U.S. patent application number 14/348437 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-14 for protection device for vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to BAE SYSTEMS HAGGLUNDS AKTIEBOLAG. The applicant listed for this patent is BAE SYSTEMS HAGGLUNDS AKTIEBOLAG. Invention is credited to Jan Moller.
Application Number | 20140224111 14/348437 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47996088 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140224111 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moller; Jan |
August 14, 2014 |
PROTECTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLE
Abstract
The present invention relates to a protection device for a
vehicle intended for military application comprising a wall
configuration with ballistic protection properties arranged to
constitute a delimitation of a protection zone of the vehicle,
wherein said wall configuration is movably arranged in the vehicle
for adaptation according to needs of the configuration of said
protection zone. The invention also relates to a vehicle.
Inventors: |
Moller; Jan; (Domsjo,
SE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BAE SYSTEMS HAGGLUNDS AKTIEBOLAG |
Ornskoldsvik |
|
SE |
|
|
Assignee: |
BAE SYSTEMS HAGGLUNDS
AKTIEBOLAG
Ornskoldsvik
SE
|
Family ID: |
47996088 |
Appl. No.: |
14/348437 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
September 27, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE2012/051025 |
371 Date: |
March 28, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
89/36.09 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 7/044 20130101;
F41H 5/013 20130101; F41H 7/048 20130101; F41H 7/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
89/36.09 |
International
Class: |
F41H 7/04 20060101
F41H007/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 29, 2011 |
SE |
1150895-9 |
Claims
1. A protection device for a vehicle intended for military
application, the protection device comprising: a wall configuration
with ballistic protection properties arranged as a delimitation of
a protection zone of the vehicle, said wall configuration being
movably arranged in the vehicle for adaptation according to needs
of a configuration of said protection zone.
2. A protection device according to claim 1, wherein said
protection zone is configured to protect objects including an
operator and/or passenger.
3. A protection device according to claim 1, wherein said wall
configuration comprises at least one movable wall element.
4. A protection device according to claim 3, wherein said wall
element is arranged to run essentially transverse to a longitudinal
direction of the vehicle.
5. A protection device according to claim 3, wherein said wall
configuration comprises protection material adapted to present
protection level of said protection zone.
6. A protection device according to claim 1, wherein said wall
configuration comprises removable additional protection
elements.
7. A protection device according to claim 6, wherein said
additional protection elements comprise side, roof and/or bottom
protection elements.
8. A protection device according to claim 6, wherein said wall
configuration comprises a wall elements and said additional
protection elements for delimitation of a predetermined protection
volume of the protection zone.
9. A protection device according to claim 3, wherein said wall
configuration comprises a movably arranged front and a rear wall
element.
10. A protection device according to claim 1, wherein said wall
configuration is modularly configured.
11. A protection device according to claim 1, further comprising a
fixing part for fixation of said wall configuration.
12. A vehicle intended for military application comprising a
protection device according to claim 1.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a protection device for a vehicle
intended for military application according to the preamble of
claim 1. The invention also relates to a vehicle.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] The threat levels for personnel in vehicles intended for
military purposes such as combat vehicles and terrain vehicles have
increased continuously. Hereby more protection is required on the
vehicle which results in increased weight of the vehicle.
[0003] DE102008052231 shows a military vehicle with a ballistic
protection wall arranged in the vehicle to delimit a protection
zone for personnel travelling in the vehicle.
[0004] GB2341918 shows a military vehicle with ballistic protection
wall arranged to delimit protection zones in the vehicle.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a
protection device for vehicle facilitating optimized protection
without the vehicle becoming unnecessary heavy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] These and other objects, apparent from the following
description, are achieved by a protection device for vehicle, and
vehicle, which are of the type stated by way of introduction and
which in addition exhibits the features recited in the
characterising clause of the appended independent claims 1 and 12.
Preferred embodiments of the protection device are defined in
appended dependent claims 2-11.
[0007] Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by a
protection device for a vehicle intended for military application
comprising a wall configuration with ballistic protection
properties arranged to constitute a delimitation of a protection
zone of the vehicle, wherein said wall configuration is movably
arranged in the vehicle for adaptation according to needs of the
configuration of said protection zone. Hereby provision of flexible
protection zones is facilitated such that the protection zone may
be reduced e.g. when fewer persons are travelling therein wherein
the weight of the vehicle may be reduced which results in that the
vehicle may be more efficiently manoeuvrable.
