EP2363682B1 - Method for repairing a compound armour element and repair set for performing the repairs - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a repair method for repairing a composite armor element, with several active bodies. The active bodies, in particular of a high-hardness material, can be embedded in a potting material or glued to a base plate via an adhesive.

Composite armor elements for protection against projectiles, such as composite armor plates or flexible composite armor mats, which consist of a composite of several materials, are known per se. Frequently composite armor plates are constructed such that between two particular flat and parallel plate elements high-strength filling elements are introduced as active body, which are then encapsulated with a pourable mass. The active bodies can also be arranged in a cassette. The active bodies can also be glued and arranged in particular on a base plate.

Composite armor elements are often applied later as additional armor to existing armor such as a combat vehicle to give the object to be protected increased security against attacks.

The DE 1 578 324 A1 describes a rigid composite armor plate, being used as filling elements balls or cylinders made of a hard ceramic material. The cylinders are arranged in rows in the plate in several discontinuous layers or layers, ie their longitudinal axes are substantially parallel to the plane of the plate and parallel to each other. The cylinders and balls are further spaced apart. If hit by a ballistic missile, the active bodies and the projectile are shattered.

The DE 10 2005 050 981 A1 describes a planar composite armor plate for projectile protection, which comprises at least one layer of high-hardness rod-shaped elements arranged in rows next to each other in the plate such that their longitudinal axes are substantially parallel to the plane of the plate and parallel to each other, one row at least two in Axial direction one behind the other, rod-shaped elements, and wherein the joints between the rod-shaped elements within a row with respect to the joints of at least one adjacent row are arranged offset in the axial direction.

In the DE 10 2006 053 047 A1 discloses a composite armor plate for protection from projectiles, which contains at least one layer of active bodies, which are arranged in rows next to each other in the plate and which are embedded in a matrix material, wherein the active bodies of a row are at least partially connected by webs fixedly connected to each other.

The use of high-hardness active bodies in a composite armor element has the advantage that, when a projectile strikes, the active body or bodies are shattered at the point of impact, whereby the kinetic energy of the projectile is converted into a fragmentation energy. The aim of a composite armor element is, even with modern, high-strength projectile cores, especially in many hits with a small distance (so-called "multi-hit"), to avoid bullet holes.

After a fragmentation of an active body has occurred, the protective effect at this point of the composite armor element is greatly reduced, so that the composite armor element would have to be replaced. However, the replacement of a complete composite armor element is both costly and time consuming because, if necessary, the composite armor element is not available on the spot and must first be procured, whereby, for example, the vehicle protected by the composite armor element is also unavailable.

The FR 1 604 806 A discloses a repair of a composite armor plate in which shattered rod-shaped active bodies are replaced by spherical active bodies, wherein in addition a ceramic plate is placed outside. Another composite armor plate is in the EP 2 071 272 A2 described.

It is the object of the invention to provide a method by which a composite armor element, in which at least one active body has been damaged by a hit, in such a way to restore that the operational readiness of the composite armor element is restored in particular on site.

The invention solves the problem with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments are part of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the damaged defect-active body is taken out in the repair of a composite armor element and used in its place an undamaged replacement active body. If in this case the replacement active body in shape, size and material is identical to the defect-active body, so there is a risk that the original protective effect of the composite armor element is not achieved because of this aftertreatment in the composite system is unavoidable. Furthermore, the possibility of exchanging individual active bodies may also be impaired due to tolerance overlaps.

In order to increase the protective effect at this point, an exchange active body is used according to the invention, which has an increased protective effect than the defective active body. Thus, the inhomogeneity of the composite system can be compensated by increasing the protective effect of the exchange active body, so that the protective effect of the composite armor element is improved. According to the invention, the increase in the protective effect is that the replacement active body consists of a different material than the defective active body. The replacement active body has a higher hardness than the defective active body.

• höhere Härte,
• höheres Elastizitätsmodul,
• höhere Festigkeit,
• höhere Dichte.

The following material properties, for example, increase the protective effect of an active body:

• higher hardness,
• higher modulus of elasticity,
• higher strength,
• higher density.

The active bodies may consist of a metallic material, such as steel, as well as of ceramics, such as aluminum oxide, boron carbide or silicon carbide. If the defect-active body consists of alumina, the replacement active body can also consist of higher quality alumina higher hardness. Also, by the use of active bodies, which are made of a nano-material, such as a nano-ceramic, a higher protective effect can be achieved.

As a rule, active bodies having an increased protective action are considerably more expensive than active bodies having a lower protective effect, so that, in order to achieve a reasonable cost-benefit ratio in composite armor elements, the active bodies of the highest protective effect are not used to achieve a sufficient protective effect. In the exchange of individual active body for repair of the composite armor element these costs, however, are secondary, so that in this case can be used on active body of increased protection.

An increased protective effect can also be achieved in that the replacement active body has a different shape or size than the defective active body. The replacement active bodies preferably have a greater length in the weft direction.

After insertion of the replacement active body of this can be potted with a potting material, glued or positively or positively connected, so that the composite system of the composite armor element is restored. Here, the potting or adhesive material may be the same as the already present in the composite armor potting or adhesive material, or it can be used a potting or adhesive material, which has a higher protective effect than the potting or adhesive material of the composite armor element, so that in turn the protective effect of the composite armor element can be increased at this point. As an adhesive bond, an elastic or structural bond can be used.

The active body arranged in the composite armouring element and the replacement active body can have a pellet-shaped, for example cylindrical or spherical, design and otherwise have any desired geometry.

There are a variety of configurations with respect to the structure of the composite armor element and the individual active body possible. In the DE 10 2005 050 981 A1 . DE 10 2007 050 660 A1 . DE 10 2007 050 658 A1 as well as in the DE 10 2007 019 392 A1 Advantageous embodiments of composite armor elements are described, which can also be applied advantageously in the present invention, so that these embodiments and combinations thereof with the corresponding advantages are hereby fully incorporated, in particular the design of the geometry and size of the individual active body, the embodiment the faces of the bodies, the materials used of the active body and the matrix material, the measures for shock absorption, the arrangement and connection of the active body to each other and the structure of the composite armor plate.

An advantageous manufacturing method is also in the EP 1 959 223 A2 described, the content of which is hereby fully incorporated into the present application.

Since a hit often not only an active body in the composite armor element, but several adjacent active bodies are damaged, these multiple, in particular juxtaposed defect active bodies are preferably removed and replaced by one or more replacement active body. It can be exchanged for safety and the damaged defect-active bodies adjacent undamaged active body.

Preferably, the repair process is designed such that after completion of the repair of the replacement of the defect-active body is invisible by the replacement active body from the outside, so that the possibly still present reduced protection from the outside is not recognizable.

To further increase the protective effect in the region of the exchange point, an additional protective increase measure, in particular an additional protective plate or reinforcing plate, for example of fiber material, metal or ceramic, are used. Although this can lead to an increase in weight at this point, which is only locally limited and thus acceptable. The reinforcing plate is preferably made of a different material than the base plate. It may also have a higher hardness and / or a greater thickness than the base plate.

A reinforcing plate can be placed on the outside of the composite armor element. Further, when the composite armor element is a base plate has removed, a part of the base plate in the region of the Austauschwirkkörper and replaced by a reinforcing plate, which in particular has an increased protective effect than the base plate. The base plate may face the object to be protected.

The invention also encompasses a composite armor element which has been repaired according to the inventive repair method already described.

The repair of a composite armor element of the type already described can be carried out with a repair kit that, preferably in a housing, a removal means for removing a damaged defect-active body, such as a knife or a gouge, at least two exchange active body different protective effect and a potting material includes. Preferably, the repair set includes a plurality of exchange active bodies of different protective effect, that is different material, different shape and size, so that by means of the repair set a variety of composite armor elements can be repaired. The potting and / or adhesive material may be disposed in containers in the form of single or multi-component adhesives or thermosetting material in the repair kit.

To facilitate the potting, the repair set may include a potting device for potting an exchange active body with potting material, for example a spray device. Furthermore, the repair set can have introduction means, in particular a striking device such as a hammer, preferably made of plastic, for introducing the replacement active body into the composite armor element.

Fig. 1

ein beschädigtes Verbundpanzerungselement in einer Schnittdarstellung;

Fig. 2

das Verbundpanzerungselement nach Fig. 1 im reparierten Zustand;

Fig. 3

ein Verbundpanzerungselement nach Fig. 1 im reparierten Zustand;

Fig. 4

das Verbundpanzerungselement nach Fig. 1 im reparierten Zustand;

Fig. 5

einen Wirkkörper;

Fig. 6

eine Wirkkörperkette; und

Fig. 7

ein Reparatur-Set in einer schematischen Darstellung;

Fig. 8

das Verbundpanzerungselement nach Fig. 1 im reparierten Zustand; und

Fig. 9

das Verbundpanzerungselement nach Fig. 1 im reparierten Zustand.

The invention is based on the FIGS. 1 to 9 explained. Show it

Fig. 1

a damaged composite armor element in a sectional view;

Fig. 2

the composite armor after Fig. 1 in repaired condition;

Fig. 3

a composite armor after Fig. 1 in repaired condition;

Fig. 4

the composite armor after Fig. 1 in repaired condition;

Fig. 5

an active body;

Fig. 6

an active body chain; and

Fig. 7

a repair kit in a schematic representation;

Fig. 8

the composite armor after Fig. 1 in repaired condition; and

Fig. 9

the composite armor after Fig. 1 in repaired condition.

The Fig. 1 shows a composite armor 30, in which the inventive method of repair can be used. The composite armor element 30 serves to protect a vehicle wall 7 from projectiles 9.

The composite armoring element 30 placed on the vehicle wall 7 consists of a base plate 1, on which pellet-shaped active bodies 2 are arranged. The active bodies 2 may be configured, for example, spherical or cylindrical with various end face geometries. The active body 2 are potted with a potting compound 3, for example made of plastic, such as polyurethane, epoxy resin, polyester or rubber, or glued with an adhesive.

The active bodies 2 can be arranged in one layer or in two or more layers next to one another, lying or standing in the composite armor element 30. Furthermore, different, for example, damping layers 6, not shown, may be provided. The completion of the composite armor plate 30 can be formed by a cassette 23 with an end plate 8 opposite the base plate 1.

According to Fig. 1 can be clarified that in a hit of the composite armor element 30 with a projectile 9 individual active body 4 are smashed in the region of the place of impact and are thus damaged. These damaged active bodies are referred to as defective active body 4. Furthermore, the vehicle wall 7 due to the shock effect of the projectile 9 may have damage such as a bulge 24 or a penetration.

According to the repair method of the invention, the composite armor plate 30 can be repaired. First, the defect-active body 4 are removed with a blade-like removal means such as a chisel 15 or a knife from the composite armor 30. In place of the defective active body 4 are according to Fig. 2 undamaged replacement active body 22 inserted into the composite armor element 30 and sealed with a potting compound 16, 17 or glued with an adhesive.

The replacement active body 22 may in this case have the same shape and size as the defect active body 4 and be made of a different material with an increased hardness, so that there is an increased protective effect. The exchange active body can also be made of the same material as the defect-active body 4 but be larger, so he more kinetic Energy of a projectile 9 can transform into smashing energy, so that thereby an increased protective effect is achieved.

Comparing individual materials such as average alumina, boron carbide and silicon carbide, alumina has the lowest hardness, followed by silicon carbide. The highest hardness has boron carbide, which thus provides a better protective effect in comparison. If the active bodies 2 in the composite armor element 30 are made of aluminum oxide, the replacement active body 11 can consist of higher-grade aluminum oxide or of silicon carbide or of boron carbide, so that an increased protective effect is achieved and the composite armor element again has a sufficient protective action at this point.

According to the 3 and 4 can be provided 22 additional Schutzerhöhungsmaßen in the field of exchange active body.

According to Fig. 3 also a part of the base plate 1 is replaced. For this purpose, the composite armor element 30 is first removed from the vehicle 7, so that the base plate 1 is accessible. Subsequently, a portion of the base plate 1 is taken out and replaced by a reinforcing plate 27 as an additional protection plate. This reinforcing plate 27 located in the region of the replacement active body 22 can have an increased protective effect as the base plate 1 and consist, for example, of a harder material. An advantage of this type of reinforcement is that the repair is not visible from the outside. The reinforcing plate 27 extends not only via the replacement active bodies 22 but also via at least one adjacent, non-exchanged active body 2. The reinforcing plate 27 has the same thickness as the base plate 1.

According to Fig. 4 can also be a reinforcing plate 28 outside of the cassette or the cover plate 8 in the area of the exchange active body 22 are placed, so that in this area the protective effect is further increased. The reinforcing plate 28 as an additional protection plate extends not only over the exchange active body 22 but also over at least one adjacent, not exchanged active body. 2

The Fig. 5 shows an example of a single active body 2 according to DE 10 2005 013 660 A1 with a cylindrical basic shape (diameter d, height h), wherein a cone 5 of the height l is arranged on an end face.

The Fig. 6 shows an example of an active body chain 20 according to the DE 10 2006 053 047 A1 in which the individual active bodies 2 are connected to one another via web connections 10. Individual defect-active bodies 4 are also particularly preferably exchanged for such active-substance chains 20, since these have advantageous ballistic properties. Bridge-connected defect bodies can also be replaced by single, non-web-connected replacement bodies.

The Fig. 7 schematically shows a repair kit according to the invention 13 consisting of a gusset 15 as a removal means for taking out a damaged defect-active body 4. Further, the repair kit 13 has a selection of several undamaged replacement active bodies 11, 12, 21, 22 different size, different Shape and different material and thus different protective effect. The active bodies 11 and 22 have the same geometry, but they are made of different materials.

The repair kit 13 further includes two containers 16, 17 with two components A and B of a two component resin, which is in a mixing container 18 are mixed together and introduced via a syringe-like potting device in the composite armor after the replacement active body 11, 12, 21, 22 have been introduced with a hammer 14 as impact device in the composite armor.

The repair kit 13 may further include an adhesive mixing gun, a static mixer, protective gloves, masking tape, degreasing cleaner, stir bars, topcoat, backing material, liner material, and instructions.

Through the repair kit 13, a variety of composite armor elements can be repaired on site without a larger supply of composite armor elements would have to be created or even carried.

According to the 8 and 9 can be provided in the field of exchange-active body 22 additional, special protection increase measures when the vehicle wall 7 has a bump 24. This represents damage to the vehicle wall 7.

According to Fig. 8 a part of the base plate 1 is replaced. For this purpose, the composite armor element 30 is first removed from the vehicle 7, so that the base plate 1 is accessible. Subsequently, a portion of the base plate 1 is taken out and replaced by a reinforcing plate 25 as an additional protection plate. This reinforcing plate 25 located in the region of the replacement active body 22 can have an increased protective effect than the base plate 1. The reinforcing plate 25 extends not only over the replacement active body 22 but also over at least the surface area of the bulge 24. The reinforcement is not visible from the outside.

According to Fig. 9 can also be a reinforcing plate 26 outside of the cassette or the cover plate 8 in the area of the exchange active body 22 are placed, so that in this area the protective effect is further increased. The reinforcing plate 26 as an additional protection plate extends not only over the replacement active body 22 but also over at least the surface area of the bulge 24th

In a manner not shown, mushroom-shaped active body, for example, in the EP 1 400 775 B1 are shown used as replacement active body.

The protective measures described can be combined with each other as desired.

The repair kit 13 may further include one or more reinforcing plates, such as the reinforcing plates 25, 26, 27, and 28. Preferably, the repair kit comprises a selection of reinforcing plates of different size and / or thickness and / or material. Thus, a suitable reinforcing plate can be selected and used on site.

Reference number list:

1

baseplate

2

submunitions

3

grout

4

Defect submunitions

5

Face of an active body

6

damping intermediate layer

7

vehicle wall

8th

cover plate

9

bullet

10

web

11

Exchange submunitions

12

Exchange submunitions

13

Repair kit

14

hammer

15

chisel

16

grout

17

grout

18

mixing tank

19

syringe

20

Effective body chain

21

Exchange submunitions

22

Exchange submunitions

23

cassette

24

Durchbeulung

25

reinforcing plate

26

reinforcing plate

27

reinforcing plate

28

reinforcing plate

30

Composite armor plate

Claims (10)

1. Repair method for repairing a composite armouring element (30), in particular a composite armour plate, comprising a number of active bodies (2), wherein a damaged defective active body (4) is removed and an undamaged replacement active body (11, 12, 21, 22) of an increased protective effect in comparison with the undamaged defective active body is inserted in its place,
   characterized
   in that the replacement active body (11, 12, 21, 22) of increased protective effect consists of a different material than the defective active body (4) and
   in that the replacement active body (11, 12, 21, 22) has a greater hardness than the defective active body (4).
2. Repair method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the replacement active body (11, 12, 21, 22) has a different shape and/or size than the defective active body (4).
3. Repair method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the replacement active body (11, 12, 21, 22) is connected to the composite armouring element by a casting material (16, 17) and/or an adhesive bonding material.
4. Repair method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active bodies (2, 4, 11, 12, 21, 22) are in pellet form.
5. Repair method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a number of defective active bodies (4), in particular lying next to one another, are removed and replaced by one or more replacement active body/bodies (11, 12, 21, 22).
6. Repair method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, after completion of the repair, the replacement of the defective active body (4) by the replacement active body (11, 12, 21, 22) is not externally visible.
7. Repair method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an additional protection increasing measure, in particular a reinforcing plate (25, 26, 27, 28), is inserted in the region of the replacement site.
8. Repair method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a reinforcing plate (26, 28) is placed onto the outside of the composite armouring element (30).
9. Repair method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the composite armouring element (30) comprises a base plate (1), wherein part of the base plate (1) is removed in the region of the replacement active bodies (11, 12, 21, 22) and is replaced by a reinforcing plate (25, 27), which in particular has an increased protective effect than the base plate (1).
10. Composite armouring element (30), characterized in that it has been repaired according to one of the preceding claims.

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