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I am interested in more information on Aardvark's RACE (Rapid Area Clearance Equipment) mine flail system.
Developed circa 1992, two things made RACE intriguing - its articulated flail drum (or 'axle' to Aardvark) folded into a raised 'V' shape for more compact transport; and that flail drum was hydraulically-driven by a second engine (separate from the vehicle's drivetrain). I am mostly interested in that hydraulic drive system.
Little detailed information seems to be available online (and some of that is contradictory). Here's what I have been able to find:
The attached images show an (ex-British Army?) FV432 APC mounting the articulated version of RACE. Other images show a non-articulated version of RACE mounted on a camo green-painted Volvo L90 front-end loader fitted with an armoured cab. RACE A and RACE C variants are identified. But, which version is which, is part of my confusion.
Aarvark Group, itself, gives conflicting descriptions of these RACE A and RACE C variants. The 'Aardvark Clear Mine' facebook page shows RACE A as the articulated flail on an FV432 (with auxiliary engine mounted off its rear hull).
-- https://www.facebook.com/aardvarkclearmine/videos/flailfriday-the-aardvark-race-a/425620695283657/
However, in the 1992 timeline on Aardvark Group's website, RACE A is defined as "An armoured Volvo loader with fixed rotator flail." RACE C is given as "An advanced self-contained hydraulic folding flail unit for APC's".
-- https://aardvark.group/timeline/1992/
Which RACE variant description was correct?
As for background, in 1985, David Macbeth Macwatt filed a patent application (granted in 1990 as EP0190510B1). This lays out the concept of what becomes the Ford tractor-based halftrack Aardvark JSFU. In EP0190510B1 there is mention of an optional flail-drive mechanism - "The ground-beating means may be driven by a hydraulic pump which is preferably disposed adjacent the tractor unit's prime mover. The pump is preferably driven directly from the prime mover, for example from the crankshaft of the engine of the tractor." -- https://patents.google.com/patent/EP0190510B1/en
The articulated part of this flail system is covered in a 1991 US patent (US4987819A) - attributed to Stephen Brown; assigned to Aardvark Clear Mine Ltd. However, this patent does not mention hydraulic drive of the flail. -- https://patents.google.com/patent/US4987819A/en
I'd love to hear more about Aardvark's RACE series ... especially specifics about that hydraulic drive.
_________________________________________________________
Developed circa 1992, two things made RACE intriguing - its articulated flail drum (or 'axle' to Aardvark) folded into a raised 'V' shape for more compact transport; and that flail drum was hydraulically-driven by a second engine (separate from the vehicle's drivetrain). I am mostly interested in that hydraulic drive system.
Little detailed information seems to be available online (and some of that is contradictory). Here's what I have been able to find:
The attached images show an (ex-British Army?) FV432 APC mounting the articulated version of RACE. Other images show a non-articulated version of RACE mounted on a camo green-painted Volvo L90 front-end loader fitted with an armoured cab. RACE A and RACE C variants are identified. But, which version is which, is part of my confusion.
Aarvark Group, itself, gives conflicting descriptions of these RACE A and RACE C variants. The 'Aardvark Clear Mine' facebook page shows RACE A as the articulated flail on an FV432 (with auxiliary engine mounted off its rear hull).
-- https://www.facebook.com/aardvarkclearmine/videos/flailfriday-the-aardvark-race-a/425620695283657/
However, in the 1992 timeline on Aardvark Group's website, RACE A is defined as "An armoured Volvo loader with fixed rotator flail." RACE C is given as "An advanced self-contained hydraulic folding flail unit for APC's".
-- https://aardvark.group/timeline/1992/
Which RACE variant description was correct?
As for background, in 1985, David Macbeth Macwatt filed a patent application (granted in 1990 as EP0190510B1). This lays out the concept of what becomes the Ford tractor-based halftrack Aardvark JSFU. In EP0190510B1 there is mention of an optional flail-drive mechanism - "The ground-beating means may be driven by a hydraulic pump which is preferably disposed adjacent the tractor unit's prime mover. The pump is preferably driven directly from the prime mover, for example from the crankshaft of the engine of the tractor." -- https://patents.google.com/patent/EP0190510B1/en
The articulated part of this flail system is covered in a 1991 US patent (US4987819A) - attributed to Stephen Brown; assigned to Aardvark Clear Mine Ltd. However, this patent does not mention hydraulic drive of the flail. -- https://patents.google.com/patent/US4987819A/en
I'd love to hear more about Aardvark's RACE series ... especially specifics about that hydraulic drive.
_________________________________________________________
