EP2455701B1 - Protection of an object from hollow charges - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to object protection against unguided and / or subsonic mid-caliber projectiles according to the preambles of claims 1 or 2.

In the Second World War, projectiles with shaped charges were fired for the first time against armored targets. This on the one hand by the US armed forces (Bazooka called weapon) and on the other hand of Germany (Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck called). Propellants such as cargoes and propellant cartridges were used to accelerate the projectiles. After that, Russia developed a widespread weapon called the RPG (Rocket-Propelled Granade). This is used in a version produced since 1961 still today, especially in the field of asymmetric warfare as a type RPG-7, with a variety of shaped charges. While the early systems had mechanical impact igniters, the newer ones are equipped with front piezoelectric igniters and have planar, electrically conductive interconnections between the igniter and the igniter. These relatively simple, mostly rocket-propelled medium caliber projectiles are distributed worldwide and represent a huge potential for danger; They are cheap to buy, easy to handle and are used in various embodiments against stationary and mobile objects, especially against lightly armored vehicles.

In addition to various active and passive armor, as early as 1940 ( DE -A- 688 526 ) on the object to be protected massive steel rods and prismatic bodies were put on, which were supposed to distract bullets from anti-tank guns in particular. A further development of this (DT -A1-26 01 562) used special heat-resistant materials and also armor plates with matrix-shaped and protruding from a solid surface bodies ( Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 ) to keep the exothermic effect of explosive charges from the object to be protected.

From the DE 198 25 260 A1 a protection has become known in which, inter alia, rod-shaped bluff bodies are mounted on a plate and the plate is extendable. The extension of the plate can be carried out by a pressure chamber arranged below the plate, in which a working gas is introduced. As a result, the bluff body are extended straight and thus completely independent of the direction of flight of the projectiles.

The aforesaid protective arrangements have the disadvantage that they are to some extent the destructive effect of disturbing the shaped charge jet, in its formation, i. before stretching, reduce. However, the extended rods are not able to prevent the initiation of the explosive charge.

In the post-published US 2009/0266 226 A1 For example, it has been proposed to protect a vehicle from RPGs having piezoelectric igniters. On the vehicle stands are attached, which stand wear at the free ends, as a countermeasure to the RPGs, explosive charges are.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an object protection, the initiation of the explosive charge as possible prevented or at least impaired and the charge should nevertheless be ignited, their effect reduced so massively that the object is not significantly disturbed in its function.

This object is solved by the features of claims 1 and 2.

The threat situation and the probable trajectory of a projectile for projecting the bars is taken into account, in which the bars are arranged at an angle to the surface which corresponds to the probable presumptive direction of flight on the object to be protected. Simply aligning the bars to the current threat location, particularly at view slits of armored vehicles, significantly enhances safety against direct fire. This is achieved by arranging the bars in rows on a tiltable carrier which is in operative connection with tiltable carriers of further rows. A message of the few required rows can be done automatically, for example by a level control. Particularly vulnerable and therefore particularly worthy of protection are entrances and exits to vehicles (air intakes, exhausts, filler neck, personal and maintenance closures such as doors, lids, etc.) as well as viewing windows for optical and electronic devices.

The type of drive of the rows is at the discretion of the skilled person and can be done with well-known electromotive, pneumatic or hydraulic drives.

The surface mentioned in the claim may be flat or any space surface. The holder of the rods or Pins can be made in the surface and / or the rods can be fixed behind them in a solid plate.

The characteristics of the arrangement of the rods or pins allow the projectile a partial penetration of the hood into the matrix. Surprisingly, the ignition function is disturbed so massively immediate that in most cases no initiation of the charge takes place. If, in individual cases, an ignition takes place, the optimum distance (stand-off) of the shaped charge to the target is exceeded in the case of precision charges, which, as is known, leads to a considerable reduction of their jet power and / or only to a mere burnup. In conjunction with conventional protective measures (passive and / or active armor), the object is sufficiently protected even in such cases.

Prerequisite for preventing an initiation of the ignition according to claim 2 are rods or pins, which are galvanically conductive at least in the part directly acted upon by the projectile.

Significant advantages over only conventional protective measures consist in the relatively low weight of the subject invention, its ease of manufacture, its low cost and retrofitting to existing objects.

In subsequent dependent claims advantageous developments of the subject invention are characterized. In this case, the comprehensive term rod is used, since the cross-section of these bodies is relatively small in relation to their length. Likewise applies to most embodiments, the term pen (short rod), because of material and weight reasons, the length of the rods is chosen as short as functionally appropriate.

Convenient, especially on vehicles, as contiguous cover surfaces, of which the rods are "hidden". If the bars 3 are covered on their outer face by at least one flat and continuous outer layer, the risk of injury is eliminated and, moreover, dirt deposits and bending of the bars can be avoided.

If the end faces of the rods are provided with obtuse-angled cones which terminate in sharp points, or if these end faces are provided with a central sharp-edged pin, this often leads to direct destruction of the piezocrystal even if the projectile tip strikes the rod directly on a rod in the impact fuze. In the case of front-side piezo generators, fragmentation of the crystal means that the necessary ignition voltage is undershot, so that the initiation of the charge does not occur.

The rods are particularly easy to fix in a solid plate, from which they protrude.

A massive plate is very easy to equip with rods and also has the advantage that it is an effective protection against small-caliber ammunition.

Economically favorable and also temporarily usable is a protection with bars, which protrude from the knots of a steel net.

By means of jet processing (laser, water jet, etc.), very light and cost-effective protective layers can be left out Produce flat material (sheet), which can also be integrated into a variety of systems.

Fig. 1

das Prinzip zur Verhinderung der Initiierung einer Hohlladung mittels einer Schutzschicht, wobei als Variante ein nur in einem Endbereich galvanisch leitender Stab vorhanden ist,

Fig. 2

eine Haube eines Geschosses beim Auftreffen auf eine Schutzschicht,

Fig. 3

eine weitere Darstellung eines schräg fliegenden Geschosses beim Auftreffen auf eine Schutzschicht,

Fig. 4a

ein Stab einer Schutzschicht mit konischer Spitze,

Fig. 4b

ein Stab einer Schutzschicht mit scharfkantigem Zapfen,

Fig. 5

eine modulare Grundplatte mit geneigt angeordneten Stäben,

Fig. 6

eine modulare Schutzschicht mit interner Knautschschicht und äusserer Verkleidung,

Fig. 7

eine Variante einer Schutzschicht mit äusserer Vekleidung,

Fig. 8

das Prinzip einer durchsehbaren und verstellbaren Schutzschicht gemäss der Erfindung vor der Frontscheibe eines gepanzerten Fahrzeugs,

Fig. 9

einen Schützenpanzer mit modularen und speziellen Schutzschichten, auch für Sensoren und Ein- und Auslässe,

Fig. 10

eine Schutzschicht bestehend aus einem Stahlnetz mit in den Knoten des Netzes eingesetzten Stäben sowie

Fig. 11

eine Schutzschicht in Leichtbauweise hergestellt aus Blechstreifen, die mittels Strahlbearbeitung ausgeschnitten sind.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments are illustrated and described with reference to drawings, with the exception of FIG. 8 form no part of the invention. Show it:

Fig. 1

the principle for preventing the initiation of a hollow charge by means of a protective layer, wherein as a variant only in one end region galvanically conductive rod is present,

Fig. 2

a hood of a projectile when hitting a protective layer,

Fig. 3

a further illustration of an obliquely flying projectile when hitting a protective layer,

Fig. 4a

a rod of a protective layer with conical tip,

Fig. 4b

a rod of a protective layer with sharp-edged pin,

Fig. 5

a modular base plate with inclined rods,

Fig. 6

a modular protective layer with internal crumple layer and outer cladding,

Fig. 7

a variant of a protective layer with outer clothing,

Fig. 8

the principle of a visible and adjustable protective layer according to the invention in front of the windshield of an armored vehicle,

Fig. 9

an armored infantry fighting vehicle with modular and special protective layers, also for sensors and inlets and outlets,

Fig. 10

a protective layer consisting of a steel net with rods inserted into the nodes of the net as well

Fig. 11

a protective layer in lightweight construction made of metal strips, which are cut out by means of blasting.

