U.S. patent application number 10/685377 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-28 for modular armored vehicle system.
Invention is credited to Cohen, Michael.
Application Number | 20050087064 10/685377 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34073788 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050087064 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cohen, Michael |
April 28, 2005 |
Modular armored vehicle system
Abstract
The invention provides a modular armored vehicle system
comprising an armored combat vehicle chassis having a plurality of
openings and a plurality of composite armor plates for absorbing
and dissipating kinetic energy from high velocity, armor-piercing
projectiles, each of the plates being adapted for attachment to the
chassis and sized to cover at least one of the openings wherein
each of the plates comprises a single layer of bodies which are
directly bound and retained in plate form by a solidified material
wherein a majority of each of the bodies is in direct contact with
at least four adjacent bodies, wherein the solidified material and
the plate are elastic and wherein the bodies have a specific
gravity of at least 2.4 and are made of a ceramic material.
Inventors: |
Cohen, Michael; (Kibbutz
Kfar Etzion, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULBRIGHT AND JAWORSKI L L P
PATENT DOCKETING 29TH FLOOR
865 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET
LOS ANGELES
CA
900172576
|
Family ID: |
34073788 |
Appl. No.: |
10/685377 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
89/36.04 ;
428/911; 89/36.08 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 5/0414 20130101;
F41H 5/0492 20130101; F41H 5/023 20130101; F41H 7/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
089/036.04 ;
089/036.08; 428/911 |
International
Class: |
F41H 005/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 22, 2003 |
IL |
158,045 |
Claims
1. A modular armored vehicle system comprising an armored combat
vehicle chassis having a plurality of openings and a plurality of
composite armor plates for absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy
from high velocity, armor-piercing projectiles, each of said plates
being adapted for attachment to said chassis and sized to cover at
least one of said openings wherein each of said plates comprises a
single layer of bodies which are directly bound and retained in
plate form by a solidified material wherein a majority of each of
said bodies is in direct contact with at least four adjacent
bodies, wherein the solidified material and the plate are elastic
and wherein said bodies have a specific gravity of at least 2.4 and
are made of a ceramic material.
2. A modular vehicle system according to claim 1 wherein said plate
comprises an outer, impact receiving panel of a multilayered armor
panel further comprising an inner layer adjacent to said outer
plate, comprising a second ballistic panel, wherein said outer
plate serves to deform and shatter an impacting high velocity
armor-piercing projectile and said second ballistic panel is
adapted to retain any remaining fragments from said projectile and
from said bodies and to absorb remaining energy from said
fragments.
3. A modular armored vehicle system according to claim 1 wherein
said bodies are in the form of pellets.
4. A modular armored vehicle system according to claim 1 wherein
said bodies are made of a ceramic material.
5. A modular armored vehicle system according to claim 1 comprising
a plurality of interchangeable plates, a first plurality of said
plates having pellets sized to absorb and dissipate kinetic energy
from high velocity armor-piercing 12.7 mm-14.5 mm projectiles, a
second plurality of said plates having pellets sized to absorb and
dissipate kinetic energy from high velocity armor-piercing 14.5
mm-30 mm projectiles, and a third plurality of said plates having
pellets sized to absorb and dissipate kinetic energy from high
velocity armor-piercing projectiles of over 30 mm.
6. A modular armored vehicle system according to claim 1 wherein
the bodies in said plates have a regular geometric cross-sectional
area.
7. A modular armored vehicle system according to claim 1 wherein
the bodies in said plates are in the form of pellets having at
least one convexly curved outwardly facing end face.
8. A modular armored vehicle system according to claim 1 wherein
the bodies in said plates have at least one circular
cross-section.
9. A modular armored vehicle system according to claim 1 wherein
the bodies in said plates are in the form of pellets, each having
at least one axis of at least 9 mm length and each of a majority of
said pellets is in direct contact with at least four adjacent
pellets in the same layer to provide mutual lateral confinement
therebetween and said at least one axis is substantially
perpendicular to the outer, impact-receiving face of said
plate.
10. A modular armored vehicle system according to claim 2
comprising a third backing layer for absorbing trauma.
11. A modular armored vehicle system according to claim 10 wherein
third layer is formed of a polymeric matrix composite with
reinforcing fibers.
12. A modular armored vehicle system according to claim 11 wherein
said reinforcing fibers are selected from the group consisting of
carbon fibers, aramid fibers and glass fibers.
13. A modular armored vehicle system according to claim 10 wherein
said third backing layer is made of a metal material.
14. A modular armored vehicle system comprising an armored combat
vehicle chassis having a plurality of openings and a plurality of
composite armor plates for absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy
from high velocity, armor-piercing projectiles, each of said plates
being adapted for attachment to said chassis and sized to cover at
least one of said openings wherein each of said plates comprises a
single layer of bodies which are directly bound and retained in
plate form by a solidified material wherein a majority of each of
said bodies is in direct contact with at least four adjacent
bodies, wherein the solidified material and the plate are elastic
and wherein said bodies having a specific gravity of at least 2.4
and are made of a ceramic material, wherein said plate constitutes
an outer, impact receiving panel of a multilayered armor panel
further comprising an intermediate layer adjacent to said outer
plate, comprising a second ballistic panel, wherein said outer
plate serves to deform and shatter an impacting high velocity
armor-piercing projectiles and said second ballistic panel is
adapted to retain any remaining fragments from said projectile and
from said bodies and to absorb remaining energy from said fragments
and further comprising a third innermost backing layer for
absorbing trauma.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a modular armored vehicle
system for use in producing armored combat vehicles. More
specifically, the present invention relates to a modular armored
vehicle system comprising an armored combat vehicle chassis in
combination with a plurality of composite armor plates for
absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy from high velocity
armor-piercing projectiles.
[0002] Modular armor mounting systems and the advantages thereof
are known in the prior art and are discussed e.g. in U.S. Pat. No.
5,421,238.
[0003] As described therein, the modern battlefield has become a
place of ever increasing lethality demanding ever increasing
protection. For combat vehicles increasing protection levels
implies increasing the amount of armor on the vehicle which
increases the vehicle weight. However, the response time available
to position a military force and its vehicles from a home base has
decreased, and the ability to maintain a large standing military
force in foreign lands has diminished. The present protocol is to
have vehicles which can be air lifted to a remote location and the
vehicles deployed from that location. Air lifting heavy armored
vehicles has become increasingly difficult and in the case of the
heaviest vehicles is impossible.
[0004] One solution to the present problem is to have a vehicle
with a relatively light weight, strong, powerful chassis which can
be easily air lifted to the desired location and the needed armor
protection attached to the chassis to provide the necessary threat
protection. The armor and the vehicle could be transported
separately and assembled at a remote site before going into
battle.
[0005] Armor applied to a vehicle chassis is described therein as
being of two main types; applique armor and modular armor. Applique
armor is defined therein as being sheets of armor attached to the
vehicle chassis to form an armor skin; while in a modular
construction armor, housings containing a threat attenuating filler
are attached to the vehicle chassis.
[0006] The present invention to a new concept of modular composite
applique armor, i.e. modular elements of composite armor which form
the armored skin of the vehicle as described herein.
[0007] Modular armor is designed to take the full force of enemy
projectiles leaving the vehicle intact and allowing the crew and
vehicle to continue functioning until the vehicle can be brought to
a safe area for repair. It is one of the strengths of modular armor
that it can be repaired, modified, changed or added to the vehicle
as needed.
[0008] As stated, while said patent relates to a modular armor
mounting system, it is directed to a mounting structure for
attaching standard steel plates to a combat vehicle chassis and
thus while said patent relates to providing a lightweight chassis
that can be air lifted to a desired location, it does not solve the
problem of the weight inherent in steel plated armor sufficient for
dealing with the kinetic energy of high velocity armor-piercing
projectiles of various calibers.
[0009] Thus, as is known, a steel plate having a weight of 90
kg/m.sup.2 is barely sufficient to stop a threat according to
standard NIJ level 4, and it is known that it is necessary to
provide a steel plate having a weight of more than 110 kg/m.sup.2
to deal with a projectile of 12.7 mm and when one is dealing with a
projectile of 14.5 mm the steel plate capable of stopping the same
must weigh about 150 kg/m.sup.2.
[0010] In contradistinction to this prior art approach to armor
combat vehicles, it has now been found according to the present
invention that it is possible to provide a modular armored vehicle
system characterized by lighter weight also when fully armored and
in combat use thereby resulting in less motor strain and better
motor and vehicle performance.
[0011] Thus, according to the present invention there is now
provided a modular armored vehicle system comprising an armored
combat vehicle chassis having a plurality of openings and a
plurality of composite armor plates for absorbing and dissipating
kinetic energy from high velocity, armor-piercing projectiles, each
of said plates being adapted for attachment to said chassis and
sized to cover at least one of said openings wherein each of said
plates comprises a single layer of bodies which are directly bound
and retained in plate form by a solidified material wherein a
majority of each of said bodies is in direct contact with at least
four adjacent bodies, wherein the solidified material and the plate
are elastic and wherein said bodies have a specific gravity of at
least 2.4 and are made of a ceramic material.
[0012] As is known, steel and aluminum protection are effective
against shrapnel and low energy projectiles. They originally were
completely ineffective against threats such as 14.5 mm projectiles
and projectiles of greater dimensions unless the material was
thickened however this caused an overburdening on the vehicle
either inhibiting or eliminating its ability to be used for
amphibious and aviational uses. In addition such a vehicle required
a larger, stronger engine. Furthermore, the added weight of the
steel protection necessitates the reduction of comparable weight
through reduction of combatants or combat material.
[0013] Heretofore, ceramic plates were not used as a stand alone
armor for armored vehicles because of its susceptibility to
fractures and cracks and it was required to pass rigorous,
periodical testing. Assuming that a solution based on regular
ceramic plates is found, generally this can be based on hot press
silicon carbide or metal phase silicon carbide although other
ceramic materials can be used and the thickness of the backing has
to be at least equal to the thickness of the ceramic plate.
[0014] According to the present invention, as stated above it has
now been discovered that composite armor utilizing ceramic pellets
in a solidified material, wherein the solidified material and the
plate material are elastic provides for the first time the ability
to design a vehicle with ceramic protection due to the high
elasticity, high fracture immunity and high durability vis-a-vis
vandalism, bending and twisting achievable with the composite
panels suggested herein.
[0015] Furthermore, as is known, steel is very ineffective against
armor penetrating projectiles. In order to protect against such a
threat the steel plates must be very thick and this results in an
increase in weight as discussed above.
[0016] On the other hand, ceramic plates, while more effective than
steel against armor penetrating projectiles, are breakable and less
elastic.
[0017] In contradistinction, the plates used in the present
invention characterized by high elasticity and high immunity to
fracture and cracking creates a new solution enabling the design of
a modular vehicle that is much lighter, easily transportable by air
overseas, adaptable to amphibious uses and most importantly much
lighter on the battle field without effecting battlefield
performance.
[0018] The term "elasticity" as used herein relates to the fact
that the plates according to the present invention are bent when a
load is applied thereto however upon release of said load the plate
returns to its original shape without damage.
[0019] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, said
plate constitutes an outer, impact receiving panel of a
multi-layered armor panel further comprising an inner layer
adjacent to said outer plate, comprising a second ballistic panel,
wherein said outer plate serves to deform and shatter an impacting
high velocity armor-piercing projectile and said second ballistic
panel is adapted to retain any remaining fragments from said
projectile and from said bodies and to absorb remaining energy from
said fragments.
[0020] In further preferred embodiments of the present invention,
said plate constitutes an outer impact receiving panel, a second
ballistic panel as defined above as well as comprising a third
backing layer for absorbing trauma.
[0021] Preferably, said third layer is formed of a polymeric matrix
composite with reinforcing fibers or from metals of high modulus of
elongation and tearing strength such as aluminum and titanium.
[0022] It is to be noted that a thin layer of steel plate having a
plurality of holes in order to reduce its weight could also be used
for said third layer, although the use of the above mentioned
metals is preferred.
[0023] In especially preferred embodiments said reinforcing fibers
are selected from the group consisting of carbon fibers, aramid
fibers and glass fibers.
[0024] In especially preferred embodiments of the present invention
there is provided a modular armored vehicle system for combat
vehicles comprising a plurality of interchangeable plates, a first
plurality of said plates having pellets sized to absorb and
dissipate kinetic energy from high velocity armor-piercing 12.7
mm-14.5 mm projectiles, a second plurality of said plates having
pellets sized to absorb and dissipate kinetic energy from high
velocity armor-piercing 14.5 mm-30 mm projectiles, and a third
plurality of said plates having pellets sized to absorb and
dissipate kinetic energy from high velocity armor-piercing
projectiles of over 30 mm, said plates being interchangeably
mountable on said combat vehicle chassis for covering the,
plurality of openings provided in said chassis for said
purpose.
[0025] In especially preferred embodiments of the present
invention, said bodies are ceramic pellets having at least one axis
of at least 9 mm length.
[0026] In the most preferred embodiments of the present invention,
the pellets in said plates have a regular geometric cross-sectional
area. The term "regular geometric" as used herein refers to forms
that are regular forms such as circles and ovals as well as forms
that repeat themselves including star shapes, polygonal
cross-sectional shapes and multiple repeating patterns of
alternating straight and curved segments characterized in that a
cut along said regular geometric cross-sectional area or
perpendicular thereto results in two surfaces which are
symmetrical.
[0027] In especially preferred embodiments of the present
invention, the pellets in said plates have at least one convexly
curved outwardly facing end face.
[0028] Especially preferred for use in the present invention are
pellets having at least one circular cross section and pellets
having substantially cylindrical prismatic bodies with convexly
curved end faces are most preferred.
[0029] In the plates of the present invention, the preferred
arrangement of the pellets is such that the pellets in said plates
each have at least one axis of at least 9 mm length and each of a
majority of said pellets is in direct contact with at least six
adjacent pellets in the same layer to provide mutual lateral
confinement therebetween and said at least one axis is preferably
substantially perpendicular to the outer, impact-receiving face of
said plate.
[0030] The present invention is a modification of the inventions
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,763,813; 5,972,819; 6,289,781;
6,112,635; 6,203,908; 6,408,734; and 6,575,075 and in WO-A-9815796
and WO-99/60327 the relevant teachings of which are incorporated
herein by reference since while said earlier patents teach
composite armor which can be utilized in the present invention none
of them teach or suggest the concept of a modular armored vehicle
system for use in producing armored combat vehicles wherein the
armor panels serve as stand-alone rather than add on protection for
an armored vehicle and are adapted for attachment to an armored
combat vehicle chassis to cover openings provided therein.
[0031] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,813 there is described and claimed a
composite armor material for absorbing and dissipating kinetic
energy from high velocity, armor-piercing projectiles, comprising a
panel consisting essentially of a single internal layer of high
density ceramic pellets said pellets having an Al.sub.2O.sub.3
content of at least 93% and a specific gravity of at least 2.5 and
retained in panel form by a solidified material which is elastic at
a temperature below 250.degree. C.; the majority of said pellets
each having a part of a major axis of a length of in the range of
about 3-12 mm, and being bound by said solidified material in
plurality of superposed rows, wherein a majority of each of said
pellets is in contact with at least 4 adjacent pellets, the weight
of said panel does not exceed 45 kg/m.sup.2.
[0032] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,635 there is described and claimed a
composite armor plate for absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy
from high velocity, armor-piercing projectiles, said plate
consisting essentially of a single internal layer of high density
ceramic pellets which are directly bound and retained in plate form
by a solidified material such that the pellets are bound in a
plurality of adjacent rows, wherein the pellets have an
Al.sub.2O.sub.3 content of at least 93% and a specific gravity of
at least 2.5, the majority of the pellets each have at least one
axis of at least 12 mm length said one axis of substantially all of
said pellets being in substantial parallel orientation with each
other and substantially perpendicular to an adjacent surface of
said plate and wherein a majority of each of said pellets is in
direct contact with 6 adjacent pellets, and said solidified
material and said plate are elastic.
[0033] In WO-A-9815796 there is described and claimed a ceramic
body for deployment in a composite armor panel, said body being
substantially cylindrical in shape, with at least one convexly
curved end face, wherein the ratio D/R between the diameter D of
said cylindrical body and the radius R of curvature of said at
least one convexly curved end face is at least 0.64:1.
