of the detector's weight is transmitted to the torso of the user via the pivot arm and harness.

Description

WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR HANDHELD SWEEP APPARATUS

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for performing scanning and surveillance operations using electronic detection apparatus, particularly where the detection apparatus is deployed by an operator using a sweeping motion.

There are various types of electronic detection devices or apparatus such as metal detectors, non-linear junction detectors and ordinance or mine detectors which are typically carried by hand and have a detection head which must be methodically swept across the ground or other surface in an attempt to detect and locate target objects.

Throughout the present specification, this entire class of devices or apparatus will be referred to as "detectors". The target objects are typically components (such as metallic or semiconductor components) used within ordinance devices, but could also be general items such as metal objects or any other item capable of being detected by a detector.

Correct, thorough and safe operation of, in particular, electronic ordinance detectors or mine clearance detectors relies not only on the performance of the detector itself, but to a large extent also on the clearance technique and the situational awareness of the operator or user of the detector. Both the clearance technique and the situational awareness of the operator can be greatly impeded or reduced by operator fatigue.

Operator fatigue is caused by a number of factors but a significant contributor is the physical weight burden that some detectors place on the user. Mine clearance and ordinance detection operations must typically be carried out over prolonged periods of time often in areas with extreme environmental conditions or in areas where ongoing conflicts can place additional stresses on the operator. A further factor in such conflict areas is that an operator may not be able to change hands or arms during operation and use of the detector in view of the need to maintain left-or right-handed access to a weapon or other defence or combat apparatus.

An operator suffering from fatigue in supporting the weight of a detector may typically start to execute improper or less efficient sweep patterns or sweep technique, such as failing to perform fully extended sweep patterns or failing to maintain a correct height of a detection head above the surface being swept at all points in the sweep trajectory.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for assisting an operator or user during the use of a detector during scanning and surveillance operations.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a detector support apparatus comprising: a harness configured for engagement with the torso of a user; a pivot arm having a proximal end configured to pivotably engage with the harness and extending upwardly and forwardly from the harness such that, in use, a distal end of the pivot arm extends forwardly of the user; and an engagement mechanism at the distal end of the pivot arm for attachment of a detector.

The harness may comprise a plate having at least one socket configured to receive the pivot arm for rotational engagement therein. The plate may comprises a left socket configured to receive the pivot arm for rotational engagement therein and a right socket also configured to receive the pivot arm for rotational engagement therein. The harness may further include strapping elements for strapping the plate to the torso of a user. The strapping elements may be configured for strapping the plate to the back of the user.

The engagement mechanism may comprise a cord or strap extending from the distal end of the pivot arm. The cord or strap may be elasticated. The cord or strap may include a quick-release mechanism at at least one end. The cord or strap may comprise a portion of adjustable length and an elasticated portion for allowing a biased vertical degree of freedom of movement of a detector coupled thereto. The harness may be integral with or form part of a jacket or gilet.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a detector system comprising a detector support apparatus as described above together with a detector coupled to the engagement mechanism of the detector support apparatus; a forward handle on the detector for providing a user hand grip; and an aft support on the detector for providing a user arm grip.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating a detector in a sweeping motion comprising: engaging a harness with the torso of a user; coupling a pivot arm to the harness such that it extends forwardly of the users body and is pivotably engaged with the harness; providing an engagement mechanism to the distal end of the pivot arm and attaching a detector thereto; holding the detector in front of the user's body and sweeping the detector across the front of the users body by pivoting of the arm about the harness, wherein at least a portion of the detector's weight is transmitted to the torso of the user via the pivot arm and harness.

The pivot arm may extend over the shoulder of the user. An aft portion of the detector may be coupled to the user's arm.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a detector support apparatus comprising: a harness configured to be strapped to the torso of a user; a support arm coupled to the harness and configured, in use, to extend from the harness over a shoulder of the user and swing in a substantially horizontal plane over the shoulder of the user; a support member, extending from a distal end of the support arm, for engagement with a detector.

This apparatus may be used in conjunction with other features as described above.

