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EP 1 522 817 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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30.12.2009 Bulletin 2009/53 |
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Date of filing: 29.09.2004 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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A composite armor plate and ceramic bodies for use therein
Verbundpanzerplatte und Keramikkörper dafür
Plaque de blindage composite et corps en céramique pour celle-ci
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
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Priority: |
09.10.2003 IL 15832003
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Date of publication of application: |
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13.04.2005 Bulletin 2005/15 |
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Proprietor: Cohen, Michael |
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90200 Mobile Post North Yehuda (IL) |
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Inventor: |
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- Cohen, Michael
90200 Mobile Post North Yehuda (IL)
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Representative: Hartley, Andrew Philip et al |
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Mathisen, Macara & Co
The Coach House
6-8 Swakeleys Road Ickenham, Uxbridge UB10 8BZ Ickenham, Uxbridge UB10 8BZ (GB) |
(56) |
References cited: :
EP-A- 0 699 887 US-A- 5 972 819
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WO-A-98/15796 US-A1- 2002 012 768
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention relates to a ceramic body for deployment in a composite armor
panel, for absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy from projectiles and to ballistic
armor panels incorporating the same. More particularly, the invention relates to improved
ceramic bodies for use in armored plates for providing ballistic protection for light
and heavy mobile equipment and for vehicles against high-velocity, armor-piercing
projectiles or fragments and especially for use as add-on protection to rigid armor
plates such as the steel plates of armored vehicles.
[0002] The present invention is a modification of the inventions described in
US Patents 5,763,813;
5,972,819;
6,289,781;
6,112,635;
6,203,908; and
6,408,734 and in
WO-A-9815796.
[0003] In
US Patent 5,763,813 there is described and claimed a composite armor material for absorbing and dissipating
kinetic energy from high velocity, armor-piercing projectiles, comprising a panel
consisting essentially of a single internal layer of high density ceramic pellets
said pellets having an Al
2O
3 content of at least 93% and a specific gravity of at least 2.5 and retained in panel
form by a solidified material which is elastic at a temperature below 250°C ; the
majority of said pellets each having a part of a major axis of a length of in the
range of about 3-12mm, and being bound by said solidified material in plurality of
superposed rows, wherein a majority of each of said pellets is in contact with at
least 4 adjacent pellets, the weight of said panel does not exceed 45kg/m
2.
[0004] In
US Patent 6,112,635 there is described and claimed a composite armor plate for absorbing and dissipating
kinetic energy from high velocity, armor-piercing projectiles, said plate consisting
essentially of a single internal layer of high density ceramic pellets which are directly
bound and retained in plate form by a solidified material such that the pellets are
bound in a plurality of adjacent rows, wherein the pellets have an Al
2O
3 content of at least 93% and a specific gravity of at least 2.5, the majority of the
pellets each have at least one axis of at least 12 mm length said one axis of substantially
all of said pellets being in substantial parallel orientation with each other and
substantially perpendicular to an adjacent surface of said plate and wherein a majority
of each of said pellets is in direct contact with 6 adjacent pellets, and said solidified
material and said plate are elastic.
[0005] In
WO-A-9815796 corresponding to
US Patent 5,972,819, there is described and claimed a ceramic body for deployment in a composite armor
panel, said body being substantially cylindrical in shape, with at least one convexly
curved end face, wherein the ratio D/R between the diameter D of said cylindrical
body and the radius R of curvature of said at least one convexly curved end face is
at least 0.64:1.
[0006] In
US Patent 6,289,781 there is described and claimed a composite armor plate for absorbing and dissipating
kinetic energy from high velocity projectiles, said plate comprising a single internal
layer of pellets which are directly bound and retained in plate form by a solidified
material such that the pellets are bound in a plurality of adjacent rows, characterized
in that the pellets have a specific gravity of at least 2 and are made of a material
selected from the group consisting of glass, sintered refractory material, ceramic
material which does not contain aluminum oxide and ceramic material having an aluminum
oxide content of not more than 80%, the majority of the pellets each have at least
one axis of at least 3 mm length and are bound by said solidified material in said
single internal layer of adjacent rows such that each of a majority of said pellets
is in direct contact with at least six adjacent pellets in the same layer to provide
mutual lateral confinement therebetween, said pellets each have a substantially regular
geometric form and said solidified material and said plate are elastic.
[0007] In
US Patent 6,408,734 there is described and claimed a composite armor plate for absorbing and dissipating
kinetic energy from high velocity, armor-piercing projectiles, as well as from soft-nosed
projectiles, said plate comprising a single internal layer of high density ceramic
pellets, characterized in that said pellets are arranged in a single layer of adjacent
rows and columns, wherein a majority of each of said pellets is in direct contact
with at least four adjacent pellets and each of said pellets are substantially cylindrical
in shape with at least one convexly-curved end face, further characterized in that
spaces formed between said adjacent cylindrical pellets are filled with a material
for preventing the flow of soft metal from impacting projectiles through said spaces,
said material being in the form of a triangular insert having concave sides complimentary
to the convex curvature of the sides of three adjacent cylindrical pellets, or being
integrally formed as part of a special interstices-filling pellet, said pellet being
in the form of a six sided star with concave sides complimentary to the convex curvature
of the sides of six adjacent cylindrical pellets, said pellets and material being
bound and retained in plate form by a solidified material, wherein said solidified
material and said plate material are elastic.
[0008] As described and explained therein, an incoming projectile may contact the pellet
array in one of three ways:
- 1. Center contact. The impact allows the full volume of the pellet to participate
in stopping the projectile, which cannot penetrate without pulverizing the whole pellet,
an energy-intensive task.
- 2. Flank contact. The impact causes projectile yaw, thus making projectile arrest
easier, as a larger frontal area is contacted, and not only the sharp nose of the
projectile. The projectile is deflected sideways and needs to form for itself a large
aperture to penetrate, thus allowing the armor to absorb the projectile energy.
- 3. Valley contact. The projectile is jammed, usually between the flanks of three pellets,
all of which participate in projectile arrest. The high side forces applied to the
pellets are resisted by the pellets adjacent thereto as held by the substrate or plate,
and penetration is prevented.
[0009] There are four main considerations concerning protective armor panels. The first
consideration is weight. Protective armor for heavy but mobile military equipment,
such as tanks and large ships, is known. Such armor usually comprises a thick layer
of alloy steel, which is intended to provide protection against heavy and explosive
projectiles. However, reduction of weight of armor, even in heavy equipment, is an
advantage since it reduces the strain on all the components of the vehicle. Furthermore,
such armor is quite unsuitable for light vehicles such as automobiles, jeeps, light
boats, or aircraft, whose performance is compromised by steel panels having a thickness
of more than a few millimeters, since each millimeter of steel adds a weight factor
of 7.8 kg/m
2.
[0010] Armor for light vehicles is expected to prevent penetration of bullets of any type,
even when impacting at a speed in the range of 700 to 1000 meters per second. However,
due to weight constraints it is difficult to protect light vehicles from high caliber
armor-piercing projectiles, e.g. of 12.7 and 14.5 mm and above, since the weight of
standard armor to withstand such projectile is such as to impede the mobility and
performance of such vehicles.
[0011] A second consideration is cost. Overly complex armor arrangements, particularly those
depending entirely on composite materials, can be responsible for a notable proportion
of the total vehicle cost, and can make its manufacture non-profitable.
[0012] A third consideration in armor design is compactness. A thick armor panel, including
air spaces between its various layers, increases the target profile of the vehicle.
In the case of civilian retrofitted armored automobiles which are outfitted with internal
armor, there is simply no room for a thick panel in most of the areas requiring protection.
[0013] A fourth consideration relates to ceramic plates used for personal and light vehicle
armor, which plates have been found to be vulnerable to damage from mechanical impacts
caused by rocks, falls, etc.
