GB2260599A

GB2260599A - Armouring

Info

Publication number: GB2260599A
Application number: GB8423302A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Juergen Boecker
Original assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
Current assignee: Rheinmetall Industrie AG
Priority date: 1983-09-28
Filing date: 1984-09-14
Publication date: 1993-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 2004-09-14
Also published as: GB2260599B; DE3335002C2; GB8416608D0; FR2679639A1; DE3335002A1

Description

TITLE Armouring for walls or the like surfaces.

This invention relates to armouring for walls or like surfaces such as bunkers or bodies of armoured vehicles and comprising an inner armour and an outer armour which are mutually spaced.

Tandem armour of this kind is known, see for example, DE 10 98 412 having plates which are easily pivoted inwards, or U.S. 2 380 393 having plates which are suspended so as to yield in the plane of the plate.

These systems are intended to deflect projectiles which effect was hitherto unobtainable with known systems as it occurred too late, if at all. Other known structures have double plates between which a medium is provided which ejects the outer plates on entry of a projectile but with these a drawback is that on further hits the armour is destroyed altogether and in addition the direction of movement of the plate or plates is largely coincident with the direction of flight of the projectile, thus preventing the maximum protection effect from being obtained.

An object of this invention is therefore to initiate the deflection and possibly destruction of a projectile, particularly an elongate comparatively long projectile, as soon as the nose of the projectile has penetrated the outer armour and to render the armour more effective.

The outer armouring is to undergo only limited destruction so that repairs may readily be carried out and the zones adjacent to the point of impact can be largely maintained as a means of protection.

According to this invention there is provided armour for a wall or like surfaces or a housing of an armoured vehicle and comprising an inner armouring and an outer armouring positioned in spaced relationship, wherein the enclosed space between the two armourings is filled with a lining of a material such as an explosive substance, glass or ceramic which detonates or bursts in the event of pressure increase resulting from penetration by a projectile, the outer armouring comprising plates situated adjacently side by side or one above the other and pivotable outwardly to one side.

By this means the invention ensures that a plate which has just been penetrated by a projectile will open about its hinges in a defined manner. In particular, elongate projectiles such as penetrators can be destroyed and deflected before penetration of the plate against which they have made impact, so that the penetrative power will be considerably reduced.

The position of the swivel axis of the plates largely depends on the construction of the wall to be protected, such as the turret of an armoured vehicle. The swivel axis need not be horizontal or vertical but can equally well be at an angle. The position of the swivel axis must be protected by further armouring behind the protective system of the invention. If the protective system is applied in the form of a spatially separate module in front of further armour then the povitable plates can be effectively installed on the rear of the module in order to destroy or deflect any residual parts of the projectile which emerge.

The accompanying drawings show by way of example only, several ways of arranging armour plates according to the invention. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of hinges A on an upper door B and hinges A and locking devices C on a lower double door, Fig. 2 shows a plan view of hinges A on opposed sides of two plates and a locking device C with an overlap D on the adjacent sides, Fig 3. shows a module in perspective comprising hinges on two plates on a central post E with a locking device C on the external sides and a bursting insert E, of explosive substance, glass or ceramic as example in the interior of the module, and Fig. 4 shows a further view in perspective of a module with suspension means A on the upper side of the plates, an overlap D on adjacent sides and a weakened weld F on side and lower edges of the plates.

In place of the suspension means shown in the diagrams the armour constructed as a plate could simply be cut open on three sides in each case, in accordance with the shape of the povitable plates, so that in the event of a hit this plate would pivot outwards on the fourth side about the part of the material which had remained in position. The material of the portion left in position may also have a weakened area in order to facilitate the outward pivoting movement. In all cases the securing means of the other three sides, such as bolts or a light weld, must be more flexible than the means by which the fourth side is secured to the armour. The lining of material must fill the whole of the intermediate space between the inner and the outer armour. If it comprises an explosive substance then only a comparatively small quantity of material is required, for example in the form of a narrow plate, which is then held against the inner armour or the outer armour.

Claims

1. Armouring for a wall or like surfaces or a housing of an armoured vehicle and comprising an inner armouring and an outer armouring positioned in spaced relationship, wherein the enclosed space between the two armourings is filled with a lining of a material such as an explosive substance, glass or ceramic,which detonates or bursts in the event of pressure increase resulting from penetration by a projectile, the outer armouring comprising plates situaed adjacently side by side or one above the other and pivotable outwardly to one side.

2. Armouring according to Claim 1, wherein the space between the two armourings is subdivided into partitions by transverse walls or dividers.

3. Armouring in accordance with Claims 1 or 2, wherein the plates are suspended on suspension means comprising hinges or joints.

4. Armouring in accordance with Claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein the plates on the sides opposite to the means suspending same are provided with a securing means such as a bolt or a light weld, which easily yields in relation to the suspension means when subjected to force from the inside.

5. Armouring in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the plates are suspended unilaterally on narrow posts which preferably taper outwards to a point.

6. Armour in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein an insert of explosive substance, possibly in the form of a strip is provided in a lining of another material.

7. Armouring in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein a suspension means for the plates is pivotable against an elastic force directed inwardly.

8. Armouring in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein suspension means are provided on opposite sides of adjacent plates, the adjacent sides of the plates overlapping.

9. Armouring in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein suspension means are provided on the sides of adjacent plates on one side, the plates overlapping on their adjacent sides.

10. Armouring in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein a box construction is formed by a combination of plates to form units.

11. Armouring substantially as described herein and exemplified with reference to the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. Armouring for a wall or like surfaces or a housing of an armoured vehicle and comprising an inner armouring and an outer armouring positioned in spaced relationship, wherein the enclosed space between the two armourings is filled with a lining of a material such as an explosive substance, glass or ceramic, which detonates or bursts in the event of pressure increase resulting from penetration by a projectile, the outer armouring comprising plates situated adjacently side by side or one about the other and pivotable outwardly to one side.

4. Armouring in accordance with Claims 1 or 2 or 3, where in the plates on the sides opposite to the means suspending same are provided with a securing means such as a bolt or a light weld, which easily yields in relation to the suspension means when subjected to force from the inside.

5. Armouring in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the plates are suspended unilaterally on narrow posts which taper outwards to a point.

6. Armour in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein a strip insert of explosive substance is provided in a lining of another material.

9. Armouring in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein suspension means are provided on the adjacent sides of adjacent plates, the plates overlapping on their adjacent sides.