[0034] In WO 99/60327 it was described that the improved properties
of the plates described in the earlier patent applications of this
series is as much a function of the configuration of the pellets,
which are of regular geometric form with at least one convexly
curved end face (for example, the pellets may be spherical or
ovoidal, or of regular geometric cross-section, such as hexagonal,
with at least one convexly curved end face), said panels and their
arrangement as a single internal layer of pellets bound by an
elastic solidified material, wherein each of a majority of said
pellets is in direct contact with at least four adjacent pellets
and said curved end face of each pellet is oriented to
substantially face in the direction of an outer impact-receiving
major surface of the plate. As a result, said specification teaches
that composite armor plates superior to those available in the
prior art can be manufactured using pellets made of sintered
refractory materials or ceramic materials having a specific gravity
below that of aluminum oxide, e.g., boron carbide with a specific
gravity of 2.45, silicon carbide with a specific gravity of 3.2 and
silicon aluminum oxynitride with a specific gravity of about
3.2.
[0035] Thus, it was described in said publication that sintered
oxides, nitrides, carbides and borides of magnesium, zirconium,
tungsten, molybdium, titanium and silica can be used and especially
preferred for use in said publication and in the present invention
are pellets selected from the group consisting of boron carbide,
titanium diboride, silicon carbide, silicon oxide, silicon nitride,
magnesium oxide, silicon aluminum oxynitride in both its alpha and
beta forms and mixtures thereof.
[0036] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,781 there is described and claimed a
composite armor plate for absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy
from high velocity projectiles, said plate comprising a single
internal layer of pellets which are directly bound and retained in
plate form by a solidified material such that the pellets are bound
in a plurality of adjacent rows, characterized in that the pellets
have a specific gravity of at least 2 and are made of a material
selected from the group consisting of glass, sintered refractory
material, ceramic material which does not contain aluminum oxide
and ceramic material having an aluminum oxide content of not more
than 80%, the majority of the pellets each have at least one axis
of at least 3 mm length and are bound by said solidified material
in said single internal layer of adjacent rows such that each of a
majority of said pellets is in direct contact with at least six
adjacent pellets in the same layer to provide mutual lateral
confinement therebetween, said pellets each have a substantially
regular geometric form and said solidified material and said plate
are elastic.
[0037] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,734 there is described and claimed a
composite armor plate for absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy
from high velocity, armor-piercing projectiles, as well as from
soft-nosed projectiles, said plate comprising a single internal
layer of high density ceramic pellets, characterized in that said
pellets are arranged in a single layer of adjacent rows and
columns, wherein a majority of each of said pellets is in direct
contact with at least four adjacent pellets and each of said
pellets are substantially cylindrical in shape with at least one
convexly curved end face, further characterized in that spaces
formed between said adjacent cylindrical pellets are filled with a
material for preventing the flow of soft metal from impacting
projectiles through said spaces, said material being in the form of
a triangular insert having concave sides complimentary to the
convex curvature of the sides of three adjacent cylindrical
pellets, or being integrally formed as part of a special
interstices-filling pellet, said pellet being in the form of a six
sided star with concave sides complimentary to the convex curvature
of the sides of six adjacent cylindrical pellets, said pellets and
material being bound and retained in plate form by a solidified
material, wherein said solidified material and said plate material
are elastic.
[0038] Said solidified material can be any suitable material, such
as aluminum, epoxy, a thermoplastic polymer, or a thermoset
plastic.
[0039] When aluminum is used as said solidified material an x-ray
of the plate shows the formation of a honeycomb structure around
the pellets.
[0040] While not shown, the panels of the present invention or at
least the outer surface thereof can be furthered covered by a thin
layer of kevlar, fiberglass, or even aluminum for protection and
for concealing the structure thereof.
[0041] As stated, the relevant teachings of all of these
specifications are incorporated herein by reference.
[0042] The invention will now be described in connection with
certain preferred embodiments with reference to the following
illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood.
[0043] With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is
stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for
purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of
the present invention only and are presented in the cause of
providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily
understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of
the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show
structural details of the invention in more detail than is
necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the
description taken with the drawings making apparent to those
skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be
embodied in practice.