In a general aspect, the invention serves to transfer at least a substantial portion of the weight of a detector to the torso of the user's body rather than the user's arms, whilst still allowing a full sweeping motion of the detector to be guided by and controlled by the user's hand or arm.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an operator using a detector support apparatus with the detector positioned towards an outward end of a sweep trajectory; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an operator using the detector support apparatus of figure 1 with the detector positioned towards an inward end of the sweep trajectory; Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of various components making up the detector support apparatus; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the partially assembled components of figure 3; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an operator assembling parts of the detector support apparatus; and Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the detector support apparatus supporting a detector "hands-free".

Throughout the present specification, the descriptors relating to relative orientation and position, such as "top", "bottom", "horizontal", vertical", "left", "right", "up", down", "front", "back", "inward", "outward" as well as any adjective and adverb derivatives thereof, are used in the sense of the orientation of the detector support apparatus as presented in the drawings in a normal mode of operation with a user standing upright. However, such descriptors are not intended to be limiting to the structure of the detector support apparatus when not in use other than their suitability for the purposes described.

With reference to figure 1 there is shown a detector support apparatus 1 in use by a user 2. The detector support apparatus comprises a harness 3 which is strapped to or otherwise engaged with the torso 4 of the user 1. The harness 3 may include a jacket or gilet type garment 5 to be worn by the user or may be an arrangement of straps or webbing. A pivot arm 6 extends upwardly and forwardly from the harness preferably reaching over a shoulder of the user. The pivot arm 6 thereby extends forwardly of the user's torso. The pivot arm has a proximal end 7 (seen in figure 2) which engages with the harness 3 and a distal end 8 which is coupled to an engagement mechanism 9 for a detector 10.

The detector 10 typically comprises a body 11 and a detector arm 12 (which may be telescopic) supporting a detector sweep head 13 which is used to sweep the surface of the ground or other substrate surface being swept for the presence of target objects such as mines and ordinance. Various configurations and types of detector 10 are relevant to the detector support apparatus I as will be apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art. The detector 10 is coupled to the engagement mechanism 9 towards a forward end 14 of the detector, and preferably coupled to a handle 15 of the detector 10.

The handle 15 serves as a user hand grip. The detector 10 preferably also includes an aft support 16 at an aft region of the detector for attachment to a users arm as an arm grip.

The detector support apparatus 1 is configured to enable the user 2 to swing the detector 10 from side-to-side about the pivot point where the pivot arm is coupled to the harness. The pivoting action is preferably about a vertical axis when the user is standing upright such that the pivot arm 6 supports the detector 10 through an arc in the horizontal plane. The detector 10 is shown in figure 1 at or near to the outward end of a sweep motion or trajectory, i.e. where the user has guided the detector 10 out from the right hand side of the body. By contrast, figure 2 shows the detector 10 at or near to the inward end of a sweep motion, i.e. where the user has guided the detector 10 inwards across the front of the users body. As will become apparent in later discussion, the detector support apparatus can be adaptable to operate in a left-handed configuration in which the pivot arm extends over the left shoulder of the user and the expressions "outwards" and "inwards" are used in a corresponding sense.

The engagement mechanism 9 comprises a cord or strap which is coupled to the pivot arm 6 at its distal end 8 The expressions "distal end" of the pivot arm and "proximal end" of the pivot arm are used in a relative sense and can include positions which are not necessarily at extreme ends of the pivot arm 6 but which can be near to respective ends of the pivot arm 6. The cord or strap 17 generally comprises any support member capable of supporting the detector 10 from the distal end S of the pivot arm 6 and preferably is or includes a flexible member allowing the user additional degrees of freedom in movement of the detector beyond that offered by the pivot arm 6. More preferably, the cord or strap 17 is or includes an elasticated cord or strap which allows a limited and biased vertical degree of freedom of movement of the detector 10 under the control of the user whilst still supporting a substantial part of the weight of the detector.

In this way, the user is still able to slightly modify the height of the detector sweep head 13 above the ground during sweeping by the application of light lifting force or light depressing force against the bias of the elastic cord or strap, but without generally supporting the weight of the detector 10.

