AU2012331437B2

AU2012331437B2 - Armoured, mine-endangered vehicle

Info

Publication number: AU2012331437B2
Application number: AU2012331437A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Helge Carstensen
Original assignee: FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau GmbH
Current assignee: FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau GmbH
Priority date: 2011-11-03
Filing date: 2012-11-02
Publication date: 2016-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2032-11-02
Also published as: EP2773919A1; EP2589919B1; WO2013064258A1; EP2589919A1; AU2012331437A1

Abstract

Armoured, mine-endangered vehicle with a free space, open to the top and closed off at the bottom by a floor pan (18) bulging outward under the force of a mine, said free space provided for receiving interchangeable modules (10) designed for the application of the vehicle that are closed off at the top by a roof plate (40) and are provided with a bottom (30), wherein the free space of the vehicle that receives a module (10) is provided with side walls (14, 16), the modules (10) are constructed without side walls, the roof plate (40) is carried by edges (42) supported on the vehicle chassis via the side walls (14, 16) of the vehicle, the application-specific fixtures of the modules (10) and the bottom (30) are suspended from the roof plate (40) and the bottom (30) of the module (10) introduced into the vehicle is spaced away from the floor pan (18) of the vehicle by a distance amounting to the bulging travel of the floor pan (18) under the force of a mine.

Description

1 TITLE OF INVENTION Armoured, Mine-Endangered Vehicle TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to an armoured, mine-endangered vehicle having an interchangeable module that can be adapted to different applications, according to the preamble of the main claim. Such an interchange module can provide the vehicle with a multi-tasking capacity in a simple manner. BACKGROUND Until now, interchangeable modules on vehicles are used in particular if they contain consumable materials, for example in the case of armoured vehicles e.g. ammunition, with other vehicles also gas tanks or the like. In the case of trucks, interchangeable modules in the style of different trailers or also transport containers on a cargo area are known. Even now, tractors can be separated from a section of an articulated lorry that remains on-site. However in the case of armoured, mine-endangered vehicles, it is desirable neither to leave behind an interchangeable module nor to leave another unit stationary, but armouring is provided in particular against the situation that an attack by mines is carried out within the framework of asymmetric war-like missions. In the process, the force of a mine can often lead to a strong deformation of a floor pan in the case of armoured vehicles, and this could lead to casualties and to damage to fixtures located inside the vehicle. An object of the invention is to avoid this. It would now be obvious to design the floor pan to be more stiff and as an interchangeable module for absorbing the entire energy. On account of the limited space this cannot be done in a satisfactory manner. In addition, personnel in the interior is in danger with each shock wave that deforms the armouring.

2 In addition, it is even now possible, after damage, to replace the floor pan that is connected to the drive and in particular to the axes, but this is complicated and is therefore carried out in specialised workshops. In the case of mine-endangered vehicles the general aim is to protect the occupants against the force of a mine that acts on the vehicle usually from below. All types of damping materials between the floor pan and personnel require a lot of space which would increase the total size of the vehicle too much in the case of predetermined inside dimensions. In the prior art, however, at least the back area of a soldier can be protected by special seats that are largely decoupled from the floor pan, that is possibly deformed by the force of a mine, of the vehicle and the bottom connected to it. Also foot rests are even now known in the prior art that are to minimise the shock effect that can be exerted on the feet of the occupants via the bottom in the case of an exploding mine. EP 1 564 519 B 1 reveals an armoured, mine-endangered vehicles having the features of the preamble of Claim 1. Here however the side walls and the bottom of the vehicle are formed by elements of the interchangeable modules. For various reasons however, this is disadvantageous. An object of the invention is to ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art described above, or to at least provide a useful alternative thereto. The object of the invention includes ensuring protection of the persons in the vehicle against the effects of shocks with a high level of safety and simple means. The references herein to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art.