In all figures, the same functional elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 1 1 is a protective layer. In a base plate 2 rods 3 are used in a matrix-like manner and are fixed on the back side with flanges 4 on the base plate 2. The rods 3 project beyond an inner surface 2 'by a length l ₁ . A bullet 100 in the direction of flight F impinging on an object O to be protected penetrates with its impact fuze 102 between the rods 3. A thin-walled double hood 101 of the projectile 100 is thereby perforated and electrically short-circuited by the end portions 3b of the rods 3, so that the front-side impact fuse 102 with its piezo sensor can no longer be effective. The double hood 101 is, physically considered, a two-wire planar line for the ignition energy. It combines the impact fuze 102 in notoriously known Way with a hollow charge accelerating ignition chain (not shown). The diagonal distance a between the bars 3, 3a, 3b of a matrix of a plurality of bars 3 is at a maximum smaller than the caliber K of the active projectile. In any case, the double hood 101 is thereby "impaled" and short-circuited, but at least compressed; see partial section illustration in Fig. 1 , The entire length l _{0 of} the hood 101, measured from the tip of the Aufschlagzünders 102 to the largest diameter of a lining 104 of a shaped charge 103 is shorter than the free length l _{1 of} the rods 3. This ensures that a penetrated into the protective layer 1 hood 101 is damaged before the impact fuze 102 can be activated. The tips 3 'of the rods 3 are sharp-edged and made of hardened steel and / or have a galvanically conductive coating.

Experiments with rocket-driven shaped charges with an impact velocity of 300 m / s on the protective layer 1 have shown that the initiation of the shaped charge is prevented with almost 100% probability, when the direction of flight F is parallel to the rods 3. The experiments were carried out with 85 mm caliber bullets and with a matrix of 6.5 mm diameter 3 "high-strength steel rods with hardened tips 3 '. The maximum distances a between the bars 3 (measured in the diagonal of the matrix) were 50 mm, whose length l ₁ was set at 140 mm.

Fig. 2 shows the unfavorable case of an obliquely striking the bars 3 projectile, with only the hood 101 and the impact fuze 102 are drawn. In this case, the piezo generator may be activated before the hood 101 is pierced, so that further protective measures in the protective layer 1 imposing.

Fig. 3 shows a similar situation, but here the probability of ignition of the shaped charge is already much smaller, since a rod 3 has already pierced the hood 101 before touching the Aufschlagzünders 102 with another rod and shorted.

Fig. 4a and 4b show measures to improve the protective effect. It has been shown that piezoelectric impact detonators directly striking the tips 3 'of the bars 3 directly on the front are often completely destroyed before they generate a sufficiently high ignition voltage. The prerequisite for such a destruction are extremely high surface pressures, ie pulses such as those caused by a blunt cone 5 with a sharp-edged tip 6 (FIG. Fig. 4a ) or by a sharp-edged pin 7 of 1 to 2 mm in diameter ( Fig. 4b ) be achieved.

Based on the knowledge from the FIGS. 2 and 3 are according to Fig. 5 the rods 3 at an inclination angle α inserted into the base plate 2, in which case a fictitious flight direction F _{f was} assumed, which corresponds to the threat situation. The inner surface of the base plate 2 is again denoted by 2 '. This allows, like Fig. 5 shows, also optimally protect inclined surfaces.

Fig. 6 shows a protective layer 1 with an inner crush layer 8 made of a corrugated perforated steel sheet, which can absorb kinetic energy if the projectile obliquely penetrates and / or its charge is ignited. In this case, even then, the effect of a shaped charge jet reduced, because the optimal distance to the target, ie the object to be protected O, is exceeded by 2 to 3 times the caliber (stand off). So that the effective length l ₁ (see. Fig. 1 ) of the bars 3 is not exceeded, the highest position of the surface 2 ', ie the "wave peaks" of the layer 8 is selected as a measurement basis. To prevent accidental injury and contamination and before getting caught with any objects (branches, etc.), the bars 3 are covered by a lightweight foam 9 (commercially available polymer). Covers 10 are made of thin-walled aluminum plates on the side.

Analogously, the object is after Fig. 7 constructed, here the crush layer 8 consists of a composite plate of metal and plastics. Again, the measuring base, the surface 2 ', for the length l _{1 of} the rods 3 is marked here. In contrast to Fig. 6 here is an all-round coverage of the modular protective layer 1 with UV-resistant plastic plates.

