U.S. patent application number 14/334384 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-05 for electroactive ballistic protection system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Panacis, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Panacis, Inc.. Invention is credited to Steve CARKNER, Matthew FISHER.
Application Number | 20150316357 14/334384 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54355042 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150316357 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CARKNER; Steve ; et
al. |
November 5, 2015 |
ELECTROACTIVE BALLISTIC PROTECTION SYSTEM
Abstract
A ballistic protection system combines electrical storage and/or
electrical generation features, including at least one layer of
material which provides ballistic protection and at least one layer
of material which is electrically active.
Inventors: |
CARKNER; Steve; (Ottawa,
CA) ; FISHER; Matthew; (Ottawa, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Panacis, Inc. |
Ottawa |
|
CA |
|
|
Assignee: |
Panacis, Inc.
Ottawa
CA
|
Family ID: |
54355042 |
Appl. No.: |
14/334384 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61847374 |
Jul 17, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
89/36.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 5/0457 20130101;
F41H 5/0414 20130101; F41H 5/007 20130101; F41H 5/0421
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41H 5/007 20060101
F41H005/007; F41H 5/04 20060101 F41H005/04 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. A system for providing ballistic protection and storing
electrical energy comprising a multilayer material configured to
store electrical energy, comprising: i. a positive
electrically-active layer having a positive charge; ii. a negative
electrically-active layer having a negative charge; and iii. an
insulating layer between the positive electrically-active layer and
the negative electrically-active layer, wherein the multilayer
material is configured to resist ballistics.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the positive electrically-active
layer has a positive terminal and the negative electrically-active
layer has a negative terminal.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the battery has a durometer of 110
or less and forms a soft layer of the material.
8. The system of claim 5 wherein the electrical energy is stored as
an electrochemical potential utilizing one or more elements
selected from the group consisting of lithium, sulfur, cobalt,
manganese, zinc, silver, cadmium and carbon.
9. The system of claim 5 wherein at least one electrically-active
layer has one or more additional ballistic materials added thereto,
selected from the group consisting of micronized ceramics,
single-walled nanotubes, electrically-conductive nanotubes and
carbon nanotubes.
10. The system of claim 5 wherein the insulating layer has one or
more ballistic fibers therein, selected from the group consisting
of Aramid, Kevlar, electrically-conductive nanotubes and boron
nitride nanotubes.
11. The system of claim 5 wherein the electrically-active layers
are made of materials selected from the group consisting of copper
alloys, aluminum alloys and carbon nanotubes for improved ballistic
resistance.
12. The system of claim 5 wherein the multilayer material harvests
energy from kinetic energy through a means selected from the group
consisting of the Seebeck effect, electrostatic generation,
magnetic motion, Electro-active Polymers, nanogenerators and
vibrational harvesters.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the insulating layer contains
doped ceramic materials.
14. The system of claim 5 wherein the multilayer material harvests
energy from thermo-electric generation through an effect selected
from the group consisting of the Ettingshausen effect, Nernst
effect, Peltier effect, and Thomson effect.
15. The system of claim 5 further comprising a receiver antenna
connected to the multilayer material, the antenna configured to
receive energy from electro-magnetic radiation, wherein the
multilayer material stores the energy.
16. The system of claim 5 wherein the multilayer material has an
outer layer comprising one or more photovoltaic panels.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to the field of rechargeable battery
systems, energy harvesting and ballistic protection systems
primarily used for dismounted soldiers and police officers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Ballistic protection for a variety of applications generally
takes one of two approaches to preventing injury from projectiles
such as bullets and shrapnel. The oldest approach focuses on
stopping the projectile and dissipating the force of the projectile
over a wide enough area that blunt trauma and puncture is
minimized. Materials such as Kevlar.RTM., fibreglass and steel have
been used for this purpose. When struck by a projectile, the
projectile flattens against the ballistic material or is captured
by it.
[0003] A more modern approach to ballistic protection is the use of
ceramics and other similar materials to break the projectile into
smaller parts, effectively using the energy of the projectile to
destroy itself. As a result, the energy of the projectile can be
dissipated over a smaller area, and blunt trauma and penetration is
reduced. This is particularly effective with armour piercing
bullets which utilize a hard tip to penetrate conventional
armour.
[0004] Hybrid approaches utilizing laminated layers of both types
of ballistic protection have been proposed which allow construction
of thinner and lighter plates. In some cases these are coupled with
soft gel or rubber materials to increase comfort levels and further
reduce blunt force trauma.
