EP3004787B1 - Ballistic protection device and structure, in particular a vehicle, provided with such a device - Google Patents

Description

The technical field of the present invention is that of devices for the ballistic protection of structures, in particular armored vehicles, with respect to ballistic projectiles, in particular rockets with hollow charge.

The protection of armored vehicles against rockets with hollow charge is currently provided by ballistic protection elements, including grids, placed at a distance from the walls of the vehicle. These grids have the role of disrupting the triggering of the rocket by damaging its warhead when it hits them. The grids are placed on all potentially endangered sides of the vehicle.

A major disadvantage of the coverage provided by the grids lies in the size they present, in particular by modifying the original template of the vehicle. Thus to cross certain passages, it may be necessary to remove the grids or to resort to a device as described in the international application PCT WO2009 / 064263 where the grids are lifted and plated along the side walls of the vehicle.

This solution, however, only partially solves the problem of space because the height gauge of the vehicle is penalized. This is particularly problematic in the case where it is necessary that the grids do not protrude vertically relative to the upper part of the structure to be protected, for example with respect to the roof of a vehicle. Indeed, in the case of a vehicle with a turret, such a vertical overflow alter the turret jig.

We know by international demand PCT WO2011 / 142784 a protection grid deployment device which comprises folding arms located between a vehicle wall and a protection element. These arms have a large number of sections that are interconnected by joints, making the structure of the device complex. Furthermore, these arms are interposed between the vehicle wall and the protective element and they further penalize the width gauge of the vehicle even in their folded position.

The US patent US2011 / 0303817 proposes a device comprising flexible arms for maintaining the ballistic protection elements at a distance from a vehicle. This device does not however reduce the lateral size of the protections but it only prevents their damage following an impact.

The European patent EP2020585 proposes a grid-type protection device arranged at a distance from a shielded vehicle wall and fixed thereto by a connecting element which does not allow any pivoting movement. There is therefore a need for a ballistic protection device to solve the problem of congestion ballistic protection elements while avoiding any vertical overflow of said protective elements vis-à-vis the side they protect, when said elements protection are placed in a position no longer altering the width gauge.

The US patent US 7,152,517 discloses a ballistic protection device as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

The present invention aims to satisfy this need by providing a ballistic protection device according to claim 1.

The specific orientation of the pivot axes of the link arm assemblies causes the protection element or elements to remain at all times at the same height, thus avoiding any vertical overflow of the protection element or elements in the close position, with respect to the spaced apart position, the dimensions of the protection element or elements being advantageously chosen so as not to affect or affect at least the firing template in the discarded position .

The present invention is not limited to a particular protection element, the latter being of net type, canvas with flyweights, grid with rigid bars or plates (flexible or rigid).

The average plane of the outer peripheral wall and the mean plane of the protection element are, for example, defined using the least squares method.

An arm assembly may be formed by one or more arms.

Advantageously, there are provided first and second means for blocking the displacement of the protective element in the respectively spaced and close position.

The pivoting connecting means of the or each protective element to the outer peripheral wall are formed, for each arm assembly, by a support which comprises an attachment interface to the outer peripheral wall and which carries a rotating shaft around the outer peripheral wall. longitudinal axis of the shaft, the arm assembly being integral with said shaft.

The installation of the ballistic protection device on a vehicle is thus quick and easy.

According to the invention, the or each protection element comprises a first part, said upper part, to which is fixed the at least one pair of arm assemblies, and a second part, said lower, the parts upper and lower being intended, after connection of the protective element to the outer peripheral wall, to be respectively facing at least a portion of the outer peripheral wall and the corresponding lower part of the structure, the lower part being movable, relative to the upper part, between a so-called protective position, in which the lower part extends below the upper part to provide a ballistic protection of the lower part of the structure, and a position called access, in which the lower part has been moved upwards, relative to its protective position, to thus clear access to the lower part of the structure.