[0044] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an armored vehicle
incorporating a panel according to the present invention; and
[0045] FIG. 2 is a perspective enlarged view of a small section of
an armor panel of the type incorporated in the armored vehicle of
FIG. 1.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 1, there is seen an armored vehicle 2
wherein a panel 4 of the present invention having a plurality of
pellets 6 of substantially cylindrical prismatic bodies 8 with
convexly curved. end faces 10 as more fully seen with reference to
FIG. 2 has been provided in an opening (not shown) of said vehicle
2.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 2, there is seen an enlarged segment of
one of the panels 4 utilized to cover openings in the vehicle 2 of
FIG. 1 wherein said panel comprises a single layer of pellets 6
that are directly bound and retained in plate form by a solidified
material 7 wherein a majority of each of said pellets 6 is in
direct contact with six adjacent pellets 6' and each of said
pellets are substantially cylindrical prismatic bodies 8 with
convexly curved end faces 10 said panel further comprises an inner
layer 11 adjacent to said outer facing plate 5 comprising a second
ballistic panel wherein said outer plate 5 serves to deform and
shatter an impacting high velocity armor-piercing projectile 12 and
said second ballistic panel 11 is adapted to retain any remaining
fragments from said projectile and from said bodies and to absorb
remaining energy from said fragments.
[0048] As will be seen in preferred embodiments of the present
invention said panel 4 is further provided with a third backing
layer 13 for absorbing trauma and protecting combatants seated in
the vehicle from trauma transmitted through the first two layers of
the panel.
[0049] Panel 4 is further provided with attachment means 14 for
securing said panel to an opening in said vehicle chassis.
[0050] In operation the panel 4 of the present invention acts to
stop an incoming projectile in one of the three modes of center
contact, flank contact and valley contact as described
hereinafter.
[0051] More specifically, it has been found that the novel armor of
the present invention traps incoming projectiles between several
pellets which are held in a single layer in mutual abutting and
laterally-confining relationship.
[0052] An incoming projectile may contact the pellet array in one
of three ways:
[0053] 1. Center contact. The impact allows the full volume of the
pellet to participate in stopping the projectile, which cannot
penetrate without pulverizing the whole pellet, an energy-intensive
task which results in the shattering of the pellet. The pellets
used are either spheres or other regular geometric shapes having at
least one convexly curved end face, said end face being oriented to
substantially face in the direction of an outer impact receiving
major surface of said plate.
[0054] 2. Flank contact. The impact causes projectile yaw, thus
making projectile arrest easier, as a larger frontal area is
contacted, and not only the sharp nose of the projectile. The
projectile is deflected sideways and needs to form for itself a
large aperture to penetrate, thus allowing the armor to absorb the
projectile energy.
[0055] 3. Valley contact. The projectile is jammed, usually between
the flanks of three pellets, all of which participate in projectile
arrest. The high side forces applied to the pellets are resisted by
the pellets adjacent thereto as held by the matrix, and penetration
is prevented.
[0056] Tables 1 and 2 are reproductions of test reports relating to
multi-layer panels according to the present invention incorporating
pellets having substantially cylindrical prismatic bodies with
convexly curved end faces wherein said pellets have a diameter of
19 mm and a height of 22 mm and said panel is prepared as described
in U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,635.
[0057] As will be noted, the first panel which had a size of
24.5.times.24.5 in. and a dynema backing had a weight of only 78.3
lbs. which weight does not include 1.3 lbs. for said soft woven
aramid cover and withstood a 20 mm frag. sim projectile and seven
out of eight 14.5 mm B-32 projectiles fired at a range of only 40
feet, wherein only the last projectile in which the strike velocity
was intentionally raised to a strike velocity of 3,321 ft/s
succeeded in penetrating the panel.
[0058] In a test carried out in a second panel of similar
dimensions and properties, two out of two 14.5 mm B-32 projectiles
did not penetrate the panel and only the second of two 20 mm frag.
sim projectiles, which second projectile was fired at an
intentionally elevated strike velocity of 4,335 ft/s, succeeded in
penetrating the panel.
[0059] In this context it is to be noted that the army sets a
standard of requirements for an armor for stopping a designated
projectile at a designated assumed strike velocity. In the above
tests the armor withstood projectiles fired at the designated
standard strike velocity and only projectiles which were fired at a
deliberately elevated strike velocity in order to determine the
upper limit of impact resistance penetrated the test panels.
[0060] It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the
invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing
illustrative embodiments and that the present invention may be
embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit
or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are
therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not
restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all
changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of
the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *