GB2391293A

GB2391293A - An armoured vehicle having a bullet proof roof assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2391293A
Application number: GB0315537A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Francis Carroll
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2002-07-13
Filing date: 2003-07-03
Publication date: 2004-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 2023-07-03
Also published as: GB0315537D0; GB2391293B; GB0216316D0

Abstract

An armoured vehicle(2, Fig 1) having a bullet-proof roof assembly (3), comprises at least one welded roof portion (4), 5, each of which is comprised of a singular-pieced steel armour panel 106 that includes a central flat portion 112 and curved side portions 107 and whereby an interior blocking panel 108 is positioned behind the curved portion 107 (and relative to a base panel 109) so as to block ballistic objects with a capability of penetrating through side portions 107. Both the armour panel 106 and the blocking panel 108 have minimum thicknesses (eg. 1mm and 2mm respectively) so as to prevent the penetration of portions 107, 112 and block 108. The angle of curve of portion 107 is within the range of 40-45 degrees. The invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of known arrangements whereby the individual equivalent components of portions 107 and 112 are individually welded together.

Description

r- 2391293 - 1 Armoured vehicles This invention relates to armoured

vehicles and in particular to an armoured vehicle having a bullet proof roof assembly.

The term "bullet-proof" is used herein to indicate a designed resistance to bullets but also includes a resistance to other ballistic objects.

5 It is an object of this invention to provide an armoured vehicle having an improved bullet proof roof assembly.

According to the invention there is provided an armoured vehicle having a roof assembly including one or more roof portions wherein each roof portion comprises a one piece bullet resistant roof panel having a flat central portion and curved side portions 10 extending longitudinally along each side and a blocking panel positioned behind each of the curved side portions to increase the resistance to ballistic penetration of the roof portion in the region of the curved side portions.

Preferably, the one-piece roof panel is made from a single sheet of armour plate such as steel armour plate, e.g. 3 mm thick. Advantageously, the thickness of the armour plate 15 is the minimum required to prevent penetration of the flat central portion of the one-piece roof panel by a pre-determined ballistic object impacting against the flat central portion at a pre-determined angle.

Advantageously, the thickness of each blocking member is the minimum required to prevent the pre-determined ballistic object from penetrating the blocking member after 20 having passed through one of the curved side portions of the one-piece roof panel.

Each blocking member may be made from armour plate such as steel armour plate, e.g. of a thickness in the range 2 to 5mm.

Where the pre-determined ballistic object is a bullet, the bullet may be a 7.62mm bullet for use in an AK4{Arifle or may be a 5.56 mm bullet for an M16 Armalite (Trade Mark) rifle.

The pre-determined angle may be 40 to 45 degrees to the central portion of the roof.

Each of the blocking panels may be attached to an inside surface of the one-piece 5 roof panel in the region where the central portion of the onepiece roof panel meets the respective curved side portion of the onepiece roof panel. Each blocking member may be attached by stitch welding.

A base panel may be provided to join each of the blocking members to a free edge of a respective curved side portion of the one-piece roof panel.

10 The base panel may in combination with the blocking member and the respective curved side portion define a longitudinally extending box section extending along a side edge of the one piece roof panel.

The roof assembly may comprise two of said roof portions joined together by welding.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the 15 accompanying drawings of which: Fig.1 is a side view of an armoured motor vehicle having a roof assembly according to the invention; Fig.2 is a cross-section along the line X-X in Fig.1 With reference to Figs.1 and 2 there is shown an armoured motor vehicle 2 having a 20 roof assembly 3 comprising a front portion 4 and a rear portion S. the two roof portions 4, 5 being joined together by welding. The construction of the front and rear portions 4 and 5 is identical and so only the construction of part of the left hand side of the rear roof portion 5

/ ( will be described in detail and is shown in Fig. 2. It will be appreciated that the right hand side of the rear roof portion 5 is a mirror image of that shown in Fig.2 The rear roof portion 5 comprises a one-piece roof panel 106 made from a sheet of bullet proof material such as steel armour plate, the outer edges of the roof panel 106 5 being bent into a curved shape to form longitudinally extending curved side portions 107 which extend along each side of a flat central portion 112. A respective blocking panel 108 is attached to the inside or inner surface of the one-piece roof panel 106 in each of the regions where the central portion 112 meets the curved side portions 107. The upper edge of each blocking panel 108 has a bent-over flange 111 which is stitch welded at various 10 positions along itrs lenght to the inside surface of the flat central portion 112. The blocking panels 108 also assist with assembly by providing a support for the roof panel 106 prior to welding together of the parts. The blocking panel 108 is made from a 2 mm thick steel material having a hardness of approximately 500 Brinell and as such constitutes a bullet resistant panel.

15 Each curved side portion 107 and the adjacent blocking panel 108 forms an inverted channel section which is closed by a respective base panel 109 made from stainless steel or any other suitable metallic material. Each base panel 109 has a number of apertures formed in it which are engaged by tags formed along the lower edge of the adjacent blocking panel 108 and the outer lower edge of the adjacent curved side portion 107 of the 20 one-piece roof panel 106. Thus the base panel 109 can be used to assist with assembly by locating the one-piece roof panel 106 and the blocking panel 108 prior to the welding together of these components. The base panel 109 in combination with the blocking member 108 and the respective cubed side portion 107 defines a longitudinally extending box section extending along a side edge of the one piece roof panel 106.

25 Although the one-piece roof panel 106 provides significant resistance to penetration by bullets impacting against it, the blocking panel 108 provides additional protection in the

( event that a bullet impacts against one of the curved side portions 107. The thickness of the armour plate chosen for the one-piece roof panel 106 is preferably the minimum required to prevent penetration of the central portion 112 of the one-piece roof panel 106 by a pre-determined ballistic object impacting against the flat central portion 112 at a 5 predetermined angle. For example, if the pre-determined ballistic object is a 7.62 mm bullet from an AK47'ifle or a 5.56 mm high velocity rifle bullet such as that used in an M16 Armalite (Trade Mark) rifle and the pre-determined angle is 40 to 45 degrees, then steel armour of 3 mm thickness would be the minimum required to defeat this threat at this angle and is therefore the thickness of the steel armour plate used for the one-piece roof panel 10 106 in the example sdescribed.

However, a bullet fired from the same pre-determined angle of 40 to 45 degrees will impact upon one of the curved side portions 107 at an angles of impact much greater than 40 to 45 degrees and at such an angle will penetrate 3mm thick armour. Hence the blocking member 108 is made from a material having a thickness which is the minimum 15 required to prevent the such a bullet from penetrating the blocking member 108 after having passed through one of the curved roof side portions 107 irrespective of the angle of impact against the curved side portion 107. For example, in the case of the 5.56 mm bullet as used in the M16 Armalite (Trade Mark) rifle, a 5 rem thick piece of armour plate is (if required for the blocking plate 108 while a 7.62 bullet from an AK43rifle would require the 20 use of 2mm thick steel armour plate for each of the blocking plates 108.

It will be appreciated that if the threat is different then different material thicknesses would be required. However, in each case the thickness of the one-piece roof panel is determined first as the minimum required to defeat the threat if impacted against in the central portion 112 and then the thickness of the blocking member 108 is determined. In 25 this way it is ensured that the thinnest possible material is used for both the one-piece roof panel and the blocking member thereby keeping the weight of the roof assembly to a minimum.

- 5 The use of a one-piece roof panel can have several advantages. Firstly, because the one-piece roof panel is made from a single piece of steel there is a reduced risk of water leakage as the only upwardly facing Joint is between the front and rear roof portions 4 and 5. As the materials and the thickness of materials used for these components are 5 essentially identical it is easier to produce a reliable welded joint and there is less risk of component distortion. Secondly, a lighter roof assembly is produced because the thinnest material possible is used to produce the one-piece roof panel and the blocking panel.

The weight of the roof assembly is important because increased roof weight is detrimental to the handling of a motor vehicle and excessive roof weight may cause the 10 vehicle to roll over at relatively low speeds. In addition any reduction in total vehicle weight will be advantageous as it will reduce the fuel consumption of the vehicle and improve its acceleration performance.

It will be appreciated that if the thickness of the blocking plate has to be increased to defeat a greater threat then it may not be possible to bend over the end. In this case the 15 end of the blocking member may be welded directly to the inner surface of the roof panel.

However the increased thickness provides an improved weld condition compared to the use of a thinner material and so no great detriment is produced.

Claims

- 6 CLAI MS

1. An armoured vehicle having a roof assembly including one or more roof portions wherein each roof portion comprises a one piece bullet resistant roof panel having a flat central portion and curved side portions extending longitudinally along each side and a blocking panel positioned behind each of the curved side portions to increase the resistance to ballistic penetration of the roof portion in the region of the curved side portions.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which the one-piece roof panel is made from a single sheet of armour plate.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2 in which the armour plate is steel armour plate.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2 or in claim 3 in which the thickness of the armour plate is the minimum required to prevent penetration of the flat central portion of the one-

piece roof panel by a pre-determined ballistic object impacting against the flat central portion at a pre-determined angle.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4 in which the thickness of each blocking member is the minimum required to prevent the pre-determined ballistic object from penetrating the blocking member after having passed through one of the curved side portions of the one-piece roof panel.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5 in which each blocking member is made from armour plate.

7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6 in which the armour plate is steel armour plate.

- 7

8. A vehicle as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7 in which the predetermined ballistic object is a bullet.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any of claims 4 to 8 in which the predetermined angle is in the range of 40 to 45 degrees.

10. A vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 in which each of the blocking panels is attached to an inside surface of the one-piece roof panel in the region where the central portion of the one-piece roof panel meets the respective curved side portion of the one-piece roof panel.

11. A vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 in which a base panel is provided to join each of the blocking members to a free edge of a respective curved side portion of the one-piece roof panel.

12. A vehicle as claimed in claim 11 when dependent upon claim 10 in which the base panel in combination with the blocking member and the respective curved side portion define a longitudinally extending box section extending along a side edge of the one piece roof panel.

13. A vehicle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 in which the roof assembly comprises two of said roof portions joined together by welding.

14. An armoured vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.