Such an arrangement of the two-part protection element makes it possible to solve the problem of difficult access to the lower part of a structure equipped with the ballistic protection device, in particular to chests or hatches or for maintenance operations in the case of a vehicle.

Indeed, it is no longer necessary to remove and replace the protective elements, which was done in the past, these operations exposing people to the fires of the enemy, although their duration is reduced by the proposed solution in the French patent application FR 2973497 on behalf of the Applicant Company. Furthermore, in such a case, the protective elements and the disassembled supports must still be easily transportable, so ideally be stored, for example inside the vehicle itself or in a support vehicle, which is no longer necessary with the solution proposed by the present invention.

The present invention thus also relates to a ballistic protection device for a structure, such as a vehicle, comprising at least one ballistic protection element and at least one connecting arm assembly of the protection element to an outer peripheral wall of the structure, characterized in that the or each protection element comprises a first part, said upper, to which is fixed the at least one arm assembly, and a second portion, said lower, the upper and lower parts being intended, after connection of the protective element to the outer peripheral wall, to be respectively facing at least a portion of the outer peripheral wall and the corresponding lower part of the structure, the lower part being movable, relative to the upper part, between a so-called protective position, in which the lower part s extends below the upper part to provide ballistic protection of the lower part of the structure, and a position of ite access, in which the lower part has been moved upwards, relative to its protective position, to thereby clear access to the lower part of the structure.

Advantageously, there are third and fourth locking means for the lower part in the respective protection and access position, the fourth locking means and optionally also the third locking means being advantageously arranged to allow the movement of the protection elements between the spaced apart and close positions, with the lower part in the access position. It is thus possible to place a protection element in the close position while the lower part thereof is in the access position, which makes it possible to prevent the lower part from adversely affecting the maneuverability of the vehicle by impeding the pivoting of a wheel.

Therefore, the ballistic protection device according to the present invention, when equipped with a vehicle, allows the latter to circulate in areas of reduced width without having modifications, nor its maneuverability performance nor its firing capabilities.

Advantageously, the upper and lower parts of a protection element are pivotally connected to each other, the lower part being moved from the protection position to the access position, and vice versa, by pivoting on the outer side. of the protection element.

Thus, in the case of a protective element formed by a net, this net may for example be extended in a frame composed of two longitudinal members and two uprights, each upright consisting of an upper portion and a lower portion connected to one another. to the other by hinge, the linkage or arms being fixed to the upper parts of the uprights. It is possible to provide two nets, one on the upper part and the other on the lower part. In the case of a protection element of the grid or plate type, said upper and lower parts are advantageously each formed by a grid or a plate, the two grids or plates being connected to one another by one or more hinges .

Alternatively, the lower part of a protective element is connected to the upper part so as to be able to be moved in translation between the protective position and the access position, for example by mounting the lower part. on guide rails fixed to the upper part and in which sliding means, for example rollers, carried by the lower part.

According to a particular feature of the present invention, there is further provided, for the or each protection element, at least one lower link arm intended firstly to be connected to the outer peripheral wall and secondly to bear the lower part of the protection element, the third locking means solidarisant the lower part and the lower link or arms in the protective position.

The lower arm or arms may comprise means for being removably attached to the structure.

Advantageously, the first blocking means and, if appropriate, the third blocking means are each a quick-locking means.

Advantageously, the fourth blocking means comprises a first blocking member integral with the upper part and a second blocking member integral with the lower part, the second blocking member being, when the lower part is in the access position, displaceable. relative to the first locking member between a locking position, in which it is engaged with the first locking member so as to block any movement of the lower part relative to the upper part, and a release position, in it is out of engagement with the first locking member so as to allow movement of the lower part relative to the upper part.

Advantageously, the second locking means comprises on the one hand a first locking member integral with or capable of being secured to the outer peripheral wall and, on the other hand, the second member of the fourth locking means, the second member being movable between a locking position, in which it is engaged with both the first locking member of the fourth locking means and the first locking member of the second locking means so as to block any displacement of the protection element by relative to the outer peripheral wall, and a release position, in which it is out of engagement with the first member of the second locking means so as to allow movement of the protective member relative to the outer peripheral wall.

The ballistic protection device preferably comprises an elastic return means of the second locking member of the fourth locking means, and possibly also the second locking means, towards the locking position.

The ballistic protection device may advantageously comprise a plurality of protection elements intended to protect the same outer peripheral wall, two adjacent protection elements sharing a linkage assembly of the protection element to the outer peripheral wall, so that the two elements adjacent protection pads are adapted to be secured to one another by means of said link arm assembly.

In addition to the advantages in terms of cost, it is possible to pass in one piece all the protective elements protecting the outer peripheral wall from the close position to the remote position, and vice versa, in a single action.

In the same way, two adjacent protection elements may advantageously share the same or the same lower link arms.

The present invention also relates to a structure, in particular a vehicle having a roof with a turret, characterized in that it is equipped on at least one outer peripheral wall, having a mean plane, with a ballistic protection device. as defined above, with advantageously the upper part of the or each protective element not protruding vertically above the outer peripheral wall.

In the case where the structure is of vehicle type having a roof, a loading support grid, such as backpacks, can be connected by hinges in the vicinity of the border between the roof and an outer peripheral wall to which is connected the ballistic protection device, so as to be pivotable between a loading position, in which it extends outwardly from the outer peripheral wall of the vehicle and above the ballistic protection device, and a retracted position in which it is folded against the roof.

To better illustrate the object of the present invention, will be described hereinafter a particular embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing.

• la Figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un véhicule équipé de dispositifs de protection balistique selon un mode de réalisation particulier de la présente invention, les parties inférieures des éléments de protection étant en position de protection ;
• la Figure 2 est une vue en perspective du véhicule de la Figure 1, lesdites parties inférieures étant en position d'accès ;
• la Figure 3 est une vue de détail de la Figure 1, montrant les bras de liaison et les parties supérieures et inférieures de deux dispositifs de protection balistique adjacents ;
• la Figure 4 est une vue de détail de la Figure 2, analogue à la Figure 3 ;
• la Figure 5 est une vue en perspective du véhicule de la Figure 2, les éléments de protection étant dans la position rapprochée ;
• la Figure 6 est une vue de détail du troisième moyen de blocage des éléments de protection dans la position écartée ;
• la Figure 7 est une vue détail analogue à la Figure 6, montrant le quatrième moyen de blocage des éléments de protection dans la position rapprochée ; et
• les Figures 8 et 9 sont des vues de dessus du véhicule, les éléments de protection étant dans la position respectivement écartée et rapprochée.

On this drawing :

• the Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle equipped with ballistic protection devices according to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the lower parts of the protection elements being in the protective position;
• the Figure 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle from the Figure 1 said lower parts being in the access position;
• the Figure 3 is a detail view of the Figure 1 , showing the connecting arms and the upper and lower parts of two adjacent ballistic protection devices;
• the Figure 4 is a detail view of the Figure 2 , analogous to the Figure 3 ;
• the Figure 5 is a perspective view of the vehicle from the Figure 2 , the protection elements being in the close position;
• the Figure 6 is a detailed view of the third locking means of the protection elements in the separated position;
• the Figure 7 is a detail view similar to the Figure 6 showing the fourth locking means of the protection elements in the close position; and
• the Figures 8 and 9 are top views of the vehicle, the protection elements being in the respectively spaced and close position.

If we first refer to Figures 1 and 2 , it can be seen that there is shown schematically a vehicle 1, an outer peripheral wall 2, here a side wall, is protected by a ballistic protection device 3, hereinafter referred to simply as device 3, produced in accordance with FIG. to a particular embodiment of the present invention.

