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US3720166A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus and method for terrain clearance

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1971-08-02
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Granted: 1973-03-13
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Expires: 1991-08-02
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Abstract

Abstract Rod expellng explosive apparatus is used to clear bushes and trees from foliage covered terrain. The apparatus comprises a box containing a linear explosive charge and at least one rod which is forcefully expelled at high velocity when the charge is detonated. The method involves placing rod expelling apparatus on the ground in a position such that the rod or rods will be expelled in a predetermined desired direction at a trajectory just above ground level and detonating the charge.

Inventors

  • 👤 R Sewell
  • 👤 C Halsey

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 19:49
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42D; F42D3/00; F41; F41H; F41H11/00; F41H11/08; F41H11/11; F41H11/12; F42B; F42B3/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
Rod expelling apparatus for clearing the terrain which comprises: a. a box; b. at least one partition disposed within said box extending substantially the length thereof; c. a linear explosive charge disposed within said box adjacent to one side of said partition; d. at least one rectangular rod disposed within said box adjacent to the other side of said partition, bounded on its side opposite the partition by a wall of the box and on its other two sides by bars; and e. means for detonating said explosive charge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 89 words
Rod expelling apparatus for clearing the terrain which comprises: a. a box; b. at least one partition disposed within said box extending substantially the length thereof; c. a linear explosive charge disposed within said box adjacent to one side of said partition; d. at least one rectangular rod disposed within said box adjacent to the other side of said partition, bounded on its side opposite the partition by a wall of the box and on its other two sides by bars; and e. means for detonating said explosive charge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 89 words
Rod expelling apparatus for clearing the terrain which comprises: a. a box; b. at least one partition disposed within said box extending substantially the length thereof; c. a linear explosive charge disposed within said box adjacent to one side of said partition; d. at least one rectangular rod disposed within said box adjacent to the other side of said partition, bounded on its side opposite the partition by a wall of the box and on its other two sides by bars; and e. means for detonating said explosive charge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 89 words
Rod expelling apparatus for clearing the terrain which comprises: a. a box; b. at least one partition disposed within said box extending substantially the length thereof; c. a linear explosive charge disposed within said box adjacent to one side of said partition; d. at least one rectangular rod disposed within said box adjacent to the other side of said partition, bounded on its side opposite the partition by a wall of the box and on its other two sides by bars; and e. means for detonating said explosive charge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said linear explosive charge is composition B explosive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said rod is steel and said bars are aluminum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 10 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said box is wood.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 49 words
A method for clearing terrain which comprises: a. placing apparatus described in claim 1 in a horizontal position on the ground so that said rod will be expelled horizontal to the ground when said explosive charge is detonated; and b. actuating said detonating means to detonate said explosive charge.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3386380A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-03-12 1976-09-11 1977-03-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-03-12 1980-09-11 1981-03-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-03-12 1984-09-11 1985-03-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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