3 SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention is achieved by the features of the main claim. The sub claims specify advantageous embodiments. According to the present invention, there is provided an armoured, mine-endangered vehicle with a free space, open to the top and closed off at the bottom by a floor pan bulging outward under the force of a mine, said free space being provided for receiving interchangeable modules designed for the respective application of the vehicle that are closed off at the top by a roof plate and are provided with a bottom, characterized in that: the free space of the vehicle that receives a module is provided with side walls; the modules are constructed without side walls; the application-specific fixtures of the modules and the bottom are suspended from the roof plate; and the bottom of the module introduced into the free space of the vehicle is spaced away from the floor pan of the vehicle by a distance amounting to the bulging travel of the floor pan under the force of a mine. Preferably, the roof plate of the module is provided with side borders which, when the module is inserted into the vehicle, rest on a roof edge that is supported on the chassis of the vehicle and are screwed thereto. Preferably, the side borders of the roof plate and the roof edge are provided with conical journals or journal holes that cooperate with these, to facilitate the fitting of the module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 4 In order that the present invention might be more fully understood, embodiments of the present invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing. Possible and preferred features of the present features of the present invention will be described as examples only, however, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawing are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a schematic drawing that illustrates the assembly of a module and a chassis. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS The embodiment comprises a tank chassis from Figure 1. The embodiment includes an interchangeable part, designated as mission module, that is provided with a roof plate and a plurality of crossbeams. The embodiment includes notches for adapting to an armoured vehicle chassis. In particular it is advantageous that a long and non-rectilinear path for the shockwaves is provided by a module that is connected to the likely place of the explosion on the bottom of the vehicle chassis only by means of wall areas that absorb and distribute the explosive shock. This module is inserted into a vehicle chassis that is provided with a free space, that is open to the top, in its interior, the free space being delimited by side walls, back, bottom, and front. The module will then be connected with its edge to the chassis of the vehicle by means of the walls and the front, the interior fixtures and/or devices that are to be present for different applications being suspended on the module so as to be interchangeable with it.

5 In that the shockwave is distributed across the entire vehicle, only little energy will spread in the back direction, i.e. via the crossbeams inwards into the inside space, if only because the shock energy will reach respective crossbeams at somewhat varying times. As a result, due to the embodiment, specific fixtures and/or devices that are to be present for different applications are provided at the module such that they can be quickly replaced therewith and are shock-protected, and in addition the occupants of the vehicle protected. Furthermore all on the module provided quickly interchanged therewith and shock-protected, and in addition the occupants of the vehicle protected. Furthermore, all fixtures situated on the module can be easily transferred into the reserve chassis, internal connections and setups remaining and only by means of a few plug connections, sensor and electricity lines from the chassis to the fixtures having to be connected. These connections from chassis-side terminals to terminals on a roof or mission module are being standardised. They are provided according to the embodiment in the area of a crossbeam that is present in all modules or in the area of a rear, thus provided with increased armouring protection, of the chassis. Standardised interfaces are provided in such a way on a base vehicle and on the individual mission modules, by means of which interfaces each mission module can be connected quickly and safely to the infrastructure of the base vehicle. In particular, but not limited to the following list, these interfaces will for example comprise the supply or the interchange with electric energy, electronic signals for communication/network, air (for heating/air-conditioned air/possibly compressed air). In the process it is made possible that all required terminals can be connected within a very brief time so that on the one hand time can be saved during conversion and on the other hand to keep the actual procedure of connecting up as simple and as reliable as possible so that nothing will be forgotten. For example the interfaces of the module can be provided, vertically one on top of the other and easily visible, on one of the crossbeams, on their vertically extending, outward facing side 6 surfaces. The interfaces of the chassis will then therefore be arranged opposite each other and close to each other. The base vehicle will therefore provide interfaces for all planned types of mission modules that depending on the type of application module used - are not necessary all of them used all the time. Those terminals are provided on the mission module that are required for the operation of the respective mission-module type. It is conceivable to enable redundancy and so, in the case of a failure either of an interface on the mission module or of a terminal on the chassis, in an alternate manner to make possible the respective supply interface or communication interface. Such a redundancy would be made possible by a duplication of the interfaces that are provided on another crossbeam or lying opposite thereof Spare interfaces can be designed such that they can only be connected by special adapters that connect two interfaces that can otherwise not be connected to each other (e.g. female - female contacts). In a preferred embodiment, on a roof plate of the module a plurality of at least three, but often, by duplication, eight or more crossbeams are provided from which a walk-on bottom is suspended that thus does not exhibit any contact to any lateral, front or rear wall structure, in particular neither at the edge nor in its plane has any direct contact to the bottom of the vehicle chassis. Rather it will maintain a distance that allows the bottom to bulge in the case of an exploding mine of expected strength without reaching the walk-on floor that is suspended from the roof plate. The module will provide the fixtures that are situated therebelow an open frame only via the depending crossbeams from which a bottom is suspended. Own walls that limit the module for example like a container are not provided on the longitudinal or end faces of the depending crossbeam structure. All terminating surfaces that possibly limit fixtures provided in the interior towards the side, are designed such that they are not connected to the roof plate of the module and the bottom but are advantageously spaced relative to both.

7 In particular all fixtures in the interior, also the walk-on floor, on which feet can rest even during travel, are connected on crossbeams to the roof plate. These crossbeams can be provided as hollow profiles in a number of at least three up to far in excess of a dozen, and it has proven favourable to improve the oscillation properties by duplicating two square sections that run vertically side-by-side and are firmly fastened to each other. The increased stiffness avoids the excitation of resonant oscillations. Furthermore some of the crossbeams that do not exhibit any duplication, and other crossbeams, which for example lend themselves for this on account of the inside-space geometry, can create a virtual duplication also at a certain distance from each other (the suggested distance is one to two crossbeam thicknesses). A preferred embodiment avoids to arrange in each of the corner areas of the bottom a crossbeam, but arranges the plurality of the crossbeams more centrally, so that the loads are preferably arranged at the centre of the roof plate, again spaced from the side edge, that potentially transmits impact waves, of the free space. In this way, a stiffening of the module can be achieved without an undesirable transmission of shock waves to the bottom and the fixtures attached to the crossbeams resulting. It is also possible to firmly connect some fixtures to the vehicle, as for example the firefighting system and fixtures that are connected to the engine of the actual vehicle. On the other hand, fixtures can also be connected to the module at a later time, after the latter has been inserted into a vehicle chassis. In this way fixtures, that do not fit through the cutout in the chassis, can still be suspended from the roof plate via other fixtures and/or the crossbeams. On the other hand, e.g. the driver seat can be provided independently of the module, for it is usually already itself decoupled and anyway separate in terms of space from commanders and personnel seats. In a particular embodiment, a crane is provided that is fastened to the module at the top, the winch for operating the crane taking up a large part of the inside of the vehicle. In this way it preferably becomes part of the module and is decoupled from the bottom. When pulling in the 8 winch rope, it will brace itself against the roof plate and therefore will not have to be secured against decoupling as a part that is attached to the bottom of the vehicle. Fastening to the floor pan might represent an undesirable bridge for the shock wave energy. In addition it is suggested to reinforce part of the bottom, that is firmly fastened in terms of structure to the roof plate using for example four strong crossbeams provided for this purpose, (for example to design it with a double thickness) and to anchor on this part the winch so as to guarantee required counter forces. Likewise a generator for generating the electric current example for the winch can be provided on a section of the walk-on floor that is suspended from the module. Due to the fact that for example seats, but also tables and foot rests, are fastened to the module, there result considerably longer paths for the shockwave in the case of an exploding mine, via which paths the shock wave energy is dissipated or is distributed with superpositioning, so that the amplitudes as a whole decreases. At the same time, simple replaceability of the entire interior space for difference applications is in this way possible, for example as an emergency vehicle, as a commando vehicle or as a recovery vehicle. This simple replaceability is a logistical advantage since in this way only a plurality of modules corresponding to the possible applications have to be carried along and the vehicle chassis intended for receiving the modules only need to be present in a lower number (only so many as are used at the same time). It is then therefore in particular not necessary to provide fully specialised spare vehicles for each application, but only a few spare chassis that can be easily adapted to the respective application by inserting corresponding modules. Finally, there results the further advantage that when a mine explodes the fixtures provided inside the vehicle on the module and also the personnel are exposed to less shock wave energies so that the probability increases that a module continues to maintain its functionality even when the chassis is damaged.

9 As a result of a floor that is suspended on the module by means of crossbeams from the roof, that is suspended above the bottom of the mine-endangered vehicle with a marked distance, it is also no longer necessary to provide special foot rests for the occupants of the vehicle. The distance of this suspended walk-on floor from the actual armoured bottom of the vehicle amounts to 20-40 cm, preferably 35 cm as a function of the armouring of the mine-endangered vehicle and predetermined possible bending deformations that could occur on the armoured vehicle bottom due to exploding mines. This results in a distance being selected that spaces the walk-on floor at such a distance from the armoured underbody of the vehicle chassis that a bulging travel does not reach the walk-on floor. In a preferred embodiment, the walk-on floor is then distanced even further from the underbody in the front area of the vehicle, and in the rear area. Seats, on which the vehicle occupants sit for example at the diverse fixtures provided in the vehicle interior, are advantageously likewise attached to the crossbeams that are suspended vertically from the roof of the module or fastened on the suspended floor in such a way that deflections that could endanger a vehicle occupant are markedly reduced by the long paths that a shockwave has to traverse in the walls and crossbeams. With reference to the shape of the module it is suggested to provide a supporting border on the roof edges that are connected to the walls, on which border the module can be placed. It is also possible to design the module to have two pieces in a variant, having a front area having a to turret hatch and a rear area having other instruments, a separate walk-on floor being suspended from each of the two (part) modules by means of crossbeams. In a less preferred embodiment, a roof edge could be dispensed with. However, a roof edge has its own vehicle-stiffening function, which it can in particular exert if in the corners the roof edges are designed rounded for transmitting forces. In addition, a wider overlap is better suited to create an ABC seal at the junction.