The device 3 shown comprises three protection elements 4 held at a distance from the wall 2 by three connecting means 5.

Each protection element 4 is formed by an upper grid 6 and a lower grid 7, formed of rigid bars parallel to each other and known in the field of shielding under the name of "slat armors" Anglo-Saxon. The upper and lower grids 6 and 7 respectively constitute the upper and lower parts of the protection element 4 and are respectively facing the wall 2 and the trunks 8 or wheels 9 at the bottom of the vehicle 1 in the so-called protective position. , represented on the Figure 1 , so as to provide protection for the wall 2 and the corresponding lower part.

Each upper grid 6 is connected to the respective lower grid 7 pivotally by two hinges 10 with a substantially horizontal pivot axis. The lower grids 7 can thus be pivoted upwards, on the side of the device 3 opposite the vehicle 1, to be folded against the upper grids 6 and thus free access to the wheels 9, to the boxes 8, or more generally to the lower part of the vehicle 1, as shown in Figure 2 .

We will now describe in more detail the connection means 5 and their connection to the protection elements 4 with reference to the Figures 3 and 4 , on which there is shown a connecting means 5 carrying two adjacent protection elements 4.

The connecting means 5 comprises a support 11 carrying two upper arms 12, forming an arm assembly, and a lower arm 13 via an interface 14 for fixing the device 3 to the wall 2.

The support 11 is formed by two fixing plates 15 spaced from each other and in each of which there has been made openings 15a for the passage of members (not shown) for securing the plates 15 to the wall 2. A lug 16 extends perpendicular to the face of each plate 15 opposite the face by which the plate 15 is applied against the wall 2.

A shaft 17 is rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis between the two lugs 16, each of the two ends of the shaft 17 being received in a hole in the respective lug 16, said two holes being thus aligned with the lug 16. longitudinal axis of the shaft 17.

A first end of each upper arm 12 is integral with a respective end region of the shaft 17 and the arms 12 extend, in the protective position, opposite the support 11 and the vehicle 1 so that maintaining, at their second end, the upper grids 6 adjacent in a position spaced from the wall 2.

The two upper grids 6 are fixed to the second end of each upper arm 12 by means of a plate 18 against which the upper grids 6 and two wedges 19 rest, each clamping a respective upper grid 6 against the plate 18, the shims 19 being made integral with the plate 18, for example by bolting, to maintain the upper grids 6 in position.

It is not necessary to provide a quick release attachment of the upper grids 6 to the upper arms 12.

As can be seen better on the Figure 6 , the second end of each upper arm 12 ends with a cylinder-shaped portion 20 of axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 17 and each of which is rotatably mounted in an ear 21 extending perpendicularly from the face of the plate 18 opposite to the one against which the upper grids 6 are supported.

The lower arm 13 is integral, at a first end, with that of the plates 15 which is at the bottom, in the vertical direction, and the lower arm 13 extends obliquely downwards, opposite to said plate. 15 and the vehicle 1, so as to maintain, at its second end, the lower grids 7 adjacent in a position away from the wall 2.

The two lower grilles 7 are releasably connected to the lower arm 13 by quick-locking means 22 serving to prevent the lower grilles 7 from pivoting relative to the upper grilles 6. In the embodiment shown, the quick-locking means 22 are similar to those described in the French patent application FR 2973497 , to which reference may be made for a more detailed description of the quick-locking means 22, which comprise at least one bearing surface for the grid, at least one wedge secured to or integral with the bearing surface and at least one means rapid clamping of the wedge on the grid, the grid being after clamping clamped between the bearing surface and the wedge.

Of course, any means capable of removably connecting the lower grids 7 to the lower arm 13 may be used.

In the protective position, the lower grids 7 are made integral with the lower arm 13 by the quick-locking means 22 and protect the part low of the vehicle 1 opposite which they are, the wall 2 being protected by the upper grids 6.

When it is desired to move from the protection position to the access position, it suffices for one or more operators to separate the lower grids 7 from the lower arm 13, then manually rotate them upward to fold them against the respective upper grids 6.

As can be seen better on the Figure 4 in the access position, each lower grid 7 can be secured to the corresponding upper grid 6 by locking means 23 serving to prevent relative movement between the grids 6 and 7 and formed by first and second locking members .

The first and second locking members are secured to the upper and lower grid 7 respectively 7 and are respectively in the form of a tab 24 and first 25a and 25b second legs, carried by a bar and extending, in the protection position, opposite side of the vehicle 1 for the tab 24 and vehicle side 1 for the tabs 25a, 25b, and perpendicular to the mean plane of the respectively upper and lower grid 7, a through hole being formed in each of the tabs 24, 25a and 25b, the through holes of the two tabs 25a, 25b being aligned on the same axis.

The tab 25a is the one located at the top, with respect to the tab 25b, in the protective position ( Figure 3 ), and so is the one at the bottom in the access position ( Figure 4 ).

The second locking member further comprises a locking rod 26 formed by a rectilinear part 26a and a bent end portion 26b forming a handle. The rectilinear portion 26a is threaded into the two through holes of the tabs 25a, 25b, protruding on each side of the tabs 25a, 25b. First 27 and second 28 washers are secured to the rectilinear portion 26a, respectively bent portion side 26b and the opposite side to the bent portion 26b, the second washer 28 being located between the two legs 25a, 25b and the first washer 27 located on the side outside the leg 25b. A third washer 29, visible on the Figure 3 , is mounted, not integral with the rod 26, against the inner face of the leg 25b. A compression spring 30 surrounds the rectilinear portion 26a by bearing on the second and third washers 28 and 29. The second washer 28 is in fact free mounted on the rectilinear portion 26a, but it is held in position while being tight under the action of the spring 30, against a pin which is integral with the lower grid 7 and which extends through a through hole formed in the straight portion 26b, in the region between the two lugs 25a, 25b, said through hole having a axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rectilinear portion 26b.

The first and second locking members are positioned such that after the lower grid 7 has been folded against the upper grid 6, the tab 24 is below the tab 25b and the through holes of the tabs 24, 25a and 25b are aligned on the same axis, namely that of the rectilinear portion 26a of the rod 26. As can be seen on the Figure 7 , this allows the free end of the rectilinear portion 26a to come through the through hole of the tab 24 and thus secure the upper 6 and lower 7 grids to one another. Obviously, in order to allow such locking, the operator, after pivoting the lower gate 7 up to near the access position, raises the rod 26 with the bent portion 26b so that the free end of the part rectilinear 26a does not interfere with the tab 24, then completely folds the lower grid 7 against the upper grid 6 and releases the bent portion 26b, the rod 26 is then automatically moved downward under the elastic return action of the spring 30 to cross the through hole of the leg 24.

It is thus possible to maintain the upper grille 6 in the access position without the use of separate tools.

In addition to the protection and access positions described above, which are both separated positions, in which the protection element 4 is remote from the vehicle 1 to ensure its protection, the device 3 according to the present invention also offers the possibility of placing the protection elements 4 in a close position, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 , in which they have been brought against the wall 2 of the vehicle 1, for example to allow the crossing of narrow passages or the logistic transport of the vehicle 1 without the device 3 to be dismantled.

As indicated above, because of the rotational mounting of the shaft 17, the upper arms 12 are pivotable relative to the wall 2. It is emphasized here that the support 11 is fixed to the wall 2 so that the longitudinal axis of the shaft 17 is parallel to the mean plane of the wall 2 and orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the mean plane of the wall 2 (here an axis of the substantially vertical shaft 17). The middle plane is a geometric plane approaching as close as possible to the surface of the wall 2. The longitudinal direction of the mean plane is a horizontal direction of this plane, the average plane may also be slightly inclined relative to the vertical. Moreover, the connection between the upper arms 12 and the upper grids 6 allows relative pivoting about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 17.

Consequently, the wall 2, the upper arms 12 and the upper grids 6, against which the lower grids 7 are folded down, form a deformable parallelogram structure making it possible to bring the spacers 6, 7 closer to and away from the wall 2 while remaining parallel to each other and always at the same height. Thus, there is no vertical overflow of the grids 6, 7, which makes it possible not to alter the firing template of a firing point placed on the roof of the vehicle 1 nor to hinder the maneuverability of the vehicle 1.

The protection elements 4 are held in the spaced apart position, for example as shown in FIG. Figure 2 , by a blocking means 31 that can be better seen on the Figures 4, 6 and 7 and which is formed by an eye screw 32 whose eye 32a is rotatably mounted on a cylindrical stud 33 integral with the support 11 and whose rod 32b extends through a clamping spacer 34, integral with the shaft 17 , and whose end carries a quick release lever 35. A tension spring 36 surrounds the rod 32b, inside the clamping spacer 34, and bears on a pin mounted through the rod 32b. The clamping spacer 34 is in the form of a hollow cylinder having a longitudinal slot 34a and, at the end of the eye 32a, a clamping plate 34b in which is provided a slot for the passage of the rod 32b.

The pivoting of the upper arms 12 is thus prevented by the clamping of the spacer 34 against the support 11 under the action of the spring 36, the clamping plate 34b being pressed against a support plate 37 integral with the support 11 and in which is provided a slot for the passage of the rod 32b.

When it is desired to unlock the upper arms 12 in order to bring the protection elements 4 in the close position, the operator only needs to raise the lever 35 to loosen the spacer 34, then to rotate the assembly lever 35 and eye screw 32 around the stud 33 opposite the upper arm 12, this pivoting being authorized by the presence of the longitudinal slot 34a and the slots of the clamping plate 34b and the support plate 37.

In the embodiment shown, since each pair of adjacent protection elements 4 share the same upper arms 12 and each protection element 4 is carried by two pairs of upper arms 12, one at each vertical edge region of the protection element 4, the operator, after having unlocked the three locking means 31, can bring the three protection elements 4 together in a single piece simply by pressing against one of these, and conversely to bring back the protection elements 4 in the discarded position.

It is therefore found that the spacing or the approximation, in addition to not altering the firing template, is simple and fast and requires no tools.

If we now refer to the Figure 7 , it can be seen that once in the close position, the displacement of the protective elements 4 can be prevented by a means 38 for locking the arms 12 relative to the wall 2 and securing the upper 6 and lower 7 grids to the upper arm assembly 12 and shaft 17.

The blocking and securing means 38 comprises the blocking means 23 and a third blocking member integral with the shaft 17 and which is in the form of a tab 39 extending from the shaft 17 and perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the latter. The tab 39 is provided with a through hole and is positioned so that in the close position, the tab 39 is under the tab 24 and its through hole is aligned with the through holes of the tabs 24, 25a and 25b. Thus, in a manner similar to that with which the upper and lower grids 6 and 7 are made integral, the operator, having brought the protection elements 4 closer to the wall 2, only needs to raise the rod 26 so that its lower end does not interfere with the tab 39, then rotate the upper arms 12 to bring the protection elements 4 in the close position and finally release the rod 26, the latter then being automatically moved down under the action of resilient return of the spring 30 to pass through the through holes of the tabs 24 and 39.

The Figures 8 and 9 , on which the vehicle 1 is shown seen from above, show that the protective elements 4 can be brought closer to the wall 2.

Another advantage deriving from the absence of vertical overflow of the protection elements 4 is the possibility of providing one or more grids 40 of loading support, such as backpacks, on the roof of the vehicle 1, as can be seen on the Figures 1, 2 , 5 , 8 and 9 .

