US4641566A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for detecting buried land mines by non-destructive means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-06-22
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Granted: 1987-02-10
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Expires: 2003-06-22
Abstract
Abstract Buried plastic mines or nonmetallic objects are located by spraying a suspected area with a leach of ionized metal and leaching the ionized metal into the soil to leave a metallic concentrate on an impervious object, such as a plastic mine. An array of detectors detects anomalies of concentrations of the metal, the concentrations being the result of the leach settling on or about the impervious object.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Pomeroy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V9/00; F; F41; F41H; F41H11/00; F41H11/12; F41H11/13; F41H11/134; F41H11/136
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
The method of detecting buried mines comprising spraying detectable materials over a suspected mine field, dispersing the detectable materials into earth in the suspected mine field by percolation and measuring concentrations of materials in the mine field with detectors capable of detecting the detectable materials, said concentrations being the result of detectable materials accumulating on or about buried mines.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
59 words
The method of detecting buried mines comprising spraying detectable materials over a suspected mine field, dispersing the detectable materials into earth in the suspected mine field by percolation and measuring concentrations of materials in the mine field with detectors capable of detecting the detectable materials, said concentrations being the result of detectable materials accumulating on or about buried mines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of detecting buried mines of claim 1 wherein the spraying of detectable materials is spraying solutions having metal ions over a surface of the earth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of detecting buried mines of claim 1 wherein the measuring comprises measuring metal ions concentrated within a predetermined depth beneath a surface of the earth, said predetermined depth corresponding to the depth at which mines are buried.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
62 words
The method of locating objects under an earth surface comprising spraying detectable material over a surface of the earth, leaching the material into earth, wherein the detectable material is collected on objects beneath the surface of the earth in detectable quantities and detecting concentrations of material beneath the surface of the earth with detectors capable of detecting concentrations of the detectable materials.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
62 words
The method of locating objects under an earth surface comprising spraying detectable material over a surface of the earth, leaching the material into earth, wherein the detectable material is collected on objects beneath the surface of the earth in detectable quantities and detecting concentrations of material beneath the surface of the earth with detectors capable of detecting concentrations of the detectable materials.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of detecting buried objects of claim 4 wherein the spraying comprises spraying solutions having metallic ions over a surface of the earth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of detecting objects of claim 5 wherein the spraying comprises carrying metallic ions into the earth with water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of locating objects of claim 4 wherein the collection of detectable material comprises coating objects with the detectable material.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of detecting non-metallic buried mines comprising, depositing material on a suspected mine field, allowing the material to disperse into the ground, detecting differential levels of material in the ground, and locating suspected mines according to detected differential levels of material, wherein the depositing comprises spraying a liquid solution containing metal ions over the suspected mine field, said solution providing a leach that concentrates on or about buried mines, said leach being detectable by detector means capable of distinguishing between greater and lesser concentrations of metal ions.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of detecting non-metallic buried mines comprising, depositing material on a suspected mine field, allowing the material to disperse into the ground, detecting differential levels of material in the ground, and locating suspected mines according to detected differential levels of material, wherein the depositing comprises spraying a liquid solution containing metal ions over the suspected mine field, said solution providing a leach that concentrates on or about buried mines, said leach being detectable by detector means capable of distinguishing between greater and lesser concentrations of metal ions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the detector means are a type of conventional magnetic-field metal detectors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the solution containing metal ions includes a metal selected from a group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, iron, lead, zinc, and manganese.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the detector means has a rotating head which registers as it passes over concentrations of leach and discontinues its indication as it rotates away from said concentrations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the detector means comprises plural micro-detectors disposed in a ring to provide shape recognition of underground objects.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-02-09 | 1990-08-11 | 1991-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-09 | 1994-08-11 | 1995-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-09 | 1998-08-11 | 1999-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |