WO2020055362A2

WO2020055362A2 - Floor protection system for armored vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2020055362A2
Application number: PCT/TR2019/050588
Authority: WO
Inventors: Volkan Baykal; Uğurata YETKIN
Original assignee: Fnss Savunma Si̇stemleri̇ A.Ş.
Priority date: 2018-08-17
Filing date: 2019-07-17
Publication date: 2020-03-19
Also published as: GB2587542A; GB202017287D0; TR201812074A2; WO2020055362A3

Abstract

A floor protection system which constitutes surface of vehicle body close to the ground on where said vehicle travels, and which is suitable to be attached on the surface, facing into vehicle where the users of vehicle stand, of armored part (1) absorbing the shock impact of the explosion characterized in that; it comprises a floor part (2) with high strength which ensures forming a surface suitable for the users inside vehicle to stand, and protection of the users by absorbing the movement of armored part (1), close to ground, bending towards the inside of vehicle by the shock impact due to explosion, and which comprises at least one space (2a) into which connectors such as bolts can be placed; a connector (3) having higher strength than the floor part (2), and comprising a first housing (3a) that prevents the floor part (2) to move freely in vehicle by being teared off because of shock impact caused by an explosion on ground; a second housing (3c) located on the surface of said first housing (3a) and inside the first housing (3a) close to said ground; a third housing (3d) located inside the first housing (3a) and on the surface, distant from the ground, of the first housing (3a); a first connector (4) suitable for being placed to the second housing (3c) and to the third housing (3d) and preventing the floor part (2) from being affected from vibrations occurred on vehicle body by securing it.

Description

FLOOR PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR ARMORED VEHICLES

Technical Field

The invention relates to a floor protection system providing protection for vehicle and users inside the vehicle against explosions occurred on the ground where vehicles move.

The invention particularly relates to a floor protection system which protects floors, facing the ground on where said vehicle travels, of armored vehicles used for military purposes against explosives such as mines and improvised explosives exploding on said ground, and which prevents the pieces on the surface on which the users inside said vehicle stand from harming the users by being broken off due to shock impact occurred by explosion.

State of the Art

Almost all of the outer bodies of vehicles used in the field of military in general are manufactured by being equipped with armor material having a high strength against external explosion and impact effects. Floor plates having high strength against explosions are provided on the bottom surfaces of armored vehicles which are close to the ground where said armored vehicles travel particularly for being protected against the effects of mines and improvised explosives. Currently, various floor protection systems are developed in order that said floor plates minimize the damage on armored vehicles after explosion and ensure that the crew inside the vehicle get minimum damage and the vehicle is continued to be used. Said floor protection systems can be mentioned under three main groups according to their operation modes as floor protection systems directly attached to surface of vehicle close to the ground, and floor protection systems having floating floor and constant protection degree, and floating floor protection systems having protection degree increased sectional.

A system developed as directly attached floor protection system is described in patent document No US20130036899A1. In the directly attached protection system in question, the floor plate on which users stand inside the armored vehicle is directly attached to the armored body of the vehicle. However, because said floor plate is directly attached to said armored body, if an explosion occurs on the ground where the armored vehicle is moving, said floor plate is highly affected by the shock impact caused by the explosion and as a result of this, it is subjected to plastic deformation causing permanent deformation and it moves towards inside the armored vehicle such that it moves away from said ground.

In order to reduce the negative effect of this movement, the gap between said floor plate and said body is increased, but this solution causes the volume of the area of use within the armored vehicle to be reduced. Further, by the shock effect occurred as result of explosion, said floor plate is cut from bolts be being deformed and/or break off by shearing from brackets because of the pressure and/or pushing force exerted to the bolt holes of the floor plate by the bolts on said brackets fastening said floor plate to the body of armored vehicle. The fact that said floor plate becomes free running within the armored vehicle as a result of rupture creates a great danger to the users inside the vehicle and causes the users to be injured. On floating floor systems which are another type of floor protection systems, said floor plate is not directly attached to section, close to the ground, of armored vehicle body, and the attachment is performed on side surfaces of the body plate thus enabling the play on fastening points and thereby it is less affected from shock impact occurred at the instant of possible explosion and is subjected to less plastic deformation. By this means, it provides a higher protection than directly attached systems. However, due to the fact that floating floor systems are not modular, an improvement cannot be made in their protection degrees by modifying their particular properties and the whole system is required to be changed when an improvement is desired for an intended use. This leads to difficulties both in terms of cost and time and prevents the application of an immediate improvement on the floor protection system in different situations of use of the armored vehicle. At floating floor systems having regionally increased degree of protection developed to solve this problem, improvements increasing the protection degree of the system can be made by placing absorbing pads on different regions of the floor plate, such as on areas where the feet of the users sitting inside the vehicle are located. However, the improvements applied are not capable of adapting to a change of the sitting location of users inside the vehicle. Furthermore, because of connection and design properties of floating floor systems having regionally increased protection degree, heavy materials having high strength are used during their manufacture and this both leads to increased production cost and also negatively affect physical capabilities of the vehicle by making the armored vehicle to become bulky. Also, all of the floating floor systems are fastened to vehicle body via bolt connections and in case of a possible mine explosion, bolts connections do not provide a complete protection. Said bolts break off from the mounting areas on the body by the impact of mine and therefore the floor plate becomes free running inside the vehicle. This causes the users inside the vehicle to get harmed.

Consequentially, the need for developing a floor protection system which prevents movement of said floor plate subjected to plastic deformation by the shock impact due to explosion towards into the armored vehicle, and which controls and minimizes the pressure and/or pushing force occurred on areas connecting the floor plate to the vehicle body and which prevents the users inside the vehicle to be injured by preventing said floor plate to break off after the explosion.

Object of the Invention

The present invention relates to a floor protection system, which meets the aforementioned requirements, eliminates the possible drawbacks and brings along additional advantages.

The main object of the subject matter floor protection system is to provide a safe floor protection system with a high protection degree which prevents the pieces constituting the surface on which the users stand, and the pieces ensuring the connections to move freely inside said vehicle by being break off due to explosion impact and to harm the users while reducing the transmission of shock effect, occurred by an explosion on the ground where the vehicle travel, over to the users inside said vehicle. Furthermore, by means of said floor protection system, the distance between the armored part forming the surface, facing the ground, of the vehicle where the vehicle travels and the floor part forming the surface on which the users inside said vehicle stand is reduced, thus increasing the usage areas of the users inside said vehicle and thereby increasing the ease of use. Said floor protection system is achieved by combining the parts on said floor protection system and connection points of said parts so as to be in conformity with degrees of freedom and movement directions set forth to decrease pushing and/or pulling forces acting on said parts and connection points of said parts in case of a possible explosion as result of tests carried out.

In order to achieve afore-mentioned objects in the most general terms, the floor protection system in question comprises; at least one floor part with high strength which ensures forming a surface suitable for the users inside said vehicle to stand, and protection of the users by absorbing the movement of armored part, close to said ground, bending towards the inside of said vehicle by the shock impact due to explosion, and which is positioned such that it covers surface of said armored part facing into said vehicle inside said vehicle and such that it is parallel with the ground on which said vehicle travel, and which comprises at least one space located in at least one side of it, and at least two connector which ensures that said floor part is connected to surface facing into said vehicle of said armored part so as to maintain a space therebetween, and which prevents said floor part to move freely in said vehicle by being ruptured because of shock impact occurred by an explosion on said ground, and which comprises at least a first housing in the form of flat quadrangular prism which is located on the surface facing into said vehicle of said armored part, and into which said floor part is suitably placed by being driven so as to be parallel with said ground, and which has an opening degree that allows the floor part which is placed therein to move at vertical direction, and which has higher strength than said floor part such that at least one of them meets said space, and at least a second housing located on the surface of said first housing close to said ground so as to be in vertical direction to said ground and to be in the same alignment with said space and comprising grooves suitable for placing a bolt-like screw part in its inner surface, and at least a third housing located on the surface of said first housing close to said ground so as to be in vertical direction to said ground and to be in the same alignment with said space, and diameter of which is larger than the diameter of bolt-like part placed therein and has width value that prevents said part to break off from its location due to explosion impact, and at least a first connector suitable for being placed to said second housing and to said third housing and preventing said floor part to be removed from said first housing.

Structural and characteristic specifications and all advantages of the invention will be understood more clearly by means of following figures and detailed description written by making references to these figures and therefore, assessment should be done by taking into consideration these figures and detailed description.

Figures to Assist in Understanding the Invention

Embodiment of the present invention and advantages thereof must be considered together with the figures explained below in order to be fully understood.

Fig. - 1: A perspective view of the subject matter floor protection system.

Fig. - 2: A perspective view of the floor part of the subject matter floor protection system. Fig. - 3: A side cross section view of the subject matter floor system.

Fig. - 4: A side cross section view of the subject matter floor protection system after explosion.

Fig. - 5: A side cross section view of the connection part of the subject matter floor protection system.

Part References

1. Armored part

2. Floor part

2a. Space

3. Connector

3a. First housing

3b. Connection edge

3c. Second housing

3d. Third housing

3e. Rounded corner

4. First connector

5. Second connector

6. Third connector

Detailed Description of the Invention

Armored parts having high strength against explosions and absorbing the shock impact occurred by explosion are provided on the bottom surfaces of armored vehicles which are close to the ground where the vehicles travel particularly for being protected against the effects of mines and improvised explosives. Currently, various floor protection systems attached to said armored part are developed in order to minimize the damage on armored vehicles after explosion, and to ensure that the vehicle is continued to be used after explosion. Said floor protection systems can be mentioned under three main groups according to their operation modes as protection systems directly attached to surface of vehicle body close to the ground, and protection systems having floating floor and constant protection degree, and floating floor protection systems having protection degree increased sectional. Flowever, all three types of floor protection systems have drawbacks and disadvantages for ensuring the user safety, reducing the costs and improving the protection degree. Therefore, in the present invention, it has been developed a floor protection system which prevents bending movement of said armored part subjected to plastic deformation by the shock impact due to explosion towards into the armored vehicle, and which controls and minimizes the pressure and/or pushing force occurred on areas connecting the floor plate to the vehicle body and which prevents the users inside the vehicle to be injured by preventing the parts forming the surface on which users stand and ensuring the connections to break off after the explosion.

In the floor protection system developed by the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in Figures 1-5, at least an armored part (1) made of an armor material which constitutes surface of vehicle body close to the ground on where said vehicle travels, and which has high strength against shock impact due to explosion occurred on said ground and absorbing the shock impact of the explosion is suitable to be attached on the surface facing inside said vehicle where the users of vehicle stand, wherein it comprises; at least one floor part (2) with high strength which ensures forming a surface suitable for the users inside said vehicle to stand, and protection of the users by absorbing the movement of armored part (1), close to said ground, bending towards the inside of said vehicle by the shock impact due to explosion, and which is positioned such that it covers surface of said armored part (1) facing into said vehicle inside said vehicle and such that it is parallel with the ground on which said vehicle travel, and which comprises at least one space (2a) located in at least one side of it; at least two connector which ensures that said floor part (2) is connected to surface facing into said vehicle of said armored part (1) so as to maintain a space therebetween, and which prevents said floor part (2) to move freely in said vehicle by being ruptured because of shock impact occurred by an explosion on said ground, and which comprises at least a first housing (3a) in the form of flat quadrangular prism which is located on the surface facing into said vehicle of said armored part (1), by locating said floor part (2) to the surface, facing into said vehicle, of said armored part (1), which is fixedly connected to the surface, facing into said vehicle, of said armored part (1) from at least one side of it, which is extending to each other starting from the sides connected to said armored part (1), and which is in quadrangular prism form, each of which is extending towards the side connected to said armored part (1) starting from the side away from the side having connection to said armored part (1), and into which said floor part (2) is suitably placed by being driven so as to be parallel with said ground, and which is covering said space (2a) from the sides proximal to said ground and away from said ground by placing said floor part (2), and which has an opening degree that allows the floor part (2) which is placed therein to move at vertical direction, and which has higher strength than said floor part (2) such that at least one of them meets said space (2a); and at least a second housing (3c) located on the surface of said first housing (3a) and inside said first housing (3a) close to said ground so as to be in vertical direction to said ground and to be in the same alignment with said space (2a) by placing said floor part (2) into said first housing (3a) by sliding it; and at least a third housing (3d) located on the surface of said first housing (3a) and on inside said first housing (3a) away from said ground, and diameter of which is larger than the diameter of bolt-like part placed therein and has width value that prevents said part to break off from its location due to explosion impact, so as to be in vertical direction to said ground and to be in the same alignment with said space (2a) by placing said floor part (2) into said first housing (3a) by sliding it; and at least a first connector (4) suitable for being placed to said second housing (3c) and to said third housing (3d) and preventing said floor part (2) to be affected from vibrations occurred on vehicle body by fixing it and preferably being a bolt.

In an exemplary embodiment of the floor protection system developed by the present invention, said connectors (3) are fixedly connected so as to be proximal to at least two sides of the surface, facing into said vehicle, of said armored part (1) and to meet said spaces (2a). After placing said floor part (2) into said first housing (3a) by sliding it, said first housing (3a) covers said spaces (2a) from the sides close to said ground and away from said ground. By this means, the distance covered by bending of said armored part (1) bent into said vehicle by the shock impact occurred due to possible explosion on said ground is tolerated by ensuring that said floor part (2) is positioned in parallel with said ground and such that to leave a distant between said armored part (1) and the surface facing into said vehicle. Afterwards, by placing said first connector (4) so as to pass through said third housing (3d) and said space (2a) and by screwing into said second housing (3c), said floor part (2) is ensured to be connected to said connector (3) such that it does not come out of said first housings (3a) in the case of an explosion. By the shock impact due to an explosion on the ground on which said vehicle moves, said armored part (1) bending into said vehicle, hits to said floor part (2) and said floor part (2) absorbs the motion of said armored part (1) and prevents the users inside said vehicle to get damaged. By means of the fact that said first housing (3a) can be placed so as to be parallel to said ground by driving said floor part (2) into it, even if said first connector (4) breaks off in the event of a shock impact caused by a possible explosion, said floor part (2) is prevented from moving out of said housing (3a) and detaching from said connector (3) and is prevented from moving inside the vehicle freely. Furthermore, by means of the face that said first housing (3a) has an opening value to allow the floor part (2) inserted therein to move in a perpendicular direction to said ground in the case of an explosion, the shock impact caused by an explosion is reduced by providing a limited movement freedom to said floor part (2) within said first housing (3a) such that it moves away from said ground by a shock impact caused by an explosion on said ground, and said floor part (2) is prevented from breaking off by being sheared. Also, by means of the fact that said connectors (3) are also made of a material having a strength value higher than said floor part (2), it is ensured that the sides of said floor part (2) connected to said connectors (3) are not affected from the shock impact caused by an explosion while allowing the center portion of said floor part (2) to be bent into said vehicle in the case of an explosion. Owing to the narrowing form of said spaces (2a), extending starting from the side at which they are positioned, towards another side opposite said side and parallel to said side, sides, within said first housing (3a), of said floor part (2) bent into said vehicle in the case of explosion are prevented from removing from said first housings (3a), and are ensured to move freely inside said first housing (3a) so as to reduce shock impact acting on said floor part (2). Thereby, the injury of the users is avoided against free movements of said floor part (2) inside said vehicle by breaking off due to explosion.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said connector (3) comprises at least one connection edge (3b) inclined in parallel direction to the surface, facing into said vehicle, of said inclined sides in order to be fixedly connected to at least one armored part (1) inclined such that its sides are away from said ground.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, said floor part (2) comprises half "V" shaped at least two spaces (2a) located on at least two sides parallel with each other correlatively, being in the form of "V" extending by narrowing to another side opposite to said side and parallel with said side starting from the side they are located and/or preferably a side of which extends so as to form a perpendicular angle to the side they are located. Said spaces (2a), owing to the forms of said spaces (2a) in the form of "V" and/or half "V", the resistance of said floor part (2) to the shock impact caused by the explosion is increased, said floor part (2) is prevented from breaking off or tearing due to explosion and the injury possibility of users inside said vehicle is reduced.

In another preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, said floor protection system comprises at least two second housings (3c) each of which is located on the surface, proximal to said ground, of said first housing (3a) comprised by each of said connectors (3), and at least two third housings (3d) located on the surface, distant from said ground, of said first housing (3a) comprised by each of said at least four connectors (3). Thereby, the resistance of said floor part (2) to the shock impact caused by the explosion is increased, and the injury possibility of users inside said vehicle is reduced.

In a preferred alternative embodiment of the invention, said floor protection system comprises at least two first connector (4) each of which is suitable for being placed to said at least two second housings (3c) and to said at least two third housings (3d) and is preventing said floor part (2) to be affected from vibrations occurred on vehicle body by securing it. Thereby, the resistance of said floor part (2) to the shock impact caused by the explosion is increased, and the injury possibility of users inside said vehicle is reduced.

In another preferred alternative embodiment of the invention, said floor protection system comprises at least a second connector (5) that is preferably a rondel and at least a third connector (6) that is preferably a washer which are located inside said first housing (3a) and between said floor part (2) and said first connector (4), and which reduce pushing and/or pulling force generated between said floor part (2) and said first connector (4) due to shock impact caused by explosion, and which prevent said first connector (4) to be detached from said second housing (3c) as result of loosening or cutting.

In another preferred alternative embodiment of the invention, said connector (3) comprises at least a rounded corner (3e) which is located on at least one side that is distant from the side connected with said armored part (1), and which extends in an inclined form to be away from said floor part (2) with an angle value starting in parallel with the surface of said floor part (2) outwardly from said first housing (3a) and which contacts to the surface of said floor part (2) close to ground and/or distant from ground in the case of explosion. Thereby, said floor part (2) which is bent into said vehicle by the shock impact caused by explosion is prevented from being teared by being cut off as result of contacting the corners of said connectors (3).

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, said floor part (2) is manufactured from aluminum material.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, said connector (3) is manufactured from steel material.

In another preferred alternative embodiment of the invention, said second housing (3c) has grooves on its inner surface suitable for tightening a part having threads therein.

In another preferred alternative embodiment of the invention, said first connector (4) comprises threads on its outer surface for being secured into said second housing (3c) by tightening.

In another preferred alternative embodiment of the invention, during the production, the distance between the side, connected to said armored part (1), of said connector (3) and another side, opposite to said side and not connected to said armored part (1), of said connector (3) can be increased and decreased according to explosion intensity foreseen as result of measurements. By this means, connectors (3) manufactured by increasing said distance for the area foreseen to have high explosion strength or connectors manufactured by reducing said distance for the area foreseen to have low explosion strength can be used.

By means of said floor part (2) of the floor protection system developed by the present invention, the shock impact to users inside said vehicle caused by an explosion on the ground where said vehicle travels is reduced. By means of said connectors (3) and said spaces (2a), said floor part (2) is avoided from being teared off due to explosion impact and from harming the users inside said vehicle. By means of said connectors (3), the pushing and/or pulling force acting on said floor part (2) is kept under control and thereby the distance between said floor part (2) and said armored part (1) can be reduced, and the volume allocated for the use of the users in said vehicle and thus the comfort of use can be increased. Thereby, a reliable floor protection system is achieved having a high strength against the shock impact caused by an explosion on the ground where said vehicle travels, and providing an effective protection for the users inside said vehicle.

Claims

1. A floor protection system which constitutes surface of vehicle body close to the ground on where said vehicle travels, and which is suitable to be attached on the surface, facing into said vehicle where the users of vehicle stand, of armored part (1) absorbing the shock impact of the explosion by being manufactured of an armor material having high strength against shock impact due to explosion occurred on said ground, characterized in that; it comprises

- at least one floor part (2) with high strength which ensures forming a surface suitable for the users inside said vehicle to stand, and protection of the users by absorbing the movement of armored part (1), close to said ground, bending towards the inside of said vehicle by the shock impact due to explosion, and which is positioned such that it covers surface of said armored part (1) facing into said vehicle inside said vehicle and such that it is parallel with the ground on which said vehicle travel, and which comprises at least one space (2a) into which connectors such as bolts can be placed so as to provide movement freedom to said floor part (2);

- at least two connector (3) which ensures that said floor part (2) is connected to surface facing into vehicle of said armored part (1) so as to maintain a space therebetween, and which prevents said floor part (2) to move freely in vehicle by being ruptured because of shock impact occurred by an explosion on ground, and which comprises at least a first housing (3a) which is located on the surface facing into vehicle of said armored part (1), by locating said floor part (2) to the surface, facing into vehicle, of said armored part (1), which is fixedly connected to the surface, facing into vehicle, of said armored part (1) from at least one side of it, and which allows the floor part (2) which is placed therein to move at vertical direction by means of their openings, and which has higher strength than said floor part (2) such that at least one of them meets said space (2a);

- and at least a second housing (3c) located on the surface of said first housing (3a) and inside said first housing (3a) close to said ground so as to be in vertical direction to said ground and to be in the same alignment with said space (2a) by placing said floor part (2) into said first housing (3a) by sliding it; - and at least a third housing (3d) located on the surface of said first housing (3a) and on inside said first housing (3a) away from said ground, and diameter of which is larger than the diameter of bolt-like part placed therein, and preventing said part from breaking off from its location due to explosion impact, so as to be in vertical direction to said ground and to be in the same alignment with said space (2a) by placing said floor part (2) into said first housing (3a) by sliding it;

- and at least a first connector (4) suitable for being placed to said second housing (3c) and to said third housing (3d) and preventing said floor part (2) to be affected from vibrations occurred on vehicle body by securing it.

2. A floor protection system according to Claim 1, characterized in that; it comprises at least one floor part (2) in the form of a rectangular plate.

3. A floor protection system according to Claim 1, characterized in that; it comprises at least two connectors (3) in the form of a quadrangular prism.

4. A floor protection system according to Claim 1, characterized in that; it comprises at least a first connector (4) that is a bolt.

5. A floor protection system according to Claim 1, characterized in that; said connector (3) comprises at least one connection edge (3b) inclined in parallel direction to the surface, facing into said vehicle, of said inclined sides in order to be fixedly connected to at least one armored part (1) inclined such that its sides are away from ground.

6. A floor protection system according to Claim 1, characterized in that; it comprises at least a second connector (5) that is preferably a rondel and at least a third connector (6) that is preferably a washer which are located inside said first housing (3a) and between said floor part (2) and said first connector (4), and which reduce pushing and/or pulling force generated between said floor part (2) and said first connector (4) due to shock impact caused by explosion, and which prevent said first connector (4) to be detached from said second housing (3c) as result of loosening or cutting.

7. A floor protection system according to Claim 1, characterized in that; said connector (3) comprises at least a rounded corner (3e) which is located on a side that is distant from the side connected with said armored part (1), and which extends in an inclined form to be away from said floor part (2) with an angle value starting in parallel with the surface of said floor part (2) outwardly from said first housing (3a) and which contacts to the surface of said floor part (2) close to ground and/or distant from ground in the case of explosion.

8. A floor protection system according to Claim 1, characterized in that; it comprises at least one floor part (2) manufactured from aluminum material.

9. A floor protection system according to Claim 1, characterized in that; it comprises at least two connectors (3) manufactured from steel material.

10. A floor protection system according to Claim 1, characterized in that; it comprises at least a second housing (3c) having grooves on its inner surface suitable for tightening a part having threads therein.

11. A floor protection system according to Claim 1, characterized in that; it comprises at least a first connector (4) having threads on its outer surface for being secured into said second housing (3c) by tightening.

12. A floor protection system according to Claim 1, characterized in that; said floor part (2) comprises half "V" shaped at least two spaces (2a) located on at least two sides parallel with each other correlatively, being in the form of "V" extending by narrowing to another side opposite to said side and parallel with said side starting from the side they are located and/or preferably a side of which extends so as to form a perpendicular angle to the side they are located.

13. A floor protection system according to Claims 1 and 12, characterized in that; it comprises at least two second housings (3c) each of which is located on the surface, proximal to said ground, of said first housing (3a), and at least two third housings (3d) located on the surface, distant from said ground, of said first housing (3a) comprised by said connectors (3).

14. A floor protection system according to Claims 1 and 12, characterized in that; it comprises at least two first connectors (4) each of which is suitable for being placed to said second housing (3c) and to said third housing (3d) and prevents said floor part (2) from being affected from vibrations occurred on vehicle body by securing it.

15. A floor protection system according to Claim 1, characterized in that; it comprises at least two connectors (3) the distance between their sides, connected to said armored part (1), of said connector and another side, opposite to and parallel with said side and not connected to said armored part (1), of said connector can be adjusted according to explosion intensity foreseen as result of measurements, and which can be increased for high explosion intensity and decreased for low explosion intensity.