FI3919852T3 - Vehicle with spall protection - Google Patents

Claims (15)

1 21177293.4 VEHICLE WITH SPALL PROTECTION

The invention relates to secondary splinter protection, in particular for armored military vehicles, for protecting a vehicle interior from secondary splinters with a metal plate and a plastic plate bearing flat against the metal plate.

The invention further relates to a vehicle, in particular a military vehicle, having an armored vehicle wall and a secondary splinter protection arranged on the inside of the vehicle wall.

Secondary splinter protection is used as additional protective elements in different types of vehicles, especially armored military vehicles, and serves to protect a vehicle interior from secondary splinters.

Secondary splinters can occur when a vehicle is attacked by armor-piercing ammunition, such as impact bullets, crush-head bullets, shaped charge bullets, dart ammunition or projectile-forming charges.

The armor-piercing ammunition hits an outer vehicle wall and penetrates it.

Secondary splinters come out of the vehicle wall on the side facing away from the threat.

These secondary splinters spread in the vehicle interior in a cone shape like projectiles, which can result in significant injuries to the crew and damage to loads transported in the vehicle interior.

To protect the vehicle interior from secondary splinters, it has proven useful in the past to equip vehicles with secondary splinter protection.

Known secondary splinter protections are arranged in the vehicle interior on the vehicle wall and have a metal plate which serves to intercept the secondary splinters.

If the vehicle is fired at with armor-piercing ammunition, the secondary splinters released from the vehicle wall hit the metal plate.

The kinetic energy of the secondary splinters is converted into deformation energy of the metal plate and dissipated upon impact,

thereby preventing the secondary splinters from spreading in the vehicle interior.

However, in very unfavorable cases, after piercing the outer vehicle wall, the armor-piercing ammunition still has enough energy to also penetrate the metal plate of the secondary protection or to release further splinters from this metal plate.

In order to prevent these additional splinters from spreading into the vehicle interior and causing corresponding damage, secondary splinter protections often have a plastic plate that bears flat against the inside of the metal plate.

The splinters released from the metal plate are caught by the plastic plate, which is significantly lighter, and prevents them from spreading into the vehicle interior.

2 21177293.4

Such secondary splinter protection is disclosed in DE 32 26 476 C2. The secondary splinter protection has a metal plate on which a plastic plate of the same thickness or thinner rests on the inside.

The metal plate intercepts secondary splinters that are released from a vehicle wall by armor-piercing ammunition and the splinters released from the metal plate are intercepted by the plastic plate.

EP 0 606 587 Al discloses a vehicle with an armored vehicle wall and a secondary splinter protection arranged on the inside of the vehicle wall to protect a vehicle interior from secondary splinters with a metal plate and a plastic plate bearing flat against the metal plate, wherein the thickness of the plastic plate is greater than the thickness of the metal plate.

While the metal plate catches a large part of the secondary splinters even in very unfavorable cases, the disadvantage of such secondary splinter protection is that splinters can come out of the metal plate.

However, the plastic plate can only absorb this to a certain extent.

The secondary splinters released from the vehicle wall can be intercepted with such secondary splinter protections, but some of the splinters released from the metal plate can still get into the vehicle interior under unfavorable circumstances.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of creating a secondary splinter protection which has an increased protective effect.

This object is achieved by the vehicle according to claim 1.

Due to the greater thickness of the plastic plate compared to the thickness of the metal plate, the protective effect of the secondary splinter protection is increased.

On the one hand, the thinner design of the metal plate in relation to the plastic plate results in a reduced number of splinters from the metal plate.

When the armor- piercing bullet penetrates, splinters continue to form, but less material is released from the metal plate, meaning fewer splinters are formed.

The resulting splinters can be completely intercepted by the thicker plastic plate, as they can no longer penetrate the entire thickness of the plastic plate.

On the other hand, secondary splinters released from the vehicle wall can now partially penetrate the relatively thinner metal plate, but the metal plate slows them down so strongly that the plastic plate can completely stop the secondary splinters.

An advantageous development of the invention provides that the ratio of the thickness of the plastic plate to the thickness of the metal plate is at least 1.5 to 1 mm, preferably at least 2 to 1 mm and in particular preferably at least 4 to 1 mm.

As a result,

3 21177293.4 significantly better protection against secondary splinters can be achieved with only a slightly increased surface weight of the secondary splinter protection.

In addition, it has proven useful if the thickness of the metal plate is between 1 and 10 mm, preferably 1 and 5 mm and in particular preferably 2 and 3 mm.

The metal plate advantageously consists of steel, in particular armored steel or deep-drawing steel, with an elongation at break of at least 45%. This allows the protective effect of the secondary splinter protection to be increased.

