U.S. patent application number 12/685752 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-02 for underbelly for an armored vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to PLASAN SASA LTD.. Invention is credited to Felix AIZIK, Zvi ASAF, Tamir KOTON, Dmitry NARODITSKY, Moshe RAVID.
Application Number | 20100218667 12/685752 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41718451 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100218667 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NARODITSKY; Dmitry ; et
al. |
September 2, 2010 |
UNDERBELLY FOR AN ARMORED VEHICLE
Abstract
An underbelly for an armored vehicle is provided, configured for
providing ballistic protection against a detonation of an explosive
device detonated substantially therebelow. The underbelly comprises
a central portion having a lowermost area, sidewalls extending
upwardly therefrom, the central portion and sidewalls constituting
a main armor of the underbelly, and an auxiliary armor panel
disposed so as to project downwardly from the lowermost area of the
central portion. Upper portions of the sidewalls are free of any
auxiliary armor panel.
Inventors: |
NARODITSKY; Dmitry; (Kefar
Sava, IL) ; KOTON; Tamir; (Galil Elion, IL) ;
ASAF; Zvi; (Kibbutz Afek, IL) ; AIZIK; Felix;
(D.N. Golan, IL) ; RAVID; Moshe; (Hod Hasharon,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE NATH LAW GROUP
112 South West Street
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
PLASAN SASA LTD.
M.P. Marom Hagalil
IL
|
Family ID: |
41718451 |
Appl. No.: |
12/685752 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
89/36.02 ;
89/36.08; 89/917 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 7/042 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
89/36.02 ;
89/36.08; 89/917 |
International
Class: |
F41H 7/04 20060101
F41H007/04; F41H 5/02 20060101 F41H005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 12, 2009 |
IL |
196456 |
Claims
1. An underbelly for an armored vehicle, said underbelly being
configured for providing ballistic protection against a detonation
of an explosive device detonated substantially therebelow and
comprising: a central portion having a lowermost area; sidewalls
extending upwardly therefrom, said central portion and sidewalls
constituting a main armor of the underbelly; and an auxiliary armor
panel disposed so as to project downwardly from said lowermost area
of the central portion; upper portions of said sidewalls being free
of any auxiliary armor panel.
2. An underbelly according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary armor
panel comprises at least one flexible layer made of ballistic
fibers.
3. An underbelly according to claim 2, wherein said ballistic
fibers comprise an aramid material.
4. An underbelly according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary armor
panel comprises a lower hard armor layer disposed below said
flexible layer.
5. An underbelly according to claim 4, wherein said lower hard
armor layer has a thickness which is less than that of the central
portion.
6. An underbelly according to claim 4, wherein said central portion
and said sidewalls constitute a single element.
7. An underbelly according to claim 4, wherein said central portion
is distinct from said sidewalls.
8. An underbelly according to claim 7, being formed with a gap
between said sidewalls, said gap being bridged by said central
portion.
9. An underbelly according to claim 1, wherein each of said upper
portions of said sidewalls has a cross-sectional length which is at
least half that of the auxiliary armor panel.
10. An underbelly according to claim 1, wherein said central
portion is bolted to said sidewalls.
11. An underbelly according to claim 1, wherein said central
portion has a substantially V-shaped cross-section defining an apex
constituting part of said lowermost area.
12. An underbelly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of
said central portion and lower hard armor layer is made of a
material selected from the group comprising steel, aluminum,
titanium, magnesium, and ballistic ceramic.
13. An underbelly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of
said central portion and lower hard armor layer is made of metal
having a Brinell hardness between about 370 HB and 500 HB.
14. An underbelly according to claim 13, wherein said metal has a
Brinell hardness of about 440 HB.
15. An underbelly according to claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of ribs disposed thereabove for facilitating connection
to the vehicle, the ribs being designed so as to facilitate a tight
connection between said sidewalls and said central portion, by
using only mechanical means.
16. An armored vehicle comprising an underbelly according to claim
1.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to defensive armor, and more
particularly to underbellies of armored vehicles providing
ballistic protection thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Vehicles for transporting personnel and/or equipment through
area where it may be exposed to live fire, explosions, etc., are
typically provided with ballistic armor. Such vehicles typically
comprise a passenger cabin, and may further comprise an underbelly
therebeneath to protect against explosions, including from
fragmentation explosives, and other ballistic attacks directed from
below the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an underbelly for an armored vehicle, the underbelly being
configured for providing ballistic protection against a detonation
of an explosive device detonated substantially therebelow and
comprising: [0004] a central portion having a lowermost area;
[0005] sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom, the central portion
and sidewalls constituting a main armor of the underbelly; and
[0006] an auxiliary armor panel disposed so as to project
downwardly from the lowermost area of the central portion; upper
portions of the sidewalls being free of any auxiliary armor
panel.
[0007] It will be appreciated that hereafter in the specification
and claims, the term "ballistic protection" is to be understood in
its broadest sense, referring to protection against all types of
ballistic and similar threats, including, but not limited to,
projectiles, fragments, detonations of explosive devices, etc. In
addition, reference to higher and lower levels of ballistic
protection implies that, in the case of a higher level of ballistic
protection, a higher energy threat of the same type can be defeated
with armor of the same weight.
[0008] It will be further appreciated that hereafter in the
specification and claims, terms which relate to direction, such as
"above", "below", "upward", "downward", "upper", "lower", etc.,
refer to a typical configuration of the underbelly when attached to
the vehicle and the vehicle is in its upright position, with the
apex of the underbelly pointing away from the vehicle and towards
the ground.
[0009] The auxiliary armor panel may be attached or connected to
the central portion, for example by any appropriate method. It may
comprise at least one flexible layer made of ballistic fibers, for
example aramid, which may be unidirectional or woven. This layer is
useful, for example, for protecting against fragments, e.g., of the
explosive device.
[0010] The auxiliary armor panel may further comprise a lower hard
armor layer disposed below the flexible layer. The lower hard armor
layer may have a thickness which is less than that of the central
portion.
[0011] The central portion and the sidewalls constitute a single
element. Thus, the central portion and sidewalls may constitute
portions of the same armor panel, for example made of a sheet of
metal or ceramic pellets formed as part of the same panel.
[0012] The central portion may be distinct from the sidewalls. The
may be formed with a gap between the sidewalls, the gap being
bridged by the central portion. This facilitates removal of the
central portion in order to access the interior of the underbelly
from below the vehicle.
[0013] Each of the upper portions of the sidewalls may have a
cross-sectional length, in the same cross-section as the V-shape,
which is at least half that of the auxiliary armor panel.
[0014] The central portion may be bolted to the sidewalls.
[0015] The central portion may have a V-shaped or a substantially
V-shaped cross-section defining an apex constituting part of the
lowermost area.
[0016] The hard armor (i.e., both of the sidewalls, the central
portion, and of the lower hard armor layer of the auxiliary armor
panel) may be made of aluminum, titanium, magnesium, or a ballistic
ceramic. It may be made of steel having a Brinell hardness between
about 370 HB and 500HB. More particularly, it may be made of steel
having a Brinell hardness of about 440 HB.
[0017] The underbelly may further comprise a plurality of ribs
disposed thereabove for facilitating connection to the vehicle, the
ribs being designed so as to facilitate a tight connection between
the sidewalls and the central portion, by using only mechanical
means, i.e., without the need for welding.
[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided an underbelly for an armored vehicle, the underbelly
being configured for providing is ballistic protection against a
detonation of an explosive device detonated substantially
therebelow, the underbelly defining an upper reference plane and
having one or more distal portions and one or more proximal portion
disposed between the distal portion and the reference plane, the
distal portion being designed to provide a higher level of
ballistic protection than provided by the proximal portion.
[0019] The armored vehicle may comprise a passenger cabin
coincident with the reference plane, the underbelly being
configured for protecting the passenger cabin from the
detonation.
[0020] The vehicle may comprise a plurality of ribs disposed below
the passenger cabin, the ribs being designed so as to facilitate a
tight connection therebetween and the proximal and distal portions,
by using only mechanical means, i.e., without the need for
welding.
[0021] The distal portion may be positioned so as to be closer to
the detonation that the proximal portion is.
[0022] The proximal and distal portions may be made of the same
material, the distal portion being of a larger thickness than the
proximal portion.
[0023] The proximal and distal portions may be integrally formed
with one another, or made of distinct pieces.
[0024] The proximal and distal portions may be made of materials
providing different levels of ballistic protection at similar
thicknesses, the distal portion being made of a material which
provides a higher level of ballistic protection than provided by
the material of the proximal portion at the same thickness.
[0025] The proximal and distal portions may be made of materials
providing different levels of ballistic protection at similar
weights, the distal portion being made of a material which provides
a higher level of ballistic protection than provided by the
material of the proximal portion at the same weight.
[0026] At least the distal portion may be made of aluminum,
titanium, or magnesium, or of steel having a Brinell hardness
between about 370 HB and 500 HB. More particularly, it may be made
of steel having a Brinell hardness of about 440 HB.
[0027] The underbelly may be substantially V-shaped having a
distally-directed vertex, the distal portion being at least
partially located at the vertex.
[0028] According to a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an armored vehicle comprising an underbelly as
described in connection with any of the above aspects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may
be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by
way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a rear partial sectional view of an armored
vehicle;
[0031] FIGS. 2A and 2B are, respectively, top and bottom
perspective views of ribs of the armored vehicle illustrated in
FIG. 1 with an underbelly attached thereto;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a rib and an underbelly
according to the present invention, taken through a rib;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a side view of an additional example of an
underbelly according to the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a closeup view of an auxiliary armor panel
attached to a portion of a central portion of the underbelly
according to the present invention; and
[0035] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an underbelly according
to another example of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 1, there is provided an armored
vehicle 10 having a passenger cabin 12. The vehicle 10 is provided
with ballistic armor to defend against expected ballistic threats.
In addition, the vehicle comprises an underbelly 14 to protect the
passenger cabin from ballistic threats originating therebelow, such
as explosive devices (e.g., an IED--improvised explosive device)
arranged to detonate below the vehicle.
[0037] The vehicle, according to one design, comprises a plurality
of ribs 16, better seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B, which span between the
passenger cabin 12 and the underbelly 14, thereby connecting the
two. Examples of designs of these ribs is described in greater
detail in co-pending applications IL 192447 and IL 195167, both to
the present applicant, the full contents of both of which are
incorporated herein by reference. These applications describe
arrangements which facilitate attachment of the ribs 16 and the
underbelly 14 by mechanical means, so that no welding is necessary
for the attachment, for example by increasing the pressure between
the ribs and the underbelly before a simple mechanical securing
mechanism, such as a bolt/nut assembly is applied. However, any
attachment between the underbelly 14 and the ribs 16, or any other
part of the vehicle 10 depending on its configuration, is possible
without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present
invention.
[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the underbelly 14 is provided as a
substantially V-shaped form. It is arranges such that its apex 18
(i.e., vertex) is at the lowest point, i.e., closest to the
expected location of an explosive threat. It comprises a distally
disposed central portion 20, which contains the apex 18 at a
lowermost area thereof, and two proximally disposed sidewalls 22
adjacent thereto on either side. As seen, there is a gap between
the sidewalls 22, which is bridged by the central portion 20.
According to the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the central portion
20 and sidewalls 22 each contain apertures 24, 26 for passing
therethrough teeth 28 of the ribs 16 in order to implement the
mechanical attachment as described in the above-mentioned
co-pending applications. Furthermore, additional apertures may be
provided therethrough in order to facilitate the introduction of
other attachment mechanisms, such as additional bolts (not
illustrated).
[0039] The central portion 20 is designed to provide a level of
ballistic protection which protects against a close detonation of
an explosive device, for example one which is in direct contact
therewith during detonation. The sidewalls 22 are designed to
provide a level of ballistic protection which protects against a
farther detonation of the explosive device, as it is typically
located a greater distance from the expected location of detonation
than the central portion 20 is.
[0040] The difference in levels of ballistic protection (e.g., the
difference in the amount of energy each is adapted to absorb)
between the central portion 20 and sidewalls 22 may be realized by
forming the portions of the same material as one another, but of
different thicknesses. For example, the central portion 20 may have
a thickness of 12.7 mm, while the sidewalls 22 may have a thickness
of 8 mm. The central portion 20 and sidewalls 22 may be made of any
appropriate material, such as steel having a Brinell hardness in a
range between 370 and 500 HB. According to one particular example,
the metal has a Brinell hardness of 440 HB.
[0041] Examples of steel which may be used to make the central
portion 20 and sidewalls 22 are Armox.TM. 440T, manufactured by
SSAB Svenskt Stal [Swedish Steel] AB (Sweden), and Bisplate.RTM.
450, manufactured by Bisalloy.RTM. (Australia). Alternatively, the
central portion 20 and sidewalls 22 may be made of panel comprising
ceramic pellets.
[0042] Alternatively, the difference in levels of ballistic
protection between the central portion 20 and sidewalls 22 may be
realized by forming the portions of different materials as one
another, which may or may not be of the same thickness.
[0043] It will be appreciated that while an underbelly 14 having a
single central portion 20 and a V-shaped form is described in
reference to FIGS. 1 through 3, an underbelly may be provided
having multiple central portion and being of a different form. For
example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the underbelly 14 may have a
"double V-shaped" form and two central portion 20. According to
this example, three sidewalls 22 may be provided.
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the central portion 20 may be
formed as part of a "sandwich", with an auxiliary armor panel 30
disposed therebelow. The auxiliary armor panel 30 comprises a lower
hard armor layer 32 disposed below the central portion 20 and
together therewith surrounding an inner flexible layer 34 made of
fibers, such as an aramid material. According to this arrangement,
the central portion 20 constitutes an upper hard armor layer of the
"sandwich". The aramid material may be formed in any appropriate
way, including, but not limited to, unidirectionally or woven, or a
combination of two or more thereof.
[0045] The flexible layer 34 is useful for stopping and/or
absorbing energy of fragments which impinge upon it. These
fragments may be, for example, from the explosive device, or
secondary projectiles from the lower hard armor layer 32 formed by
the force of the explosion. In addition, it acts as a buffer
between the central portion 20 and lower hard armor layer 32,
preventing them from impacting one another.
[0046] Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the sidewalls 22
may be formed without a gap, i.e., as a continuous armor panel.
According to this arrangement, the central portion 20 constitutes
an upper hard armor layer of the "sandwich". The flexible layer 34
and lower armor panel 32 are attached below the central portion 20
at the apex 18.
[0047] The placement of the auxiliary armor panel 30 below the
central portion 20 of the underbelly 14 may provide several
advantages. For example, it is less likely to itself become a
secondary projectile by the force of an explosion. In addition, the
lower armor layer 32 may be thinner (i.e., not as heavy) as the
central portion 20 or as the sidewalls 22.
[0048] According to all of the examples disclosed above, upper
portions 38 of the sidewalls 22 (i.e., those closest to the
vehicle) are free of an auxiliary armor panel 30. As the center of
the underbelly 14 is disposed closest to an explosive threat such
as an IED, the extra weight which would be associated with
providing auxiliary protection at the upper portions is not
necessary. Thus, each of the upper portions 38 may have a
cross-sectional length L.sub.upper which is at least half as long
as that of the cross-sectional length L.sub.auxiliary (i.e., at
least half of the underbelly 14 is free of the auxiliary armor
panel 30). It will be appreciated that the amount of the underbelly
14 which is covered by the auxiliary armor panel 30 is to be
determined by the designer, and may depend on the level of
protection required, the level of protection provided by the
sidewalls 22, etc., without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
[0049] Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains
will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations and
modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the
invention mutatis mutandis.
* * * * *