[0008] According to an embodiment of the protection device said
protection zone is intended for objects particularly worth
protecting, for example operator and/or passenger.
[0009] According to an embodiment of the protection device said
wall configuration comprises at least one movable wall element.
Hereby easy adaptation of the protection zone is facilitated.
[0010] According to an embodiment of the protection device said
wall element is arranged to run essentially transverse to the
longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Hereby easy adaptation of
the protection zone is facilitated.
[0011] According to an embodiment of the protection device said
wall configuration comprises protection material adapted to present
protection level of said protection zone. Hereby flexibility
increases further wherein the protection zone may be adapted for
present protection needs, wherein the weight of the vehicle may be
optimized for the protection need.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the protection device said
wall configuration comprises removable additional protection
elements. Hereby adaptation of the protection zone is facilitated
and protection level of the protection zone as the protection
elements with different protection level may be utilized.
[0013] According to an embodiment of the protection device said
additional protection elements comprise side, roof and/or bottom
protection elements. Hereby optimized protection of the protection
zone is facilitated such that protection against threat from both
above, underneath and from the sides is obtained and may be adapted
to the protection need.
[0014] According to an embodiment of the protection device said
wall configuration comprises said wall elements as well as said
additional protection elements for delimitation of a predetermined
protection volume of the protection zone.
[0015] According to an embodiment of the protection device said
wall configuration comprises a movably arranged front and a rear
wall element. Hereby further optimization of protection
zone/protection zones is facilitated.
[0016] According to an embodiment of the protection device said
wall configuration is modularly configured. Hereby adaptation of
protection zones for different needs is facilitated.
[0017] According to an embodiment the protection device further
comprises means for fixation of said wall configuration. Hereby
protection zone with a stable structure is obtained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] A better understanding of the present invention will be had
upon the reference to the following detailed description when read
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like
reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several
views, and in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a side view of a vehicle
intended for military applications with a protection device
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2a schematically illustrates a perspective view of a
vehicle body with a protection device according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2b schematically illustrates the vehicle body in FIG.
2a;
[0022] FIG. 3a schematically illustrates a perspective view of a
vehicle body with a protection device according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 3b schematically illustrates the vehicle body in FIG.
3a;
[0024] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a cross sectional view of a
vehicle body according to an embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0025] FIG. 5a-d schematically show different view of wall elements
of a protection device according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a vehicle 1 according to
embodiments according to the present invention. The exemplified
vehicle 1 is constituted by a vehicle intended for military
applications. The vehicle 1 comprises a vehicle body 10. The
exemplified vehicle 1 is according to an embodiment constituted by
a motor vehicle. The exemplified vehicle is according to an
embodiment constituted by a trailer. The exemplified vehicle 1 is
according to an embodiment constituted by a heavy vehicle in the
shape of a military vehicle. Said vehicle 1 is according to a
variant a modularly built up vehicle. The vehicle 1 may be
constituted by a tracked vehicle and/or a wheeled vehicle. The
vehicle 1 comprises a protection device according to the present
invention. The protection device comprises a wall configuration 2
with ballistic protection properties arranged to constitute a
delimitation of a protection zone of the vehicle 1. Said wall
configuration 2 is movably arranged in the vehicle 1 for adaptation
to needs of the configuration of said protection zone.
[0027] FIG. 2a schematically illustrates a vehicle body 10 of a
vehicle intended for military application with a protection device
according to an embodiment of the present invention in an expanded
position and FIG. 2b schematically illustrates the vehicle body 10
in FIG. 2a with the protection device in a compressed position.
[0028] The protection device comprises a wall configuration 20
movably arranged in the vehicle between said expanded and
compressed positions. The wall configuration 20 is arranged to
constitute a delimitation of a protection zone 30 of the
vehicle.
[0029] According to an embodiment the vehicle body 10 has a
protection zone 30 with ballistic protection properties, the
protection zone 30 having side, roof and bottom protection elements
30a, 30b, 30c, 30d forming a protection volume. The protection zone
30 is expandable by means of said movably arranged wall
configuration 20 to an increased protection zone 30' in which the
wall configuration 20 is arranged in the expanded position. The
protection zone 30, 30' is configured to constitute protection for
personnel and/or other protection worthy components and
subsystems.
[0030] The vehicle body 10 further has a body portion 12 forming a
volume. Said body portion 12 according to a variant has a basic
protection level, the body portion 12 according to a variant being
provided with armour constituting protection for basic armour
level.
[0031] The wall configuration 20 comprises a movable wall element
40. Said wall element 40 is intended to be arranged in the vehicle
body 10 and arranged to run essentially transversal to the
longitudinal direction of the vehicle and run essentially from
floor to roof in the vehicle so as to divide a space in the
vehicle.
[0032] The wall element 40 is movable in the vehicle body 10 in the
longitudinal direction for change of the configuration of said
protection zone.
[0033] The wall element 40 has an inner side 40a with a surface
intended to face the protected volume and an outer side 40b with a
surface intended to be turned away from the protected volume. The
wall element 40 has a roof side 40c arranged to run in connection
to an upper area of the vehicle body 10 essentially transversal to
the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a bottom side 40d
arranged to run in connection to a lower area of the vehicle body
10 essentially transversal to the longitudinal direction of the
vehicle and sides 40e, 40f running along the respective vehicle
side between said underside and upper side.
[0034] Said wall element 40 is intended to be arranged in the
vehicle body 10, wherein the wall element 40 is movable between an
expanded position shown in FIG. 2a in which said extended
protection zone 30' is obtained, and a compressed position shown in
FIG. 2b in which the wall element 40 is moved from the expanded
position in the direction of the arrow A such that a compressed
protection zone 30 is obtained.
[0035] Said wall configuration 20 further comprises removable
additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28. Said additional
protection elements comprise side protection elements 22, 24, roof
protection elements 26 and/or bottom protection elements 28.
[0036] Said wall configuration 20 comprises said wall element 40 as
well as said additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28 for
delimitation of a predetermined protection volume of the protection
zone 30'.
[0037] Said additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28 are
intended to be placed in connection to the wall element 40 in the
expanded position so as to thus improve the protection of that
protection zone 30' of the increased protection volume. Said
additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28 are intended to be
arranged externally on the vehicle. Said additional protection
elements according to a variant also comprise internal protection
portions.
[0038] Said side protection elements 22, 24 comprise a first side
protection element 22 and a second side protection element 24,
wherein the first side protection element 22 is intended in the
expanded position to be placed along one of the side walls and the
second side protection element 24 along the opposite one of the
side walls of the vehicle body 10 in connection to the wall element
40 arranged in the expanded position.
[0039] Further said roof protection element 26 is in the expanded
position intended to be applied along the roof of the vehicle body
10 in connection to the wall element 40 arranged in the expanded
position.
[0040] Further said bottom protection element 28 is intended in the
expanded position to be applied along the bottom of the vehicle
body 10 in connection to the wall element 40 arranged in the
expanded position.
[0041] Said additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28 are
intended to be arranged on the vehicle body 10 of the vehicle in
dependence of present protection needs. Hereby said side protection
elements 22, 24 and/or said roof protection element 26 and/or said
bottom protection element 28 by applied in the expanded position of
the wall configuration 20. Hereby the weight of the vehicle may be
optimized to required protection level. For example bottom
protection elements 28 are not required when no risk for mine/mine
explosions exist, which reduces the vehicle weight.
[0042] Said additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28 have
according to an embodiment different lengths for provision of
protection zones 30 with different size of volume, i.e. different
size of additional protection elements are used for providing of
different size of protection volume. Hereby adaptation of the
protected volume is facilitated, wherein the wall configuration 20
may be arranged on one or several intermediate positions between
said compressed and expanded position, where additional protection
elements adapted for the respective position is used.
[0043] Said wall configuration 20 comprises protection material
adapted to present protection level of said protection zone 30.
Hereby said wall element 40 comprises protection material adapted
to present protection level, e.g. adapted for ballistic protection
such as adapted thickness of armour. Further said additional
protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28 comprise protection material
adapted to present protection level.
[0044] Said protection material according to an embodiment
comprises material with secondary splinter reducing properties,
wherein according to a variant the material of the structure of the
wall element 40 has secondary splinter reducing properties and/or
the wall element 40 comprises a so called spall liner.
[0045] According to a variant where the additional protection 22,
24, 26, 28 apart from external protection portions also comprise
internal protection portions, the internal protection portions of
said side protection elements 22, 24 and/or roof protection element
26 and/or bottom protection element 28 of said additional
protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28 comprise material with secondary
splinter reducing properties, wherein according to a variant the
structure of the material of said side protection elements and/or
roof protection elements and/or bottom protection elements has
secondary splinter reducing properties and/or said side protection
elements and/or roof protection element and/or bottom protection
element comprise a so called spall liner.
[0046] According to a variant said wall element 40 is constituted
by a sandwich structure with a corresponding weight and protection
function as a so called spall liner. According to a variant where
the additional protection 22, 24, 26, 28 apart from external
protection portions also comprises internal protection portions the
internal protection portions of said side protection element 22, 24
and/or roof protection element 26 and/or bottom protection element
28 of said additional protection element 22, 24, 26, 28 of a so
called sandwich structure with corresponding weight and protection
function as a so called spall liner.
[0047] Said wall configuration 20 is exchangably arranged in the
vehicle body 10 of the vehicle. Consequently said wall element 40,
side protection elements 22, 24, roof protection element 26 and
bottom protection element 28 are exchangeable. Hereby is according
to an embodiment wall configuration 20 with protection material
adapted for present protection level arranged in connection to
vehicle body 10 of the vehicle and is exchangeable to wall
configuration 20 with protection material adapted to other
protection level when protection needs are changed.
[0048] Consequently the wall configuration 20 may comprise wall
element 40 and additional wall elements 22, 24, 26, 28 with
protection material with energy absorbing ability adapted to
different protection levels depending on present protection need,
where e.g. the bottom protection element 28 may have a higher or
lower protection level than the wall element 40 and/or roof
protection element 26 and/or side protection elements 22, 24.
[0049] FIG. 3a schematically illustrates a vehicle body 10
according to an embodiment of the present invention illustrating a
vehicle body 10 of a vehicle intended for military application with
a protection device according to an embodiment of the present
invention in an expanded position and FIG. 3b schematically
illustrates the vehicle body in FIG. 3a with the protection device
in a compressed position.
[0050] The protection device in FIG. 3a-b differs from the
protection device in FIG. 2a-b mainly in that the wall
configuration 120 comprises a front and a rear movable wall element
40, 140.
[0051] The wall configuration 120 is arranged to constitute a
delimitation of a protection zone 130 of the vehicle wherein the
front wall element 40 and the rear wall element 140 constitute
opposing delimitations of said protection zone.
[0052] Said front and rear wall elements 40, 140 are intended to be
arranged at a distance from each other in the vehicle body 10 and
arranged to run essentially transversal to the longitudinal
direction of the vehicle and run essentially from roof to floor in
the vehicle for dividing a space in the vehicle.
[0053] Said front and rear wall elements 40, 140 are movably
arranged in the vehicle body 10 in the longitudinal direction of
the vehicle for change of the configuration of said protection
zone.
[0054] The front wall element 40 is movably arranged between an
expanded position shown in FIG. 3a in which an expanded protection
zone 130' is obtained, and a compressed position shown in FIG. 3b
in which the wall element is moved from the expanded position in
the direction of the arrow B such that a compressed protection zone
130 is obtained. In the expanded position the front wall element 40
is connected to additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28 in
the shape of said protection elements 22, 24 and/or roof protection
elements 26 and/or bottom protection elements 28 in accordance with
the embodiment described in FIG. 2a-b.
[0055] Further the rear wall element 140 is movably arranged
between an expanded position shown in FIG. 3a in which an expanded
protection zone 130' is obtained, and a compressed position shown
in FIG. 3b in which the wall element is moved in the direction of
the arrow C from the expanded position such that a compressed
protection zone 130 is obtained. In the expanded position the rear
wall element 140 is connected to additional protection elements
122, 124, 126, 128 in the shape of side protection elements 122,
124 and/or roof protection elements 126 and/or bottom protection
elements 128 in accordance with the embodiment described in FIG.
2a-b.
[0056] Said wall configuration 120 comprises said wall element 40
as well as said additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28, 122,
124, 126, 128 for delimitation of a predetermined protection volume
of the protection zone 130, 130'.
[0057] By having a front and a rear wall element 40, 140 movably
arranged in the vehicle body 10 the protection possibility and
flexibility of the protection is improved further. Hereby the front
wall element 40 may be arranged in the expanded position or the
compressed position or positions there between, and at the same
time the rear wall element 140 may be arranged in the expanded
position or the compressed position or positions there between,
additional protection elements 22, 24, 26, 28, 122, 124, 126, 128
being applied in expanded position in dependence of protection
needs.
[0058] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a cross sectional view of a
vehicle body 10 according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0059] The vehicle body 10 comprises portions 50 for movable
cooperation with portions of the wall configuration 2 for
facilitating of move of the wall configuration 2 in said vehicle
body 10. Said portions 50 according to an embodiment comprise
grooves arranged in connection to roof and/or bottom of the vehicle
body 10, which groove portions are arranged to receive portions
such as wheel portions of the wall configuration arranged to run in
said groove portion for provision of said movement of the wall
configuration.
[0060] Said movable cooperation with portions of the wall
configuration may be provided by means of any suitable portions,
groove portions according to a variant being arranged at the wall
configuration to receive portions of the vehicle body 10.
[0061] Portions of the vehicle body such as groove portions for
movable cooperation with portions of the wall configuration may be
arranged on side walls of the vehicle body. 10.
[0062] FIG. 5a-d schematically illustrate different views of a wall
element 240 of the protection device according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0063] The wall element 240 has a protection portion with an inner
side 240a with a surface intended to face the protected volume and
outer side 240b with a surface intended to be turned away from the
protected volume. The wall element 240 has a roof side 240c
arranged to run in connection to an upper area of the vehicle body
essentially transversal to the longitudinal direction of the
vehicle, a bottom side 240d arranged to run in connection to a
lower area of the vehicle body essentially transversal to the
longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and sides 240e, 240f running
along the respective vehicle side between said roof side and bottom
side.
[0064] The wall element 240 comprises portions 244 for movable
cooperation with portions 50 of the vehicle body for facilitating
moving of the wall element 240 in said vehicle body.
[0065] The wall element 240 further comprises an opening 248 closed
with an openable shutter 246 for facilitating of stowing and access
of systems and/or equipment in the vehicle. The shutter 246 is
slidably arranged or turnably arranged. The shutter 246 is
according to a variant removably arranged.
[0066] The protection device according to the present invention
further comprises means 60 for fixation of said wall configuration,
schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. According to an embodiment
said means 60 for fixation of the wall configuration comprises
locking means for lockably arranging the wall configuration in the
compressed position or expanded position or positions there
between.
[0067] Said locking means according to this embodiment comprises
portions for provision of fastening and locking cooperation between
wall elements of the wall configuration and vehicle body 10. Said
locking portions according to an embodiment comprises screw joints,
clamp tie joints, snap joints or the corresponding.
[0068] Said ballistic protection zone according to the present
invention according to a variant forms a protection volume being
protected according to different levels of STANAG 4569 depending on
protection needs.
[0069] The wall element according to embodiments of the present
invention is according to a variant dividable for facilitating
applying the same.
[0070] Above different embodiments of a protection device
comprising a wall configuration being movably arranged in a vehicle
between an expanded and compressed position for adaptation of needs
of the configuration of a protection zone, the protection zone in
the compressed position having an extension in the longitudinal
direction of the vehicle with side, roof and bottom protection
elements with ballistic protection properties forming a protection
volume.
[0071] According to a variant the wall configuration in the
compressed position only forms a delimitation of one wall element,
wherein a protection volume is formed in the expanded position.
[0072] Above a protection device with a wall configuration
comprising two movable wall elements arranged at a distance from
each other, these delimiting a protection zone forming a protection
volume. According to an alternative variant said wall elements,
arranged at a distance from each other, form two protection
volumes.
[0073] According to an additional variant the protection device
comprises a wall configuration with more than two movable wall
elements arranged at a distance from each other for forming of
protection zones.
[0074] Above a protection device comprising wall configuration with
wall elements movably arranged in the longitudinal direction of the
vehicle. According to an alternative variant the protection device
comprises one or more wall elements being turnably arranged for
adaptation of needs of the configuration of a protection zone, said
wall elements being pivotable about one or more axles such that the
wall element may be turned between different positions for
reinforcing protection level on sides, roof and/or bottom of the
vehicle.
[0075] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of
the present invention has been provided for the purposes of
illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.
Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to
practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and
described in order to best explain the principles of the invention
and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in
the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and
with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use
contemplated.
* * * * *