Due to the elongation at break of steel, it is possible that the metal plate can be deformed to catch secondary splinters without any tendency to break.

The kinetic energy of the secondary splinters can be converted into deformation energy and dissipated without the metal plate breaking.

It has also proven to be particularly advantageous if the plastic plate rests directly on the metal plate.

This enables particularly favorable energy transfer from the metal plate to the plastic plate as soon as secondary splinters hit the metal plate.

The metal plate can have a certain supporting effect through the plastic plate.

It is possible for the metal plate to have a coating, in particular a KTL coating.

In this case, the plastic plate can rest directly on the KTL coating.

Furthermore, the plastic plate can lie unglued against the metal plate.

This allows a certain relative movement between the attached plates, especially if the vehicle deforms, for example when driving quickly in unsafe terrain.

Alternatively, it is also possible for the plastic plate to be connected to the metal plate via an adhesive connection.

A further advantageous embodiment provides that the plastic plate is designed as a homogeneous plastic plate.

This allows the costs to be significantly reduced compared to plastic panels with fabric or fiber inserts.

The homogeneous material structure can have the same homogeneous material properties over the entire plastic plate.

This enables a uniform protective effect over the entire surface of the secondary splinter protection.

Additives can be added to the plastic plate to adjust the material properties.

Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if the plastic plate has an elongation at break of at least 50%. The protective effect of the secondary splinter protection can be increased in this way.

Due to the elongation at break of at least 50%, the plastic plate can be deformed by splinters of the metal plate.

This allows kinetic energy to be converted into deformation energy and dissipated accordingly.

The plastic plate advantageously has a density of at most 1 g/cm?, The weight per unit area of the secondary protection can thereby be kept low.

4 21177293.4

Furthermore, it has proven useful if the plastic plate is designed as a multi-layer plastic plate.

This makes it easy to combine the material properties of different types of plastic.

In a further development of the vehicle, it is advantageous if the secondary splinter protection is arranged on the vehicle wall via a screw connection.

This can provide assembly and disassembly advantages.

The secondary splinter protection can be mounted on the vehicle wall via the screw connection and removed from the vehicle wall if necessary.

This makes it possible for the secondary splinter protection to be replaceable, especially in the event of damage.

The secondary splinter protection can also be dismantled for maintenance purposes of the vehicle and the secondary splinter protection, in particular outside of operations.

The secondary splinter protection can be retrofitted.

It is possible to design the screw connection in the manner of a slug connection.

The screw connection can have a slug attached to the vehicle wall and a screw bolt for attaching the secondary splinter protection.

It is possible that the screw connection fulfills a dual function.

On the one hand, the secondary splinter protection can rest on the slug, in particular on an end face of the slug.

As a result, the secondary splinter protection can be arranged relative to the vehicle wall via the screw connection, in particular also spaced apart in the manner of stands or supports.

On the other hand, the secondary splinter protection can be attached to the vehicle wall via the screw connection by screwing the screw bolt to the slug.

The slug can be designed like a welding nut.

It has also proven useful if the secondary splinter protection is arranged at a distance from the vehicle wall.

Due to the distance between the vehicle wall and the secondary splinter protection, the protective effect against secondary splinters can be increased in a structurally simple manner.

The secondary splinters can spread in a cone shape when armor-piercing ammunition penetrates the vehicle wall.

By spacing them apart, the secondary splinters hit a larger area of the secondary splinter protection in accordance with the opening angle of the cone and can be better intercepted.

In this context, it has proven to be advantageous if the distance is 15 to 75 mm, preferably 20 to 65 mm and in particular preferably 30 to 55 mm.

As the distance between the secondary splinter protection and the vehicle wall increases, the conically spreading secondary splinters can be intercepted by a larger area of the secondary splinter protection.

However, as the distance increases, the usable volume of the vehicle interior can also decrease.

