EP2363683B1 - Compound armour element, in particular compound armour plate for protection against projectiles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle according to claim 1 with an outer vehicle structure on the composite armor elements, in particular composite armor plates are arranged for protection from projectiles, each composite armor element contains at least one layer of parallel arranged in rows of highly rigid ceramic base elements (GE) with a cylindrical base body.

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.

In the document DE 10 2006 053 047 A1 is a composite armor plate described in the high-hardness ceramic active body with cylindrical body parallel to each other in rows and are arranged parallel to the direction of bombardment. The active bodies of a series are connected by webs chain-shaped firmly together. In the region of the webs, the active bodies have a gate, that is, they are cut off at this side in a direction parallel to the cylinder axis. This is done to create a good pad for the webs, over which the active body to be connected.

In the document US 5 703 318 A is a weapon mount described with a housing which is provided on its outer walls with active bodies, which have a hexagonal cross-section and therefore can be arranged close to each other. In the edge regions also active bodies are arranged, which are cut off on the side facing the edge parallel to its longitudinal axis.

In the document EP1 400 775 A1 is a composite armor element described with ceramic active bodies, in which the active body are constructed in two parts. To a cylindrically constructed lower part, which is inserted in the composite armor element in a matrix, is followed by an upper part, which may have a cylindrical, hexagonal or quadrangular cross-section.

Finally, in the document EP 004 127 1 A1 a composite armor described with ceramic active bodies with a cylindrical cross-section, which are arranged parallel to each other perpendicular to the shooting direction, that is lying in the composite armor element. In edge regions of this composite armor element also active body are arranged, which are cut through in the direction of its longitudinal axis and thus formed semi-cylindrical.

A composite armor plate is for example in DE 10 2005 013 660 A1 described. A flexible composite armor element, for example, in the DE 10 2007 019 392 A1 described.

WO9953260 also discloses a relevant composite armor plate. In such composite armor elements, the problem may arise that ballistic weaknesses occur due to the shape of the high-hardness elements in the edge regions of the composite armor element and at breakthroughs. Furthermore, weak points can occur due to unfavorable manufacturing tolerances of the items.

To illustrate these vulnerabilities FIG. 1 of the drawings, which shows the state of the art in a schematic representation. Due to the cylindrical body of the high-hardness, for example made of ceramic elements GE, with which the composite armor plate is constructed, resulting in the edge regions, for example, adjacent to a vehicle structure RS or formed by a skirt, gaps L with complex geometry, with the basic elements can not be completed and constitute ballistic vulnerabilities.

Furthermore, it may happen with opposite edge regions, that the distance of the edges is not in the nominal size of the grid of the constructed of the high-hardness elements matrix structure. If the resulting open edge area is smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical base elements, it can not be filled with these bodies and in turn result in ballistic weaknesses. But even if the distance between the opposing edge lines in the nominal size of the grid is due to manufacturing tolerances of the individual base body may be the case that nevertheless creates an edge region that can not be filled with these bodies.

If the composite armor plate is mounted at corners or creases of the outer structure of the vehicle, sloping edges or chamfers may be required, so that inside the edge also additional weak areas with extremely complicated geometries may result. So far, composite armor plates have been used whose edge surfaces were perpendicular to the plate normal, so that there is a larger angular gap in the area of the plate joint.

The invention is based on the object to achieve sufficient ballistic safety in a vehicle with the above-mentioned outer vehicle structure in the region of the creases of the vehicle structure.

The solution of this object is achieved according to the invention with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

In the composite armor elements, which are arranged on the outer vehicle structure, first additional elements are provided, which arise from the elements with a cylindrical base body in that along or in the axis of symmetry of the cylinder or obliquely to this axis Piece is cut off. As a truncated additional element in this case each additional element is understood with a truncated geometry, the cut geometry in the production of the additional elements does not necessarily have to be achieved by "cutting", ie the additional element can also be made directly in a truncated form. The cylindrical base body may in particular have a circular cylindrical basic shape.

These cut-off additional elements may have flat surface sections on one side. They are arranged in a terminal row adjacent to the outer and / or inner edge or in gaps between the elements with a cylindrical base body.

Outer edge regions in the sense of the invention are here, for example, the outer edges of a composite armor plate, while inner edge regions arise due to openings or recesses in the composite armor plate. This will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment. With these additional elements can be realized surface transitions in the edge areas.

It is further provided in the areas in which due to the screening or the manufacturing tolerances continue to arise gaps to insert second additional elements that have a polygonal geometry and may be formed, for example cuboid or strip-shaped or may have a trapezoidal cross-section.

During production, these may also be strip-shaped elements which are available in various thicknesses and with which all gaps due to the tolerances can be easily closed.

With bevelled plate edges second additional elements can be used with trapezoidal cross-section. In corner areas also second additional elements can be used, which are constructed as special polygons.

With beveled plate edges, the additional elements of the terminal row can be designed such that they have an inclined surface which is parallel to the inclined surface of the plate edge. As a result, cavities can be reduced in the oblique region. Furthermore, the plates can collide at the oblique edge surfaces, without resulting in gaps between the elements, which may represent a ballistic vulnerability.

Since the edges of the composite armor element can represent a potential weak point, it is preferred that the additional elements in the edge region are larger than the basic elements in the middle region, in particular at the same height. They can thus absorb a higher kinetic energy of a projectile. The additional elements of a terminal row can also have flat lateral surfaces, so that the additional elements can lie flat against each other.

The high-hardness first and second additional elements are made of a ceramic material such as alumina, boron carbide, silicon carbide, titanium triborate, etc. It can also be nano-materials, such as nano-ceramics, are used. The cut can for example already during the production of additional elements by appropriate shaping done or after the production of additional elements by mechanical finishing.

Furthermore, it is advantageous in the composite armor element that, if the elements of the composite armor plate, for example, consist of aluminum oxide, the first optionally also the second additional elements made of even harder ceramic materials such as boron carbide, silicon carbide, titanium triborate, etc., or a higher-grade alumina, to further ballistically reinforce the corresponding edge regions.

At the back of a composite armor plate may be disposed a solid or elastic layer having shock absorbing properties. It can also be arranged here a layer which consists of a fiber material with high tensile strength, for example, aramid, glass fiber, polyamide, carbon fiber, etc.

On the outer edges of a composite armor plate edge strips may be arranged, which may be part of a cassette which serves as a manufacturing mold for the composite armor plate. The edge strips can be made of fiber material or metal.

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 active body, 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 element.

In the following, embodiments of a composite armor plate according to the invention and the elements arranged therein and a vehicle structure will be explained with reference to the attached drawings.

Fig. 1

in einer stark schematisierten Schnittdarstellung den Randbereich einer Verbundpanzerplatte nach dem Stand der Technik;

Fig. 2

in einer Darstellung analog Fig. 1 eine erste Ausführungsform einer Verbundpanzerplatte mit ballistisch verstärktem Randbereich;

Fig. 3

in einer Darstellung analog Fig. 1 eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Verbundpanzerplatte mit ballistisch verstärktem Randbereich;

Fig. 4 und 4A bis 9 und 9A

jeweils in Draufsicht und Seitenansicht unterschiedlicher Ausführungen von ersten Zusatzelementen zum Aufbau einer Verbundpanzerplatte nach Figuren 2 und 3;

Fig. 10 und 10A bis 15 und 15A

unterschiedliche Ausführungsformen von vieleckig ausgebildeten zweiten Zusatzelementen jeweils in Draufsicht und Seitenansicht;

Fig. 16

in einem Schnitt parallel zur Plattenmittelebene eine Verbundpanzerplatte mit Durchbrüchen und Ausnehmungen und

Fig. 17

in einem Schnitt senkrecht zu den Plattenmittelebenen den Anschlussbereich zweier winklig zueinander angeordneter Verbundpanzerplatten.

In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

in a highly schematic sectional view of the edge region of a composite armor plate according to the prior art;

Fig. 2

in a representation analog Fig. 1 a first embodiment of a composite armor plate with ballistically reinforced edge region;

Fig. 3

in a representation analog Fig. 1 a second embodiment of a composite armor plate with ballistically reinforced edge region;

Figs. 4 and 4A to 9 and 9A

each in plan view and side view of different versions of first additional elements for building a composite armor plate after FIGS. 2 and 3 ;

10 and 10A to 15 and 15A

different embodiments of polygonally shaped second additional elements in each case in plan view and side view;

Fig. 16

in a section parallel to the plate center plane a composite armor plate with openings and recesses and

Fig. 17

in a section perpendicular to the plate middle planes, the connection region of two angularly arranged to each other composite armor plates.

Fig. 1 shows as already explained above, the edge region of a known composite armor plate with existing ceramic material elements with cylindrical body, which are hereinafter referred to as basic elements GE, as well as formed by a skirt or a vehicle structure RS edge boundary and resulting gaps L between the basic elements. The high-hardness elements can be forgotten with a potting compound. They can also be glued.

Fig. 2 shows in what way the gaps can be filled and a flat outside of the composite armor plate can be obtained Kant. For this purpose, for example, a basic element of high-hardness ceramic material, which has a cylindrical base body and is formed conically on the two end faces, divided by a cut in the cylinder axis into two equal-sized symmetrical halves. Such a first additional element is in the FIGS. 6 and 6A It has a designed as a divided cylinder body 1.1 and two also divided frustoconical forehead.
areas 1.2 and 1.3. The sectional area 1.4 represents a flat surface. In the embodiment according to Fig. 2 are a plurality of first additional elements 1 in the edge region attached to the basic elements GE, on the one hand, the gaps L are closed and on the other hand, the cut surfaces have 1.4 outwards, so that by a bordering to the edge of the end row a flat conclusion of the edge region is formed on the one edge strip RS 'is for example made of fiber material.

In the embodiment of a composite armor plate after Fig. 3 is also to the basic elements GE a number of first additional elements 1 set so that the cut surfaces are 1.4 outward. Due to the grid dimension or due to manufacturing tolerances, however, there is still a gap between the outer surfaces 1.4 of the first additional elements 1 and the edge RS "of the composite armor plate, which would result in a ballistic weakening. Furthermore, a further element 2 'can be inserted between the edge strip or edge structure RS "and the second additional element 2, which likewise consists of a high-hardness material, ie ceramic or metal, for complete filling of the gap can exist, so that the gap is completely filled and no ballistic vulnerability arises.

Of course, in the edge regions and first additional elements are used, which are not formed by the basic element by accurate halving but by a section parallel to and at a predetermined distance from the cylinder axis, as in 4 and 4A 5 and 5A are represented by the elements 1 "and 1 'For special purposes, first additional elements can also be created in which the cut is not parallel but oblique to the cylinder axis.

In the Figs. 7 and 7A, 8 and 8A such as 9 and 9A Embodiments of first additional elements are shown, which are formed frustoconical only on one of its end faces. The Figs. 9 and 9A show a first additional element 3, which results from accurate halving of a cylinder with a body 3.1, a kegetstumpfförmigen surface 3.2 and a flat sectional surface 3.4. The FIGS. 7 and 7A or 8 and 8A show as variants first additional elements 3 "and 3 'in a representation analogous to Figs. 9 and 9A which are each formed by a section parallel to and at a predetermined distance from the cylinder axis.

Especially in corner areas of composite armor plates polygonal second additional elements can be used. Such additional elements are in the 10 to 15 shown. The second additional element 4 has on one side two inclined surfaces 4.1 and 4.2 whose angle can be adapted to the relevant vehicle structure.

The second additional elements 4 'and 4 "are similar in structure, as the second additional element 4, but have no rectangular, but a trapezoidal elevation with further inclined surfaces 4.3' and 4.3".

The second additional element 5 with rectangular elevation has on one side an oblique surface 5.1. The second additional elements 5 'and 5 "are similar in construction, as the second additional element 5, but each have a trapezoidal elevation.

Fig. 16 shows a section through a composite armor plate VP, which runs parallel to the median plane of the plate. The composite armor plate is constructed with basic elements GE, which have a circular-cylindrical basic body whose end faces are flat, conical, pyramidal or convexly curved can be trained. The basic elements GE are arranged so that the cylinder axes and thus the end faces pointing in the direction of bombardment. The basic elements are embedded in a known manner in a potting compound.

The composite armor plate VP has outer edge regions R1 to R5, wherein the region R2 to R3 represents a recess, and inner edge regions, which are formed as openings D1 and D2, for example, for the passage of fasteners. As can be seen from the drawing, both in the outer edge regions and in the inner edge regions, the gaps formed between the basic elements GE with each other or towards the plate edge are filled by first additional elements 1, 1 'and 1 "as described above Edge regions R1 and R5 form the additional elements 1 and in the edge region R2 the additional elements 1 "a conclusion series, while in the edge regions R3 and R4, the additional elements 1 'and 1 are inserted into gaps between the basic elements GE.

The composite armor element VP thus essentially comprises basic elements GE of a predetermined geometry, the additional elements 1, 1 'and 1 "having the same geometry except for the cross-section.

In the openings D1 and D2 first additional elements 1 'are also arranged in gaps between the basic elements GE. Furthermore, to compensate for tolerances on the edge region R5 arranged cuboid second additional elements 6, on which a skirt 7 is placed. The additional elements 6 have a flat lateral surface 6.1, so that the additional elements 6 can abut flat against each other. The additional elements 5 are larger than the basic elements GE, wherein they have a same height, so that there is a uniform plate thickness.