[0005] Variable durometer materials may be coupled with the
ballistic armour which allow flexibility to be added to the plates.
These variable durometer materials have a low durometer (are soft)
in normal use and therefore can adapt to the body. When exposed to
a rapid change in force, such as being struck by a projectile, the
material stiffens, the durometer increases significantly, allowing
the force of the projectile to be absorbed and dissipated over an
even larger area.
[0006] Battery systems are often constructed from laminated layers
of material which is electrically active. This may be accomplished
by the use of chemical compounds such as lithium, cobalt, nickel,
cadmium, magnesium and other materials. Electricity collection
materials such as carbon, aluminum and copper are also included and
form part of the overall structure. Most batteries also include an
insulating separator material that is located between the positive
and negative electrodes to prevent short circuiting, and the
batteries may include one or more outer housings to hold the
electrically active materials, such housings may be composed of
steel, aluminum, plastic, foils, or a combination of materials.
[0007] Energy harvesting systems based on movement and heat can
also be constructed using a multi-layered approach. For example,
piezoelectric ceramics, similar to the ceramics used in armour,
will generate an electrical charge when flexed, struck or
stretched. Laminating these ceramics with conductive electricity
collection materials allows energy to be harvested from kinetic
movement. In a similar fashion, dopants can be added to fabric,
ceramics, or other materials to produce a Seebeck effect, whereby
the temperature difference across the plates will generate
electricity. Applying many layers of material tends to amplify the
Seebeck effect, producing significant energy through the normal
temperature difference between the soldiers body and the ambient
environment.
[0008] Armour is generally heavy, bulky and expensive.
[0009] Batteries are generally heavy, bulky and expensive.
[0010] Energy harvesters are generally heavy, bulky and
expensive.
[0011] Soldiers often face the challenge of carrying both armour
and batteries into dangerous situations. In most cases it is fair
to say that a soldier can never have enough protection, and the
need for portable power is also increasing as more electronic
systems such as computers, radios and global positioning systems
are added to the soldier's load. Yet the ability of a soldier to
carry their equipment, armour and batteries is limited, compromises
of what the soldier is able to carry may result in the amount of
armour worn being reduced, or even eliminated, in favour of
carrying more batteries or other equipment.
[0012] There is a need for improved ballistic armour that will be
multi-functional by including energy harvesting and/or energy
storage which provides an overall size and weight reduction for
soldiers and others who require both ballistic protection and
power.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The system is designed to improve the safety of soldiers by
allowing them to carry more energy to power equipment while
preserving or enhancing their ballistic armour protection without
increasing weight or decreasing soldier mobility.
[0014] The preferred embodiment of the invention includes multiple
layers of material where each layer may perform one or more
functions. By combining multiple functions into each layer, the
overall volumetric and mass efficiency of the system can be
improved when compared to the use of single function materials to
construct a battery, energy harvester or a ballistic armour
plate.
[0015] Energy storage is accomplished using layers similar to those
used in standard electrochemical batteries. Electrodes, insulators
and electrical collector layers which form the battery may all be
modified in ways that will increase their ballistic potential.
Alternatively, the layers can be used without modification to
normal batteries, but the specific properties of the battery layers
would be quantified and matched to the armour layers such that
impact absorption and energy spreading may still be accomplished by
these layers.
[0016] Energy harvesting layers based on kinetic motion,
temperature differences, solar energy and wireless energy can be
accomplished using a variety of materials. Some of these materials
are already very similar to those used in ballistic plates. For
example, piezoelectric materials commonly used in kinetic energy
harvesters based on vibration, are often constructed of doped
ceramics. Ceramics are also used in ballistic armour plates to
provide a bullet-shredding function. Therefore the use of
appropriately doped ceramics can provide the dual function of
energy generation and ballistic protection. Some example materials
are Lead Zirconate Titanate, Bismuth Sodium titanate and Barium
Titanate, all of which can be manufactured in various hardness and
with ceramic properties.
[0017] The order of layers may also be reversed or may be
alternated or may be further combined. For example a battery could
be formed in the outer layers of the electro active ballistic
protection system. A projectile would be significantly slowed as it
passed through these outer layers, which themselves may be enhanced
beyond the normal ballistic properties of an off the shelf battery.
When the projectile reaches the layers that are specifically
focused on ballistic protection, the remaining force of the
projectile would be dissipated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0018] FIG. 1 shows the internal structure of an energy storage
component, such as a battery; according to one embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 2 shows a ballistic armor solution, according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The system is designed to improve the safety of soldiers by
allowing them to carry more energy to power equipment while
preserving or enhancing their ballistic armour protection without
increasing weight or decreasing soldier mobility.
[0021] The preferred embodiment of the invention includes multiple
layers of material where each layer may perform one or more
functions. By combining multiple functions into each layer, the
overall volumetric and mass efficiency of the system can be
improved when compared to the use of single function materials to
construct a battery, energy harvester or a ballistic armour
plate.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, an energy storage component (100) such
as a battery or cell may be fabricated through the use of a
positive electrode layer (101) and a negative electrode layer
(102), separated by an insulating layer (103). The positive and
negative electrode layers would be electrically connected to
terminals (104) through conductive layers (105, 106) to allow the
soldier to draw or deliver energy into the battery. A complete cell
may contain many layers wrapped or stacked together, and a battery
may contain many such cells connected together as well as
additional power management and control circuitry which is not
shown in this simplified construction figure.
[0023] In the case of a lithium based battery, the electrodes would
normally include carbon and lithium ionic compounds with a plastic
insulator material separating the electrodes and aluminum or copper
layers to collect and conduct energy to the battery terminals. Each
battery (or electrochemical cell) would then be encased in a steel
or aluminum shell (107) and a second overall casing (not shown) may
be used to hold all of the cells, electronics and other components
in a single unified product, which would normally be referred to as
simply "a battery"
[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrode
material would have additional materials added to increase
ballistic protection. For example, the addition of micronized
ceramics to the electrode materials at a low blend rate of less
than 10% would provide increased shredding of a projectile entering
the battery layers, yet would only reduce battery capacity by 10%
(or the amount approximately equal to the non-electrically active
material being added). Certain structures of carbon, such as single
walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) can provide dramatic increases in
ballistic performance even at blend ratios of less than 1% by
weight. Where the ballistic additive is itself electrically active
and able to participate in the electrochemical properties of the
battery, it is possible to add this ballistic material without
significantly altering the capacity of the battery. The high
porosity of carbon nanotubes have even been shown to increase
battery capacity when used in place of common graphitic carbon.
[0025] The insulating layer (103) of the battery is generally very
thin, but could be impregnated with an additional weave of strong
ballistic fibres such as Aramid or Kevlar, causing the thin
insulator material to be reinforced with a web that tends to retain
integrity under a penetration event and serves to spread and
dissipate the force of a penetrating projectile. The use of boron
nitride nanotubes (BNNT), when used in the insulator layer, can
allow ionic conduction for the battery to function, while
insulating the electrodes from each other. In addition, the
ballistic properties of BNNT have been shown to increase ballistic
performance of materials at concentrations as low as 0.1% by
weight. An added advantage of BNNT is the thermal conduction
properties and extremely high temperature survival of this material
which can effectively transmit localized heating, increasing
overall thermal dissipation of the battery structure. This heat
dissipation property is especially critical in preventing thermal
runaway for a battery that has been penetrated by a conductive
element (such as a bullet) which creates a localized spot of
intense heat, capable of igniting the chemicals inside the battery.
By dissipating this localized heat and by maintaining insulating
properties under such adverse conditions, a BNNT insulator, or
insulator made of materials with similar advantages, can improve
the ballistic properties of a battery cell without significantly
impacting the electrical operation and quality of the battery
cell.
[0026] Current collecting layers (105, 106) can be made from
thicker materials, which would also increase the high-power
performance of the battery while providing increased ballistic
protection. Alternative alloys of copper, aluminum, or the use of
non-traditional conductive materials could also provide an increase
in the ballistic properties of the battery layers while maintaining
electrical performance of the battery. The use of multi-walled or
single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) in the electrode structure
instead of the carbon-graphite normally used, will maintain the
electrical performance of the battery while also increasing
ballistic performance.
[0027] The outer housing of the battery cells can, in a similar
fashion, be constructed from thicker materials, or alternative
alloys or alternative materials that preserve the performance of
the battery, while increasing ballistic performance.
[0028] Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, at
least one aspect of the battery layers being composed of: outer
housing; current collectors; electrodes; and insulating separator,
would be modified to provide increased ballistic performance.
[0029] Energy harvesting based on kinetic motion can be
accomplished using doped ceramic materials layered between an
electrical conductor plate. Other kinetic motion including
electricity generating bi-metallic plates, polymers and even
microscopic compressible voids can also be considered when
constructing layers that target energy generation by kinetic
movement.
[0030] Energy harvesting may also be accomplished using thermal
energy from the body itself. A property known as the Seebeck effect
produces electricity through a difference in thermal potential
across several different material layers. Electrical conductors are
used to gather the electricity from the electrical generation
materials. The electrical conductor can be composed of a mesh, and
the generation materials can be made sufficiently porous to allow
sweat to penetrate and flow through the layers. This increases the
thermal potential and therefore the power output while also
improving the comfort of the device. As previously highlighted,
ballistic armour systems may also be composed of a variety of mesh
structures and it is therefore possible to construct mesh
structures that provide a dual function of both protection and
generation.
[0031] Other thermo-electric class generation effects can include,
but are not limited to, the Ettingshausen effect, Nernst effect,
Peltier effect, Thomson Effect and others. Other kinetic generation
effects may include, but are not limited to, electrostatic
generation, magnetic motion, Electro active Polymers (EAPs),
nanogenerators and vibrational harvesters.
[0032] Energy harvesting may also be accomplished through wireless
means. Intentional wireless harvesting is generally based on a
transmitter and a receiver whereby the transmitter is specifically
designed for use with the receiver. This generally results in the
highest efficiency and tightest control of the transmission of
energy. The receiver portion of this system can therefore also be
controlled to allow it to be designed into a variety of materials,
shapes and sizes.
[0033] Wireless energy harvesting can also take the form of a
receiver that collects energy in the form of magnetic,
radio-frequency and/or radiation. A receiver antenna is designed to
collect energy either at specific frequencies known to be present
in the operating environment, for example, 60 Hz radiation from
North-American power lines. The antenna may be designed to operate
over a very broad band in order to capture energy from a variety of
sources including local radio and television stations, cellular
phone towers, etc. Antennae constructed from conductive polymers,
meshes, and deposited conductive structures can be chosen for their
combination of ballistic and electrical properties.
[0034] Renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic (solar) power
cells may be incorporated into outer layers of the electro active
ballistic protection system. Clear plastic materials are often
deposited over the surface of solar panels to protect the delicate
structures that gather solar energy. The use of ballistic plastics
in this outer layer allows a dual function of ballistic armour and
solar generation to be incorporated into this energy source.
Increasing the thickness or modifying the types of materials used
for the electricity collection layers of the renewable energy
layers will also increase ballistic protection and further enhance
the multi-functional nature of these layers. Boron nitride
nanotubes (BNNT) can be constructed in a transparent or translucent
format that would provide an ideal cover material for solar panels
that have significant ballistic performance, especially when
combined with other layers of ballistic material.
[0035] In a second embodiment of the invention, the battery and/or
energy generation layers would not be modified, but the properties
of these electro active layers would be measured and incorporated
into the overall ballistic strategy of the armour as outlined in
the following section.
[0036] Armour is generally rated using a classification table that
allows soldiers to quickly identify and select the appropriate
plate rating for the situation they face. For example, the United
States National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has published standards
for ballistic protection, military standards MIL-STD-662F and
STANAG 2920 are all examples of quantifiable standards which can be
tested against. Higher levels of protection are generally
considered safer, for example a Level III plate is rated to protect
against a 9.6 gram NATO 7.62.times.51 mm rifle round, while Level
IV will protect against armour piercing rifle rounds from a 10.8
gram 30-06 Springfield rifle round.
[0037] Armour must pass stringent ballistic testing and
qualification in order to receive a rating under these standards.
In order to achieve the level of protection listed on the plate,
the soldier must use the armour in the proper way prescribed by the
manufacturer. The armour plate construction therefore focuses on
providing a complete solution to the soldier and this is most
commonly done through a combined structure of multiple materials
designed to reduce penetration, spread projectile force and
ultimately protect the soldier. However, armour plates are designed
and sold as armour, they are not designed to perform other
functions required by the soldier.
[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the system would incorporate the
measured and improved ballistic properties of the battery and/or
energy harvesting layers (collectively the electro-active layers)
into the armour layers in order to provide a hybrid electro active
ballistic protection system.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 2, a very simplified ballistic armor
solution (200) is shown. The projectile 201 hits the strike-face
(202) of the armor system. The strike-face (202) may perform the
function of shredding the projectile through the use of ceramics or
another hard material. The capture layer (203) slows and stops the
projectile pieces. This layer may deform considerably against the
body and therefore a non-ballistic padding layer (204) may be
included to cushion the entire plate against the body allowing the
energy of the projectile to be spread over the body through
compression of this layer. These three layers are being described
in their most basic form, additional layers, functions, orders and
properties may be used to achieve specific ballistic and comfort
properties.
[0040] In the preferred embodiment may couple lower level armour
layers, such as a light, thin and flexible Level II rated plate,
with the electro active layers. The electro active layers would
therefore not need to provide any ballistic protection on their
own, but would be used to absorb and dissipate the energy of the
projectile. In FIG. 2, this would effectively be achieved by
replacing the padding layer (204) with flat battery cells. In this
way, even a battery that is considered "soft" may still be combined
in the armor system, without affecting the size, weight or
ballistic rating for the total electro active ballistic system as
the rated armour portion of the system would perform the task of
stopping the projectile while the soft battery and/or energy
harvesting portion of the system would provide the task of
spreading force. The use of a battery layer with known or improved
ballistic properties may allow the combined system to actually
increase in overall ballistic rating, while at the same time
maintaining the weight and size of the original plate system that
did not store energy.
[0041] The order of layers may also be reversed or may be
alternated or may be further combined. For example in another
embodiment of the system, the battery would be formed in the outer
layers of the electro active ballistic protection system. Referring
again to FIG. 2, but in this case the projectile (201) would first
strike the battery layer (202) and would be significantly slowed as
it passed through this outer layer, which themselves may be
enhanced beyond the normal ballistic properties of an off the shelf
battery. When the projectile reaches the layers that are
specifically focused on ballistic protection, for example a
shredding layer (203) and stopping and/or padding layer (204), the
remaining force of the projectile would be dissipated.
[0042] An alternating system of layers in another embodiment of the
system would use a series of thin ballistic layers that may be
composed of a high ballistic strength plastic material, inner
layers that compose the battery system, a second ballistic layer of
high strength plastic material, and finally layers of purely
ballistic protection that may be composed of Kevlar.RTM. fibres,
fibreglass, metal, ceramic, gel, variable durometer polymers, or
other materials known to have good ballistic properties.
[0043] In the alternating system of layers, the high ballistic
strength plastic can perform a dual function of housing the battery
itself and in this way the battery may be constructed such that it
is separable from the ballistic only protection plate. This
simplifies removal of the battery for charging and removal,
replacement or inspection of damaged ballistic plates.
[0044] In another embodiment of the system, material layers may be
incorporated that have both piezoelectric and thermoelectric
abilities in the same layer, with electricity collector plates
formed in the shape of a wireless antenna receiver. In this way
this single group of layers may perform thermal, kinetic and
wireless harvesting simultaneously while also providing some level
of ballistic improvement and protection.
[0045] The overall expectation of the electro active ballistic
protection system is to provide a fully rated, ballistic protection
solution that is of equal rating to its counterparts, while also
providing energy storage (battery) and energy harvesting functions.
In the above example, the preferred embodiment of the system may
have the same size and weight as a Level III ballistic plate, and
it would have the same ballistic rating of Level III, yet the
preferred embodiment of the system would, in reality, be composed
of a rated coupling of a Level II plate with ballistically matched
and optimized electro active layers that work in conjunction with
the armour plate in order to increase overall system ballistic
rating.
[0046] The above description uses reference to specific protection
levels for clarity. It would be well understood by someone trained
in the art that similar embodiments of the invention could be
constructed that would ballistically optimize the electro active
layers and could allow an nearly infinite combination of ballistic
ratings to be achieved that utilize a combination of single
function energy storing or ballistic layers combined with a
combination of multi-function layers that provide energy storage,
energy harvesting and ballistic protection. The ability to store or
generate electricity may also be seen as a reasonable trade-off
against reduced ballistic protection whereby the user may be
presented with a system of identical size and weight to their
existing ballistic-only plate, but with a reduced ballistic rating,
while including energy storage or harvesting. For example, the user
may choose to replace a Level IV plate with a Level III plate where
the Level III plate also includes a battery or energy harvesting
function because the overall operational advantage of such a system
outweighs the minor loss of ballistic protection rating
* * * * *