The grid 40 is connected to the vehicle 1 by two hinges 41 each having a plate attached to the wall 2, in the vicinity of the edge between the wall 2 and the roof, and a plate attached to the grid 40, the pivot axis being parallel audit. The gate 40 is thus able to pivot between a transport position in which it extends outwardly and substantially horizontally, with stop by a stop, as represented for example on the Figures 1 and 8 , to allow the transport of a load stowed on the grid 40, and a retracted position in which it is folded against the roof, as shown for example on the Figures 5 and 9 , so as not to increase the size of the vehicle 1, for example for crossing narrow passages or during a logistic transport.

It can be seen that it is possible, because the protection elements 4 do not extend above the edge between the wall 2 and the roof of the vehicle 1, that the grid 40 can be placed in the transport position that the protection elements 4 are in a remote position or in the close position.

Furthermore, the protection device 3, which is particularly suitable for protecting a side wall of the vehicle 1, can be used together with protection elements 42 and 43, here grids, on the respectively front and rear side of the vehicle 1, respectively. being held at a distance by arms 44. The arms 44 are generally stationary arms, because the grids 42 and 43 have little effect on the vehicle template 1. It would however be possible to provide that these arms are movable to allow the approximation and spacing of the grids 42 and 43.

As can be seen on the Figures 1 and 2 , opposite the front and rear end regions of the wall 2 are provided respectively ballistic protection grids 45 and 46 which are folded to follow the outline of the vehicle 1, the grids 45 and 46 being on a vertical edge region connected to upper arms 12 and a lower arm 13 in the manner described above, and to the other vertical edge region facing the front or the rear of the vehicle 1 to the grids respectively 42 and 43 by a fastening system based on the same principle as the locking means 22. Thus, it is possible to protect the vehicle 1 over its entire periphery, the protective device 3 can be detached from the grids 42 and 43 for allow to bring the protection elements 4 closer to the wall 2.

It is understood that the particular embodiment which has just been described has been given as an indication and not limitation and that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, it is also possible to make the lower arms 13 integral with the shaft 17 to allow a closer approximation of the protective elements 4 of the wall 2 while the lower grids 7 are still in the protective position, for example in the case where this does not interfere with the maneuverability of the vehicle 1, for example because of the position of the wheels 9.

Claims (13)