Fig. 17 shows how the edge regions of two composite armor plates VP1 and VP2 are designed, which must be set at an angle to each other due to a bent vehicle structure RS ", without causing a ballistic weakening at this point Both composite armor plates are constructed with basic elements GE, wherein in each case one End row of first additional elements 3 is present and the immediately adjoining edge regions of the two composite armor plates have a number of second additional elements 5, the inclined surfaces 5.1 are cut so that the plates exactly follow the angle given by the bent vehicle structure RS "angles without touching At this point a ballistic weakening occurs. In gaps between the basic elements, the first and second additional elements and the vehicle structure RS "are, as already with reference to Fig. 3 described, strip-like second additional elements 2 inserted. Outwardly the composite armor plates VP1 and VP2 are completed by edge layers 8.1 and 8.2 respectively.

The Fig. 17 thus shows a plate impact of the plates VP1 and VP2. At the plate impact, the elements VP1 and VP2 collide. The shape of the panel joint follows the bending edge of the vehicle structure RS. "The composite armor elements VP1 and VP2 thus have bevelled edges.

The plates VP1 and VP2 can be made in the structure of the plate VP Fig. 16 correspond, wherein the additional elements 6 correspond to the additional elements 5.

The marginal layers 8.1 and 8.2 may be part of a cassette. The abutment surfaces 8.3 and 8.4 are parallel to each other. The inclined surfaces 5.1 of the additional elements 5 also run parallel to the abutment surfaces 8.3 and 8.4.

The cutting angles of the inclined surfaces 5.1 correspond to half the angle of the bending edge. When the composite armor elements VP1 and VP2 are put together, the cutting angles of the inclined surfaces 5.1 are thus added to the angle of the bent edge. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle of the bending edge is about 30 °. The angles of the cut surfaces 5.1 (measured to the normal of the plate) is in each case about 15 °. There are also conceivable embodiments in which the angles of the cut surfaces of two additional elements in different plates are not equal. However, the addition of the angles should correspond to the angle of the bend edge. A resulting offset of the abutting edge of the panel joint with respect to the bending edge of the vehicle structure is acceptable.

The additional elements 5 are greater than the basic elements GE at the same height. The additional elements 5 have a flat lateral surface, so that the additional elements 5 can lie flat against each other. The additional elements 5 also have in the direction of the plate center on a flat surface 5.2, so that a flat concern to the elements 3 results, which also have a corresponding flat surface 3.2.

Claims (7)

1. Vehicle having an outer vehicle structure on which there are arranged compound armour elements, in particular compound armour plates, for protection against projectiles, wherein each compound armour element contains at least one layer of high-hardness ceramic base elements (GE) and high-hardness ceramic first additional elements (1) with in each case a cylindrical main body, that are arranged parallel to one another in rows, wherein the base elements (GE) and the first additional elements are arranged parallel to the direction of incoming fire, characterized in that the first additional elements (1) arranged in a final row (R1, R2, R3, D1) adjoining an outer and/or inner edge of the composite armour elements, or arranged in gaps between the base elements (GE), are cut in a direction in the cylinder axis or parallel or obliquely to the cylinder axis, and high-hardness ceramic second additional elements (2, 5, 6) with polygonal geometry are arranged on or in at least one edge region, wherein the first additional elements (1) and/or the second additional elements (2; 5, 6) are made of a hard material than the base elements (GE), and wherein, at a kinked edge of the outer vehicle structure two composite armour elements (VP1, VP2) are fixed at an angle to one another, which each have one final row of first additional elements (3) towards the joining region and the immediately mutually adjoining edge regions of the composite armour elements (VP1, VP2) have a row of second additional elements (5) with oblique faces (5.1) in the bearing region, which are cut such that, in the fixed state, the composite armour elements (VP1, VP2) follow the angle given by the kinked edge of the vehicle structure (RS").
2. Vehicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that on the rear side of the composite armour element there is arranged a layer which has shockabsorbing properties.
3. Vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on the rear side of the composite armour plate there is arranged a solid layer made of fibre material having high tensile strength.
4. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that on the outer edges of the composite armour element there are arranged edge strips (RS', RS", 7).
5. Vehicle according to Claim 4, characterized in that the edge strips are made of fibre material and/or of metal.
6. Vehicle according to one of Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the edge strips are part of a cartridge.
7. Vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that strip-like second additional elements (2) are introduced into gaps between the base elements (GE), the first and second additional elements (3; 5) and the vehicle structure (RS").

Images