GB2326221A

GB2326221A - Vehicle camouflage

Info

Publication number: GB2326221A
Application number: GB9712394A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Kennedy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-06-13
Filing date: 1997-06-13
Publication date: 1998-12-16
Also published as: GB9712394D0

Abstract

Different size pods are attached to control net via plug/socket net impressed on hull. (Fig 1a) On command pods open to display one of several sub-units of camouflage material. (Fig.3) Pods (Fig 1c) are attached by wingnuts and pre-welded bolts to vehicle hull.(Fig 2) Suitable camouflage materials displayed via, telescopic poles, and hinges, are extended and retrieved via pulleys, motors, and flywheels.(Figs 4 to 9) Commanders may change from Temperate-European to Arid-Tropical camouflage, as they move from forest position to cross a cornfield in a vehicle. Pre-programmed camouflage responses may suggest different silhouettes, i.e. Make a Bradley look like an Abrahms, or slow down an enemy finding most effective point of aim. Camouflage arranged differently on hull of similar vehicles in same squadron, using units of different scale and combinations of colours.

Description

Description Camouflage System The camouflage 'pods' for the Military Vehicle, would be positioned at random on the hull.

The Pod's would be attached to the hull by pre-set bolts.

The Pod's would be activated by a signal via fibre optic cable.(Or similar control system).

A mesh of fibre optic would envelope the hull, this mesh would have adaptor fitments which allow the pod to be attached at regular intervals.

Each Pod would have a short length of control cable with a corresponding adaptor for connection to the mesh. Sections of the Camouflage may be activated individually or together with other sections through a simple control device. This system may be of use for Tanks, Armoured Personnel Carriers, Trucks, Artillery Pieces, or Helicopters and Fast Patrol Boats as when not required the Pods as retacted, and the mesh of control cable may be impressed onto hull of vehicle.

It is not expected that the control system and motors used to enable system will assist vehicle in minimising its electronic signal, however the system is not designed to.

It is expected that a tank for instance will be detectable for up to 2 days to electronic counter measures due to its engine heat. This camouflage system is for use when crossing terrain in proximity to enemy. The camouflage material ma be impressed with zinc in parts to further distort electronic counter measures.

Fig. la This drawing describes the mesh upon a military vehicle hull; with the letter B denoting adaptor points on the rear quarter. This would allow camouflage pods to be repositioned on the hull to allow access to the sights, weapons, cargo carried on hull. And allow ease of replacement if damaged. I.e. Pull of damaged unit place a new one on/near to position and plug it into control mesh. Fixture of pod is by wing-nut/or altenative.

Fig lb This drawing represents a pod, whilst closed.

This control device would select relevent camouflage unit/cylinder/tube.

The control would cause a motor to act, opening the pod.

The camouflage unit would raise itself, using the motor to propel a screw up centre of cylinder/tube.

As the screw progresses up the tube, the it would tension itself on fine cables, (In the same way that a tractor/winch would extract timber using a closed loop of steel cable).

This tube may be telescopic in nature, with the tube enabled to screw itself in/out of a tube which houses it.

The tubes may be assisted by rubber bands, universal joints and couplings to facillitate a randomness of display angles and heights.

In essence the tube is selected and projected from Pod by the above or similarZalternative projection method.

Fig ic In any Pod there will be one or several tubes. Each tube will contain camouflage material for a variety of terrain. I.e. The Pod may contain tubes with camouflage material for Arctic, Desert, Urban, Tropical, Central European Summer and for Central European Autumn.

Thus when a commander of a vehicle decides to leave his position at a copse of trees, to enter battle, he may have to cross a series of arable & corn fields, in view of an enemy. The commander may elect to select camouflage appropriate to his terrain in the hope that an enemy targeting his vehicle will find it more difficult to attain the optimum point of aim.

Fig. 2 This shows potential positions of Pod's on vehicle. The Pod's may be of varying scale, and from a variety of Pod types. Not only does camouflage seek to blend the vehicle to the colours and textures of its surroundings; but to alter the shape, shine, shadow and size of the vehicle.

Similar vehicles in the the same military unit, may utillise more of one type of Pod than its sister vehicle, showing a different sillouette, and perceived texture when displayed.

Fig. 3 Once a pre-arranged pattern is ordered from inside the vehicle, the pods display camouflage material.

The display for 'Tropical Camouflage' for instance would project armatures & fans with the material spread between splines (resembling bat-wings/), and also projections of bunches of fillaments (resembling horse tails).

The combination of different sizes of these types would give a depth and texture to the camouflage.

Fig 4a to 5b These show parts of other suggested display mechanisms; screws attached at the top to an universal joint, and below to motor/control mechanisms.

The display camouflage is attached to the other end of the universal joint.

As the unit screws up the hinged splines exit through a free spinining annulus; the annulus has attached to it elastic cable which will draw out the the outsides of splines under tension to display camouflage much like an umbrella.

Cables run also from the extremities of the splines ( on the inside) to draw it back into its original compact shape under tension as the screw retracts down the shaft of the tube.

The cables/elastic will be of appropriate length to facillitate this display and retraction without undue stress on the motor. The annulus may have grooves cut into it to allow the splines to be guided, as the twist in and out oftube.

The cables may be aided by a spring or tensioning device to facillitate the correct stress and strain on the mechanism.

Fig 6a & 6b Cables pulled by the screw.motor mechanism will also open & close the pod which will have a hinged shellldoor much like a beetles back; fine fibre cables will also raise/lower the camouflage tube to become perpendicular to the Pod.

Fig7a & 7b This shows part of the mechanism that displays and retracts filaments of varying camouflage colours in a pod Much simpler these filaments are twisted inside a tube, and screwed out to give overall camouflage texture.

Fig 8a & 8b Shows a variation of camouflage splines being fanned out from an erect tube.

Fig 9 Shows a screw with teeth cut into its face to intersect with annulus at top of tube. The camouflage material will retract through the annulus which may assist in the removal of debris and moisture found outside its pod.

The quantity of material and length of spline are determined by length of tube; and the annulus may be used to guide the splines out of tube.

Fig 10 Shows another variation; tube with screw/motor control, which has a tube with cut away section through which splines are connected by elastic/plastic hinge which forces splines to display outwards as assembly moves up tube.

A variation on this is for the screw once extended to be unfurled like a flag on a revolving spline, this and the previously mentioned would give a variety of camouflage types to the system.

Claims

1 A automated camouflage system for vehicles, in the form of a command/control system using a mesh of command cable to which camouflage units may be connected at random points on/about mesh laid over an area to be camouflaged

2 A camouflage system wherein a selection of camouflage sub-units are contained within each camouflage unit. Each camouflage sub-unit consists of extendable and retractable camouflage material pertaining to a particular terrain type.

3 A camouflage system wherein control of system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 is controlled from inside vehicle by vehicle commander, or by commander of group by transmitting light signals in code from inside vehicle, or externally.

4 A camouflage system as in claim 1, or in claim 2 or in claim 3, wherein control of system may be any common system appropriate and homogeneous to vehicle type; and the existing control systems present in vehicle that allow a variety of camouflage types contained within sub units to be selected wholly or individually.

5 An automated camouflage system as in claim 1, or in claim 2, or in claim 3 or in claim 4 which is able to retract sub units to within a unit assembly which partially protects sub-units from weather, or protects from accidental damage.

6 A camouflage system wherein individual component parts of system are replacable and interchangable with other similar parts of system.

7 A camouflage system as in claim, or claim 2 or in claim3 or in claim4 or in claim 5 or in claim6 wherein individual units may be exchanged for units.

8 A camouflage system as in claim, or claim 2 or in claim3 or in claim4 or in claim 5 or in claim6 or in claim 7 wherein individual sub-units may be exchanged for sub-units.

9 A camouflage systems as in claim 1, or claim 2 or in claim3 or in claim4 or in claim 5 or in claim6 or in claim 7 wherein parts of control mesh may be added to with further extensions of control mesh, by adding addition lengths of mesh. Wherein each length of mesh has a coupling/plug and socket system which allows it to connect to couplings of other lengths of mesh and units.

10 A camouflage system as in claim 1, or claim 2 or in claim3 or in claim4 or in claim 5 or in claim6 or in claim 7 or claim 8 or claim 9; wherein coded signals are transmitted to camouflage units and sub-units and wherein this code and may be altered by vehicle commander on a regular basis.

Claims

11 A camouflage system as in claiml, or claim 2 or in claim3 or in claim4 or in claim 5 or in claim 6 or in claim 7, or in claim 8, or in claim 9 or in claim 10; wherein sub-units consist if mechanical armatures/or robotic arms that display camouflage material when activated by a given signal.

12 A camouflage system as in claiml, or claim 2 or in claim3 or in claim4 or in claim 5 or in claim 6 or in claim 7, or in claim 8, or in claim 9 or in claim 10; Wherein sub-units of camouflage units contain a camouflage material options suitable for a variety ofterrain types/environments. And these materials may be selected to give and overall pattern of camouflage when displayed together with other units/sub-units of overall camouflage system.

13 A camouflage system substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 to

10 of the accompanying drawing. As described in any preceeding claim.

13 A camouflage system substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 to 10 ofthe accompanying drawing. As described in any preceeding claim.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows An automated camouflage system for vehicles, consisting of modular units located at various points around a vehicle. Each unit consists of several subunits of camouflage material. The sub-units are displayed mechanically. The units/sub-units are activated a control system connecting all the modular units.

2 An automated camouflage system where sub-unit components are extended and withdrawn on mechanical armatures when activated by a control signal. The control signal being sent via a mesh of control signal cable laid over the vehicle to be camouflaged 3 A camouflage system wherein control of system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 is controlled from inside a vehicle by vehicle commander, or by a commander of a group by transmitting light signals in code from inside vehicle, or externally 4 A camouflage system as in claim 1, or in claim 2 or in claim 3, wherein the display pattern of vehicle camouflage is by any control system compatible with vehicle type.

5 An automated camouflage system as in claim 1, or in claim 2, or in claim 3 or in claim 4 which is able to retract sub-units to within an unit assembly which partially potects sub-units from weather, or protects from accidental damage.

6 A camouflage system as in claim I, and claim 2 wherein component parts of system are replacable, with pre-fabricated replacement parts, a store of which may be carried on vehicle.

7 A camouflage system as in claim, or claim 2, or in claim 3, or in claim 4 or in claim

5 or in claim 6, or in claim 7 wherein individual units may be interchanged with other units.

8 A camouflage system as in claim 1, or claim 2, or in claim 3, or in claim 4 or in claim

5 or in claim 6, or in claim 7 wherein individual sub-units may be interchanged with other sub-units.

9 A camouflage system as in claim, or in claim 2 or in claim 3 or in claim 4 or in claim 5 or in claim 6 or in claim 7 wherein parts of the control mesh may be added to, with further extentions of control mesh, by adding additional lengths of mesh.

Wherein each length of mesh has a coupling / plug and socket system which allows it to be connected to couplings of other lengths of mesh, and units.

10 A camouflage system as in claim, or in claim 2 or in claim 3 or in claim 4 or in claim 5 or in claim 6 or in claim 7 or claim 8 or claim 9 ; wherein coded signals are transmitted to camouflage units and sub-units and wherein this code may be altered by vehicle commander on a regular basis.

11 A camouflage system claim 1, or in claim 2 or in claim 3 or in claim 4 or in claim 5 or in claim 6 or in claim 7 or claim 8 or claim 9 or claim 10 wherein sub-units consist of mechanical armatures or robotic arms that display camouflage material when activated by a given signal.

12 A camouflage system as in claiml, or in claim 2 or in claim 3 or in claim 4 or in claim 5 or in claim 6 or in claim 7 or claim 8 or claim 9 or claim 10; Wherein sub-units of camouflage units contain camouflage material options suitable for a variety of terrain types / environments. And these materials may be selected to give an overall pattern of camouflage when displayed together with other units / sub-units of overall camouflage system.