Out Fig. 8 are on an armored vehicle 110, the windscreens with a protective layer 1, which is transparent and adjustable. The rods 3 which can be tilted in rows R1 to Rn and in lateral bearings 13 'can be adjusted to the current threat situation by means of a drive 13 with articulated connections 12. The drive 13 is installed in a known roof protection 16 and therefore shown in dashed lines.

Of course, an analog arrangement can also be provided in the not protected on the drawing side windows.

In the presentation Fig. 1 is a particularly, weight-saving development drawn. A rod 3a is made of a rigid composite with carbon fibers. To improve the conductivity of this is metallized at its threat facing surface 3a to one third of the total l ₁ length and wear metallic tips 3 '. The most hardcoat possible is a galvanically conductive layer m, which optionally consists of titanium carbonitride (TiCN) or titanium nitride (TiN) in the present case. The color of the coating is chosen according to the camouflage color of the object. Another advantage of this embodiment is the small "Radarquerschnitt", ie it contributes little to the radar detection and does not affect the other means for "camouflage". Rods in this embodiment are mainly for movable protective layers, analog Fig. 8 intended.

An armed tracked vehicle, Fig. 9 , an armored infantry fighting vehicle 111 for a protected troop transport, is provided with modular protective layers 1 according to FIG Fig. 7 equipped. In addition, the two movable optical sensors 112 (controllable thermal imaging cameras) are protected against direct bombardment by adapted side covers 10 (protective layers), with integrated rods 3. For illustrative reasons here is also the existing lightweight foam layer, see. Fig. 6 and 7 not shown.

Such protective layers 10 are recommended for all inputs and outputs, such as for air inlets and exhaust openings on vehicles or stationary systems. By way of example, here on the armored infantry vehicle 111, side air intakes 17 are provided with rods 3 and thus protected.

Another variant of a protective layer 1 'consists of a steel net known per se Fig. 10 , in whose node 14 rods 3 are used. The rods 3 are protected by means of a respective gusset plate 15 from twisting. Again, here is the measurement base for the length of the bars 3, the surface 2 ', which corresponds to the maximum height of the gusset plates 15. Welding points are not shown on the gusset plates 15, which give the rods 3 the necessary stability. The node lobes 15 take over together with the meshes of the network 2a, the function of a plate 2, 2 '; see. Fig. 1 to Fig. 7 , In contrast to a plate, however, a net 2a can easily be adapted to the spatial forms of an object to be protected.

In addition to the weight and cost savings can be with this embodiment effectively and in no time at risk endangered objects such as entrances, windows, shafts u. Like. Protected against attacks.

In a lightweight version after Fig. 11 the bars 3 "of a protective layer are produced from individual sheet metal strips 50 which have been cut out by means of laser cutting The height of the metal strips 50 corresponds to the length l ₁ plus a web width 51 adapted to the design, which determines R1-n depending on the base plate or carrier To reduce weight, recesses A were cut out FIG. 11 not shown - non-positively welded together. The sheet metal used for the rods 3 "is steel sheet of a few millimeters in thickness, also high-strength aluminum sheets can be used.For this purpose, a well-known beam processing by means of high-pressure water jet application.

Here, the webs take over the function of the plate ( Fig. 1 to Fig. 7 ). This variant allows you to equip a property protection at very short notice. With appropriate dimensioning of the webs (bendable Queschnitte) and curved surfaces can be occupied by a protective layer without gaps.

The after Fig. 11 realized protective coatings are characterized - compared to conventional protective measures - by a relatively low basis weight of 40 kg / m ² (average). The subject invention can be adapted within wide limits to the threat situation. The materials and technologies used are conventional and can be substituted by new and better materials, including composites. Likewise, the article can be adapted in an analogous manner to the object to be protected already existing means against the detection by means of electromagnetic radiation or it can be integrated such.

For all embodiments, it is advisable to connect the rods and metal parts 3, 3b, 3 ", R1-n to ground (ground) so that all potentials present upon activation of the ignition device are reliably dissipated before they can reach the ignition chain.