By limiting the distance to 15 to 75 mm, preferably 20 to 65 mm and

21177293.4 particularly preferably 30to 55 mm, a good protective effect is made possible while at the same time making good use of the space in the vehicle interior. The vehicle has a technical compartment arranged between the secondary splinter protection and the vehicle wall, in which vehicle components, in particular fluid lines 5 and/or electrical lines, are arranged. This can have advantages during use. Due to the spatial separation of the vehicle components by the secondary splinter protection, disruptive influences on the crew and/or cargo in the vehicle interior can be reduced, which can occur, for example, due to fluids escaping from the vehicle components, electrically exposed cables or the like. Conversely, it is also possible to protect the vehicle components from damage caused by crew and/or cargo in the vehicle interior, for example due to accidental knocks on the vehicle components. In addition, the technical compartment can also have visual advantages, for example for presentations. The technical compartment can also thermally isolate the vehicle interior from the surroundings of the vehicle. The load and/or crew can thereby be protected from extreme temperature influences. In this context, it is advantageous if the technical compartment has at least one ventilation duct for air conditioning of the vehicle interior. This makes it possible to improve the indoor climate within the vehicle interior, especially during use. A further advantageous embodiment provides that the secondary splinter protection is arranged parallel to the vehicle wall. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the secondary splinter protection is arranged on the vehicle wall in such a way that the metal plate is arranged between the vehicle wall and the plastic plate. The metal plate is thus arranged on the threat side. High-energy secondary splinters from the vehicle wall are intercepted by the metal plate with this arrangement. Low-energy splinters from the metal plate are intercepted by the plastic plate. The protection potential of both plates can be optimally used. Further details and advantages of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawing of an exemplary embodiment. The following are shown:

Fig. 1 a schematic sectional view of a secondary splinter protection arranged on a vehicle wall. When using military vehicles 10, such as tanks, off-road vehicles or other military vehicles, it happens that they are shot at with armor-piercing projectiles 40.

6 21177293.4 Despite the sometimes considerable armor of such vehicles, these projectiles 40, such as impact projectiles, crush head projectiles, shaped charge projectiles, dart ammunition or projectile-forming charges, can penetrate the outer vehicle wall 11 of the vehicle 10 in very unfavorable situations. When the vehicle wall 11 is penetrated, secondary splinters 20 are released from the vehicle wall 11, which can spread in the vehicle interior 12 in the manner of a fragment cone. This can cause considerable damage to the crew and/or cargo, which is why secondary splinter protections 1 are often used to protect against such secondary splinters 20 in military vehicles 10.

Fig. 1 shows such a secondary splinter protection 1. The secondary splinter protection 1 has a metal plate 2 and a plastic plate 3. The plastic plate 3 bears flat against the metal plate 2. The metal plate 2 and the plastic plate 3 are flat. The metal plate 2 has a uniform thickness Dm and the plastic plate 3 has a uniform thickness Dk. In the exemplary embodiment, the plastic plate 3 is twice as thick as the metal plate 2, which is why the ratio of the thicknesses Dk to Dm is two. In the exemplary embodiment, the thickness Dm is 3 mm and the thickness Dk is 6 mm, although in general different plate thicknesses are also possible. The metal plate 2 is designed as a homogeneous metal plate. The metal is a material that can be easily cold-formed. Due to the homogeneous material structure, the material properties of the metal plate 2 are the same over its entire surface. The metal plate 2 is made of armored steel. Armored steel has a high elongation at break, which increases the protective effect of the secondary splinter protection 1. It can also be for example a stainless steel. The plastic plate 3 is designed as a homogeneous plastic plate. In the exemplary embodiment, the plastic plate is made of polyethylene. It is advantageously polyethylene with a high density, in particular in the range greater than 0.9 g/cm? even more advantageously greater than 0.95 g/cm", Alternatively, this can also have fabric or fiber reinforcements, which, however, entail higher costs. The plastic plate 3 also has a high elongation at break, which further increases the protective effect of the secondary splinter protection 1. The metal plate 2 and the plastic plate 3 are in direct contact with each other and bear against each other. The direct contact of the plastic plate 3 on the metal plate 2

7 21177293.4 results in a favorable energy transfer between the plates. It is possible that the metal plate 2 has an additional coating, such as a KTL coating. In this case, the plastic plate 3 can lie directly on the KTL coating of the metal plate 2, The secondary splinter protection 1 is arranged on the inside of the vehicle wall 11. It is possible for the secondary splinter protection 1 to be designed as a modular secondary splinter protection 1. This brings assembly advantages. In this way, several secondary splinter guards 1 can be arranged next to each other on the vehicle wall 11. This makes it possible to remove only individual secondary splinter guards 1, for example for maintenance purposes, and/or to replace them, for example if they are damaged. It is also possible to arrange several secondary splinter protections 1 over the entire vehicle wall 11. As an alternative to the modular design of the secondary splinter protection 1, it is also possible to provide a single secondary splinter protection 1, which extends over the entire vehicle wall 11. The secondary splinter protection 1 is mounted on the vehicle interior wall via a screw connection 4. The screw connection 4 is designed in the manner of a slug connection. The screw connection 4 has a slug 4.1, which is screw-connected to a screw bolt 4.2. The slug 4.1 is designed in the manner of a welding nut and is welded all around to the vehicle wall 11. The metal plate 2 rests on an end face of the slug 4.1. The screw bolt 4.2 is inserted through recesses 2.1, 3.1 in the metal plate 2 and the plastic plate 3 and fastens them. The secondary splinter protection 1 is attached parallel to the vehicle wall 11 at a uniform distance a. By placing the metal plate 2 on the end face of the slug 4.1, the arrangement of the secondary splinter protection 1 at the distance a is made possible. The slug 4.1 distances the secondary splinter protection 1 in the manner of a stand or a support. The screw connection 4 therefore has a dual function. On the one hand, the screw connection 4 serves to fasten the secondary splinter protection 1 to the vehicle wall

11. On the other hand, the screw connection 4 also serves to arrange the secondary splinter protection 1 on the vehicle wall 11 at the distance a. In the exemplary embodiment, the distance a corresponds to 30 mm, although in general distances other than 30 mm are possible. A technical compartment R is arranged between secondary splinter protection 1 and vehicle wall 11. The technical compartment R is limited by the secondary splinter

8 21177293.4 protection 1 and the vehicle wall 11. Different vehicle components 13 are arranged in the technical compartment R, such as electrical, pneumatic and/or hydraulic lines. By arranging the vehicle components 13 in the technical compartment R, they are spatially separated from the vehicle interior 12. On the one hand, this can prevent injuries to the crew and/or damage to the cargo and/or goods. On the other hand, the vehicle components 13 can be protected from damage. For example, during an operation, due to the spatial separation, it is not possible for the crew to injure themselves by bumping into vehicle components 13. Conversely, it is also not possible for the vehicle components 13 to be damaged when bumped into. In Fig. 1 shows the bombardment of the vehicle 10 with an armor-piercing projectile

40. The armor-piercing projectile 40 penetrates the vehicle wall 11. The vehicle wall 11 is itself designed as an armored vehicle wall 11. In addition, several add-on elements 30 are arranged on the outside of the vehicle wall 11, which also penetrate. The add-on elements 30 can be designed as dent plates, steel, aluminum, ceramic and/or composite protection elements to increase the armor protection of the vehicle wall 11. Due to the penetration of the armor-piercing projectile 40, secondary splinters 20 are formed from the vehicle wall 11. The secondary splinters 20 spread like bullets in the direction of the vehicle interior 12. The spread of the secondary splinters 20 takes place in a cone shape. The secondary splinters 20 are intercepted by the secondary splinter protection 1 at a distance a. The metal plate 2 of the secondary splinter protection 1 is arranged on the threat side. The secondary splinters 20 therefore hit the metal plate 2 and are intercepted. It is possible that the kinetic energy of the secondary splinters 20 is so great that deformations of the metal plate 2 occur. Due to the deformations, the kinetic energy of the secondary splinters 20 is converted into deformation energy of the metal plate 2 and dissipated accordingly. The distribution of the conically spreading secondary splinters 20 in the vehicle interior 12 is prevented. In order to be able to dissipate as much energy as possible, the metal plate 2 has an elongation at break of at least 45%. It is possible that the armor-piercing projectile 40 still has sufficient energy after piercing the vehicle wall 11 to also penetrate the secondary splinter protection 1. When the metal plate 2 breaks through, splinters can also form, which spread out in a cone shape. The plastic plate 3, which is oriented on the inside of the metal plate 2, i.e. towards the side facing away from the threat, catches these splinters of the metal plate 2. In order

9 21177293.4 to dissipate the kinetic energy of the splinters in the case of the plastic plate 3, the plastic plate 3 also has a high elongation at break of at least 50%. Although some of the secondary splinters 20 can get into the vehicle interior 12 when the secondary splinter protection 1 breaks through, they no longer spread in a cone shape, but rather in a channeled manner. This greatly reduces the risk of injury or damage to the crew and/or cargo in the vehicle interior 12, The secondary splinter protection 1 serves to protect the vehicle interior 12 from secondary splinters 20 by intercepting them. In particular, the conical spread of the secondary fragments 20 in the vehicle interior 12 is prevented, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the crew and/or cargo. The metal plate 2 and the plastic plate 3 lying flat against the metal plate 2 serve to intercept the secondary splinters 20. To increase the protective effect, the thickness Dk of the plastic plate is greater than the thickness Dm of the metal plate 2. Reference Numerals: 1 secondary Splinter Protection 2 metal plate

2.1 recess 3 plastic plate

3.1 recess 4 screw connection

4.1 slug

4.2 screw bolt 10 — vehicle 11 — vehicle wall 12 vehicle interior 13 — vehicle components 14 — ventilation duct 20 secondary splinter 30 — add-on elements — armor-piercing projectile Dk thickness of plastic plate

21177293.4 Dm thickness of metal plate a distance R technical compartment