Figures 3 and 4 show detailed diagrams of various components of an exemplary detector support apparatus 1. The hamess 3 may include a back plate 30 which is preferably a stiff support structure and has a right-hand socket 31 and a left-hand socket 32 either of which can receive the proximal end 7 of the pivot arm 6 for left-or right-handed operation. The proximal end 7 of the pivot arm 6 includes a down post 33 which is inserted into one of the right-hand socket 31 or left-hand socket 32 and is free to rotate in the socket about the axis of the socket such that a boom portion 34 of the pivot arm 6 swings in approximately the horizontal plane when the user is standing upright.

The distal end 8 of the pivot arm 6 preferably includes a quick-release fixing mechanism attached thereto. Various types of quick release fixings are known in the art, such as a female receptacle 36 as shown which receives spring loaded pins of a male connector 37 attached to the cord or strap 17 of the engagement mechanism 9.

The down post 33 of the pivot arm 6 may also include a mechanism such as end stop, bush and stud assembly 38 to adjust the height of the pivot arm in the sockets 31, 32.

Alternatively, the down post 33 could simply drop in to the sockets and rely on gravity for retention thereof during use. The sockets 31, 32 may also include conical guide bushes 42 to ease insertion of the down post 33 into the sockets 31, 32.

The back plate 30 may include various features as shown for attachment of harness hold-down straps 39 or buckles or other parts of the harness. The back plate 30 could also be incorporated within a garment 5 such as a jacket or gilet. The back plate 30 may also include features for the attachment, insertion or connection of body armour and may also form part of body armour itself. Figure 5 shows the back plate 30 installed into a suitable garment, thereby forming in combination a suitable harness arrangement for engagement with the torso of the user and with the pivot arm 6. The garment 5 could include body armour.

The engagement mechanism 9 shown in figure 3 includes a cord or strap 17 which is adjustable in length and a pair of bungee straps 40 coupled thereto. The bungee straps terminate in a quick release connector 41 adapted to connect to the forward end 14 or handle 15 of the detector 10.

Figure 5 illustrates assembly of part of the detector support apparatus I whilst the user is wearing the harness arrangement comprising a jacket 5 and back plate 30. The pivot arm 6 can be easily engaged with the harness by insertion of the down post 33 into one of the sockets 31, 32 by the user reaching the pivot arm 6 over the shoulder. The other items of the detector support apparatus 1 can then be attached to the pivot arm 6 from the front.

Figure 6 illustrates the detector support apparatus 1 supporting the full weight of the detector 10 without any additional support from the users hand or arm. The engagement mechanism 9 comprising the cord or strap 17, bungee straps 40 and quick release connector 41 preferably supports the detector 10 at a position on the detector forward end 14 which corresponds to a balance point or centre of gravity of the detector body 11, detector arm 12 and detector sweep head 13 such that in such a "hands-off' condition as shown, the detector 10 is balanced in approximately the correct orientation and position for commencement of a side-to-side sweep motion with minimal effort from the users hand and arm.

In preferred arrangements of detector support apparatus 1, such as those shown in the drawings, as much as two-thirds or more of the weight of the detector 10 is transferred to the torso 4 of the user 2 through the pivot arm 6. The strength and elasticity of the bungee straps 40 (or more generally the cord or strap 17) can be tuned to the weight of any particular detector e.g. simply by replacing the bungee straps with ones having a stronger or a weaker elasticity to ensure that the detector "floats" at approximately the correct height in a "hands-off' condition such as shown in figure 6.

The detector support apparatus 1 may be formed of any suitable materials such as metals, plastics and composites. Ideally, weight of the materials should be kept to a minimum so as to avoid further overall weight burden on the user. The harness 3 may incorporate personal protection materials such as body armour. The detector 10 aft support 16 may comprise any suitable strapping secured with e.g. a buckle or Velcro.