The subject invention is not limited to projectiles with shaped charges. It can be used against all Geschose whose ignition process is disturbed by an electrically short-circuited or connected to ground, flat connection line. It can be assumed that the nominal ignition energy of an impact fuze on the Initiation of an active charge is necessary and that any remaining partial flows are not sufficient.

name list

1

protective layer

1'

Stahlnetz

1a

Protective layer for inputs and outputs

2

baseplate

2a

Net (mesh)

2 '

inner surface

3

Rod (steel rod)

3a

Rod (made of carbon fibers)

3b

free end of 3

3 '

End faces of 3

3 '

Staff (flat bar)

4

flange

5

cone

6

Tip (sharp)

7

sharp-edged cones

8th

Knautschschicht

9

Lightweight foam (polymer layer)

10

side covers / protective layers

11

sandwich panel

12

articulation

13

Drive for 12

13 '

lateral bearings

14

node

15

Gusset plate (bracing)

16

roof protection

17

lateral air intakes

50

metal strip

51

web width

100

bullet

101

Hood

102

Impact fuse with piezo generator or piezo sensor

103

shaped charge

104

Lining (liner)

110

armored vehicle

111

Schützenpanzer

112

Optical sensors / cameras

A

recesses

a

largest distance between two bars

α

Tilt angle bars / base plate

F

Flight direction projectile (at the finish)

F _f

fictitious flight direction (threat)

K

Caliber of the projectile

l ₀

Length of hood

₁

Length rod (measured from 2 ')

m

metallic coating

O

object to be protected

R1-Rn

Carrier for rows of 3

Claims (8)

1. Object protection against unguided and/or subsonic medium-calibre projectiles with electric impact fuses, comprising a protective layer (1) with rods (3, 3") arranged in a matrix and projecting from a surface, the rods (3, 3") projecting over an upper inner surface of the protective layer (1) and the diagonal distance (a) between the rods (3, 3") being less than the calibre (K) of the projectile (100) and greater than the tip of the projectile (100), and the entire length (Po) of the cap (101) of the projectile (100), measured from the tip of the impact fuse (102) to the maximum diameter of a liner (104) of a hollow charge, being shorter than the free length l₁ of the rods (3, 3"), characterised in that the rods (3) are arranged at an angle (α) to the surface (2') which corresponds to the probable, presumed direction of flight on the object to be protected, and in that the rods (3) are arranged in rows on a tiltable carrier (R1) which is in an operative connection with tiltable carriers (R2-Rn) of further rows.
2. Object protection against unguided and/or subsonic medium-calibre projectiles with electric impact fuses (102) which are axially arranged at the front with two-dimensional connection cables for connecting to the ignition chain, the object to be protected having a protective layer (1) with rods (3, 3") arranged in a matrix and projecting from a surface, wherein at least their surfaces (m) in the end region (3b) which is remote from the object to be protected are galvanically conductive, these rods (3, 3") projecting over an upper inner surface (2') of the protective layer (1) and the diagonal distance (a) between the rods (3) being less than the calibre (K) of the active projectile (100) and greater than the tip (102) of the projectile (100), and the entire length (Po) of the cap (101) of the projectile (100), measured from the tip of the impact fuse (102) to the maximum diameter of a liner (104) of a hollow charge (103), being shorter than the free length l₁ of the rods (3, 3"), characterised in that the rods (3) are arranged at an angle (α) to the surface (2') which corresponds to the probable, presumed direction of flight on the object to be protected, and in that the rods (3) are arranged in rows on a tiltable carrier (R1) of the protective layer (1) which is in an operative connection with tiltable carriers (R2- Rn) of further rows.
3. Object protection according to Claim 1, characterised in that the rows are adjustable automatically by a level regulation means.
4. Object protection according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the rods (3) are covered on their outer end faces (3') by at least one planar and continuous outer layer (9; 10).
5. Object protection according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the end faces (3') of the rods (3) have obtuse-angled cones (5) which end in sharp tips (6).
6. Object protection according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the end faces (3') of the rods (3) are stepped and have a central sharp-edged stud (7).
7. Object protection according to one of Claims 1 to 4 or 5 to 6, characterised in that the rods (3) project out of a solid plate (2).
8. Object protection according to one of Claims 1 to 4 or 5 to 6, characterised in that the rods (3) project out of the nodes (14; 15) of a steel mesh (1').

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