10 To create a firm and also force-transmitting junction at the connection point between the module and the vehicle chassis that safely holds the module to the vehicle chassis even after the explosion of a mine, a multiplicity of bolts are provided in corresponding bolt holes along the borders. For example it is suggested to produce an intimate connection of the module with the wall and the armouring of the vehicle using a number of 5 to 20 bolts per border. Since the module as a whole, with its chairs provided for the interior, but also all other fixtures, not only electronic instruments, and the like, exhibits no small weight, fitting the module into a base vehicle is not trivial when the module is interchanged or installed. Therefore it is suggested to provide vertical guides that define the module in terms of its angular position and longitudinal orientation, that is for example suspended from a crane and is lowered into the free space inside the vehicle chassis, as soon as the guides on the module have started to catch. In particular it is suggested to provide a rod that is fastened to one of the long sides and approximately runs vertically, that on lowering the module fits into a groove that is correspondingly provided in the suspended floor of the module, and alongside which rod the walk-on floor is held in terms of its orientation, in any case in three horizontal directions. Preferably at least two such guides are provided that in addition are not arranged in a point symmetrical fashion, but for example are both arranged in a rear area on the long sides of the vehicle so that an orientation of the module in the tank can be detected immediately even under adverse conditions and the module can never be lowered the wrong way round even if marks are possibly missing. In fact, even on account of the turret hatch that is provided, in a known manner, in the front area of the module (in the case of armoured military vehicles) a correct orientation can also be clearly 11 detected by everybody using fixtures provided on the top of the module such as for example also cranes or gun fastening points. In an alternative embodiment of the module, the bottom area can be extended laterally after installation so that at least clearances that exist can be bridged over. For this purpose it is suggested to provide rubber mats or similar flexible material at the edge of the bottom area in a corresponding thickness. So that finally the module can be fitted precisely in exact correspondence to the bolt holes, it is suggested to provide conical journals and co-acting journal holes at the supporting border and the roof plate that covers the free space. Here it lends itself to provide the conical journals at the bottom of the roof or of the roof plate of the module and to provide on the vehicle corresponding journal holes at that the supporting borders in the area of the walls. This makes it possible, if necessary, to place also modules that are not correspondingly equipped according to the journal journal hole system, onto the vehicle, e.g. a simple weather and dust protection. To store and transport the modules, it is suggested to design a lower part section of a known transport container, the part section exceeding the height of the module in terms of height, i.e. in particular the length of the crossbeams using which the bottom element is suspended from the roof plate of the module, so that the section can be detached from a top part section. This lower part section is then provided with a supporting border and preferably with journal-hole receptacles so as to lower a module into the lower section and then again to place the upper section of the container onto the lower part section. If the roof plate does not extend to the edge, the thickness of the roof plate is to be taken into account when the two part heights of the container part sections are dimensioned. In this way, a lower part section and an upper part section will even then exhibit the height of a known transport container if a module is inserted into the lower part section.