The pivot arm 6 could be coupled to the harness 3 by any suitable mechanism allowing the requisite pivoting action. The pivot could be mounted behind the users torso as shown (which is preferred for good weight distribution), or on top or in front of the users torso. The pivot arm is preferably formed of rigid material sufficient to bear the weight of a detector without significant flexing.

In use, the user operates a detector by attaching the harness to his or her torso, and attaching the pivot arm 6 to the harness 3, e.g. by inserting its down post 33 into a socket 31, 32 in the harness 3. The pivot arm extends forwardly from the user's torso or body and as free to pivot from side to side e.g. over the user's shoulder adjacent the users head. An engagement mechanism 9 such as the cord / strap 17 is attached to the pivot arm (e.g. at the distal end 6) using a quick release fixing mechanism 35 and a detector is attached to the other end of the engagement mechanism e.g. using a quick release connector 41. The detector is thereby suspended at the front of the user's body and may be swung from side-to-side in a sweeping motion with minimal or substantially reduced effort. The pivoting action of the pivot arm using a boom in a generally horizontal plane assists in maintaining consistent height of the detector 10 at all points in the sweep trajectory. Minor corrections in the sweep height can be applied by the user with minimal effort with an upward or downward force against the bias of the engagement mechanism 9.

Most, if not all, of the detector's weight is transmitted to the torso of the user via the pivot arm and the harness which greatly eases the burden on the arms and hands of the user and assists in ensuring a good sweep action.

Other embodiments are intentionally within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A detector support apparatus comprising: a harness configured for engagement with the torso of a user; a pivot arm having a proximal end configured to pivotably engage with the harness and extending upwardly and forwardly from the harness such that, in use, a distal end of the pivot arm extends forwardly of the user and an engagement mechanism at the distal end of the pivot arm for attachment of a detector.
2. The detector support apparatus of claim 1 in which the harness comprises a plate having at least one socket configured to receive the pivot arm for rotational engagement therein.
3. The detector support apparatus of claim 2 in which the plate comprises a left socket configured to receive the pivot arm for rotational engagement therein and a right socket also configured to receive the pivot arm for rotational engagement therein.
4. The detector support apparatus of claim 2 in which the harness further includes strapping elements for strapping the plate to the torso of a user.
5. The detector support apparatus of claim 4 in which the strapping elements are configured for strapping the plate to the back of the user.
6. The detector support apparatus of claim 1 in which the engagement mechanism comprises a cord or strap extending from the distal end of the pivot arm.
7. The detector support apparatus of claim 6 in which the cord or strap is elasticated.
8. The detector support apparatus of claim 6 in which the cord or strap includes a quick-release mechanism at at least one end.
9. The detector support apparatus of claim 7 in which the cord or strap comprises a portion of adjustable length and an elasticated portion for allowing a biased vertical degree of freedom of movement of a detector coupled thereto.
10. The detector support apparatus of claim 1 in which the harness is integral with or forms part of a jacket or gilet.
11. A detector system comprising: a detector support apparatus according to any preceding claim; a detector coupled to the engagement mechanism of the detector support apparatus; a forward handle on the detector for providing a user hand grip; and an aft support on the detector for providing a user arm grip.
12. A method of operating a detector in a sweeping motion comprising: engaging a harness with the torso of a user; coupling a pivot arm to the harness such that it extends forwardly of the user's body and is pivotably engaged with the harness; providing an engagement mechanism to the distal end of the pivot arm and attaching a detector thereto; holding the detector in front of the users body and sweeping the detector across the front of the user's body by pivoting of the arm about the harness, wherein at least a portion of the detector's weight is transmitted to the torso of the user via the pivot arm and harness.
13. The method of claim 12 in which the pivot arm extends over the shoulder of the user.
14. The method of claim 12 further comprising coupling an aft portion of the detector to the user's arm A detector support apparatus comprising: a harness configured to be strapped to the torso of a user; a support arm coupled to the harness and configured, in use, to extend from the harness over a shoulder of the user and swing in a substantially horizontal plane over the shoulder of the user; a support member, extending from a distal end of the support arm, for engagement with a detector