1. A ballistic protection device (3) for protecting at least one part of an outer peripheral wall (2), having a mean plane, of a structure, such as a vehicle (1), the protection device comprising at least one ballistic protection element (4), having a mean plane, and at least one pair of arm assemblies (12) for connecting the protection element (4) to said outer peripheral wall (2), each arm assembly (12) being, on one hand, provided with pivoting connection means for pivotally connecting to said outer peripheral wall (2), which allow the arm assembly (12) to pivot with respect to said outer peripheral wall (2) around a first pivot axis, and, on the other hand, pivotally connected to the protection element (4) around a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis, the first and second pivot axes being positioned so as to be parallel to the mean plane of the outer peripheral wall (2) and orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the mean plane of the outer peripheral wall (2), the arm assemblies (12) having the same length and being arranged so as to allow the mean plane of the protection element (4) to be moved between a spaced-apart position, remote from the outer peripheral wall (2) and facing at least one part thereof, and a position close to the outer peripheral wall (2), while remaining always parallel to the mean plane of the outer peripheral wall (2), characterised in that the or each protection element (4) comprises a first, so-called upper, part (6) to which the at least one pair of arm assemblies (12) is attached, and a second, so-called lower, part (7), the upper (6) and lower (7) parts being intended, after the protection element (4) is connected to the outer peripheral wall (2), to face respectively at least one part of the outer peripheral wall (2) and the corresponding lower part of the structure, the lower part (7) being movable, with respect to the upper part (6), between a so-called protection position, in which the lower part (7) extends below the upper part (6) to ensure a ballistic protection of the lower part of the structure, and a so-called access position in which the lower part (7) has been moved upwards, with respect to its protection position, so as to provide an access to the lower part of the structure.
2. The ballistic protection device (3) according to claim 1, characterised in that there are first (31) and second (38) means for blocking the movement of the protection element (4) in the spaced-apart and close positions, respectively.
3. The ballistic protection device (3) according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the means for pivotally connecting the or each protection element (4) to the outer peripheral wall (2) are formed, for each arm assembly (12), by a support (11) which has an interface (14) for attaching to the outer peripheral wall (2) and which carries a shaft (17) rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the shaft (17), the arm assembly (12) being integral with said shaft (17).
4. The ballistic protection device (3) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that there are third (22) and fourth (23) means for blocking the lower part (7) in the protection and access positions, respectively, the fourth blocking means (23) being advantageously arranged to allow the protection element(s) (4) to move between the spaced-part and close positions, with the lower part (7) being in the access position.
5. The ballistic protection device (3) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the upper (6) and lower (7) parts of a protection element (4) are pivotally connected to each other, the lower part (7) being moved from the protection position to the access position, and vice versa, by pivoting on the outer side with respect to the protection element (4).
6. The ballistic protection device (3) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that there is, for the or each protection element (4), at least one lower connection arm (13) intended, on one hand, to be connected to the outer peripheral wall (2) and, on the other hand, to carry the lower part (7) of the protection element (4), the third blocking means (22) making the lower part (7) and the lower connection arm(s) (13) integral with each other in the protection position.
7. The ballistic protection device (3) according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the first blocking means (31) and, if applicable, the third blocking means (22) each are a quick release means.
8. The ballistic protection device (3) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the fourth blocking means (23) comprises a first blocking member integral with the upper part (6) and a second blocking member integral with the lower part (7), the second blocking member being, when the lower part (7) is in the access position, movable with respect to the first blocking member between a blocking position, in which it is engaged with the first blocking member so as to prevent any movement of the lower part (7) with respect to the upper part (6), and a release position in which it is disengaged from the first blocking member so as to allow the lower part (7) to move with respect to the upper part (6).
9. The ballistic protection device (3) according to claim 8, characterised in that the second blocking means (38) comprises, on one hand, a first blocking member integral or able to be made integral with the outer peripheral wall (2) and, on the other hand, the second member of the fourth blocking means (23), the second member being movable between a blocking position, in which it is engaged with both the first member of the fourth blocking means (23) and the first blocking member of the second blocking means (38) so as to prevent any movement of the protection element (4) with respect to the outer peripheral wall (2), and a release position in which it is disengaged from the first member of the second blocking means (38) so as to allow the protection element (4) to move with respect to the outer peripheral wall (2).
10. The ballistic protection device (3) according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterised in that it comprises an elastic biasing means (30) for biasing the second blocking member of the fourth blocking means (23), if applicable also the second blocking means (38), toward the blocking position.
11. The ballistic protection device (3) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that it comprises several protection elements (4) intended to protect a same outer peripheral wall (2), two adjacent protection elements (4) sharing an arm assembly (12) for connecting the protection element (4) to the outer peripheral wall (2), such that the two adjacent protection elements (4) are able to be made integral with each other via said arm assembly (12).
12. A structure, such as a vehicle (1) having a roof provided with a turret, characterised in that it is equipped on at least one outer peripheral wall (2), having a mean plane, with a ballistic protection device (3) as defined in one of claims 1 to 11.
13. The structure according to claim 12, of the vehicle (1) type with a roof, characterised in that a load support grid (40), such as for backpacks, is connected by hinges (41) at the vicinity of the border between the roof and an outer peripheral wall (2) to which the ballistic protection device (3) is connected, so as to be able to pivot between a loading position, in which it extends outwards from the outer peripheral wall (2) of the vehicle (1) and above the ballistic protection device (3), and a retracted position in which it is folded against the roof.

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