12 In this case, the upper section of the transport container then serves to protect the upper side of the module and any fixtures fastened thereon. Only fixtures that are larger than the free space that is offered by the upper section have to be transported separately. The latter case of course only applies if the standard dimensions of a transport container are to be complied with. The upper section of the transport container is designed so that it can be fastened, even without a module, to the lower section. Referring to the drawing, the chassis, as it can be seen in Figure 1, exhibits tracks that can be seen in the lower area of the drawing and is designed according to the type of a light tank. The vehicle chassis exhibits an opening that almost reaches across the entire width and starts behind the hatch for the driver and reaches up to a point shortly before the rear wall of the chassis. Here the opening is of box-shaped design so that a box-shaped insert can be introduced, as is illustrated in Figure 1. Here the insert exhibits at its upper side a roof plate 40 and a walk-on floor 30 as its lower boundary. Furthermore a gun and two hatches can be recognised on the roof plate. Between the roof plate 40, that is going to be supported on an edge 42 on the chassis, and the walk-on floor 30, a plurality of crossbeams 24 are provided that hold the walk-on floor 30 on the roof plate 40, without the walk-on floor 30 starting any contact to the floor pan of the chassis. Rather a not inconsiderable distance that takes into account all possible bulging travel of the floor pan, is maintained between the walk-on floor 30 and the floor pan or an upper side of the floor pan. In the embodiment of the vehicle, sidewalls of the vehicle essentially run vertically, and on which side walls, on the inside, depending on the width of the edge 42, more fixtures can be provided at the upper side that have to be present for each vehicle. Only the fixtures that are specific for the respective mission and those fixtures that are in direct contact with persons, are 13 provided, as is advisable, so as to be interchangeable, on the roof and also on the mission module. The vehicle comprises a vehicle chassis. The vehicle includes a rod or a bow that is attached as one (several are preferred) guide element to one of the wall areas and forms the counter guide to one groove provided on the suspended floor 30. The interchangeable module can be adapted to the different applications. This interchangeable module is inserted into the upwardly open free space into the interior of the mine-endangered vehicle, it now being not the previously still present free space, but the designated interchangeable module that is bounded by the sidewalls, the rear wall and the floor and also the front of the vehicle chassis. At its edge, that is to say with the edge of the roof plate 40, the module will project beyond a respective horizontal area of the walls and fronts of the vehicle so it can be in a connection therewith so as to be interchangeable. It is conceivable to replace larger areas with parts of a vertical wall. All the inside-space fixtures that have to be kept available for the different applications and/or instruments are attached to the module and thus are designed such that they can be replaced together with it. In a preferred embodiment, seats for the vehicle occupants and the interior-space components that are to be provided for the application are attached to crossbeams 24 and/or to the suspended bottom 30 while leaving a free space to the walls and the fronts. In this way, in the case of the possible explosion of a mine, shock waves do not reach them directly but only those shockwaves that move the roof plate 40. Crossbeams on which the seats are attached, further increase the decoupling.

14 The module has a roof plate 40. The roof plate is provided with a plurality of straight side walls, fitting on a horizontal circumferential supporting border 42, closing an opening above the free space in the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, not shown in the drawing, the roof plate 40 is provided with bolt holes alongside its borders, into which bolts can be screwed to secure the roof plate at an upper edge 42. It is possible to design the bolt holes in the upper edge 42 as blind holes. Likewise not illustrated, but suggested in a further preferred embodiment, conical journals and co-acting journal holes at at least one supporting border can cooperate with a fitting roof plate 40 that covers an opening in the vehicle. Finally it is suggested to design, for transporting and for storing a module, a lower section of a transport container, the lower section exceeding the lengths of the crossbeams in terms of its height, with a supporting border for a module that permits that the mission modules can be transported in such transport containers, an upper part section of the transport container being designed such that it can be releasably fastened such that on the lower part section it covers a module and the fixtures fastened thereon. Throughout the specification and claims the word "comprise" and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is, the word "comprise" and its derivatives will be taken to indicate the inclusion of not only the listed components, steps or features that it directly references, but also other components, steps or features not specifically listed, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. In the present specification, terms such as "component", "apparatus", "means", "device" and "member" may refer to singular or plural items and are terms intended to refer to a set of properties, functions or characteristics performed by one or more items having one or more parts.

15 It is envisaged that where a "component", "apparatus", "means", "device" or "member" or similar term is described as being a unitary object, then a functionally equivalent object having multiple components is considered to fall within the scope of the term, and similarly, where a "component", "apparatus", "assembly", "means", "device" or "member" is described as having multiple items, a functionally equivalent but unitary object is also considered to fall within the scope of the term, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An armoured, mine-endangered vehicle with a free space, open to the top and closed off at the bottom by a floor pan bulging outward under the force of a mine, said free space being provided for receiving interchangeable modules designed for the respective application of the vehicle that are closed off at the top by a roof plate and are provided with a bottom, characterized in that: the free space of the vehicle that receives a module is provided with side walls; the modules are constructed without side walls; the application-specific fixtures of the modules and the bottom are suspended from the roof plate; and the bottom of the module introduced into the free space of the vehicle is spaced away from the floor pan of the vehicle by a distance amounting to the bulging travel of the floor pan under the force of a mine.

2. The armoured vehicle according to Claim 1, characterised in that the roof plate of the module is provided with side borders which, when the module is inserted into the vehicle, rest on a roof edge that is supported on the chassis of the vehicle and are screwed thereto.

3. The armoured vehicle according to Claim 2, characterised in that the side borders of the roof plate and the roof edge are provided with conical journals orjournal holes that cooperate with these, to facilitate the fitting of the module.