[0014] Fairly recent examples of armor systems are described in
U.S. Patent No. 4,836,084, disclosing an armor plate composite including a supporting plate consisting of an
open honeycomb structure of aluminum; and
U.S. Patent No. 4,868,040, disclosing an antiballistic composite armor including a shock-absorbing layer. Also
of interest is
U.S. Patent 4,529,640, disclosing spaced armor including a hexagonal honeycomb core member.
[0015] Other armor plate panels are disclosed in
British Patents 1,081,464;
1,352,418;
2,272,272, and in
U.S. Patent 4,061,815 wherein the use of sintered refractory material, as well as the use of ceramic materials,
are described.
[0016] In the majority of the patents by the present inventor, the preferred embodiments
are pellets having a cylindrical body and at least one convexly curved end face and
the especially preferred embodiment is that described in
US Patent 5,972,819 wherein the body is substantially cylindrical in shape with at least one convexly
curved end face, and preferably two identical convexly curved end faces, wherein the
ratio D/R between the diameter D of said cylindrical body and the radius R of curvature
of said convexly curved end faces is at least 0.64:1.
[0017] It has now been found that when mounting composite armor panels as add-on protection
for the rigid steel armor of light and heavy armored vehicles, the pellet itself is
capable of damaging or even penetrating said rigid steel armor backing.
[0018] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a pellet for use
in a composite armor plate for absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy from high
velocity projectiles, the pellet being made of a ceramic material and having a body
portion with a substantially geometrical cross-sectional area, the geometrical cross-sectional
area having an axis of symmetry, the pellet having first and second end faces projecting,
respectively, from opposite ends of the body portion and each end face having an outwardly
decreasing cross-sectional area, the second end face having a height which is less
than 15% of the diameter of the body portion characterised in that the first end face
has a height which is greater than the height of the second end face.
[0019] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a composite armor
plate for absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy from high-velocity projectiles,
the plate comprising a single layer of pellets, wherein each pellet is according to
the first aspect of the invention, the pellets being bound and retained in plate form
by a solidified elastic material, substantially internally within the solidified elastic
material, such that the pellets are bound in a plurality of spaced-apart rows and
columns, the pellets being substantially fully embedded in the solidified elastic
material, wherein the solidified elastic material and the plate are elastic, wherein
a majority of each of the pellets is in direct contact with six adjacent pellets in
the same layer to provide mutual lateral confinement therebetween, wherein the second
end face of each pellet is disposed substantially opposite to an outer impact receiving
major surface of the plate and the first end face of each pellet is an impact receiving
end face.
[0020] In first preferred embodiments of the present invention, the second end face, which
is disposed substantially opposite to an outer impact receiving major surface of said
plate, is spherical.
[0021] In these first preferred embodiments, especially preferred are pellets wherein the
second end face is convexly curved and wherein the ratio D/R between the diameter
D of the body portion of the pellet and the radius R of the curvature of said convexly
curved end second face is between about 0.28:1 and 0.639:1.
[0022] In further preferred embodiments of the present invention, the second end face, which
is disposed substantially opposite to an outer impact receiving major surface of said
plate, is in the form of an outwardly tapered truncated cone forming a chamfered end.
[0023] As stated, the composite armor plate and pellets of the present invention are especially
preferred whenever used as ballistic protection for a rigid armor plate since it has
been found that they increase the area distribution of the initial impact of the pellet
as transferred by inertia from the impacting projectile.
[0024] Thus the major difference between the plate and pellets of the present invention
and those of the prior plates and pellets in this series is in the shape and size
of the end face disposed substantially opposite to the outer impact receiving major
surface of the plate (the second end face) however, nevertheless it is still preferred
that a majority of said pellets have at least one convexly-curved end face oriented
to substantially face in the direction of an outer impact receiving major surface
of said plate (i.e. the first end face).
[0025] In the preferred embodiments of the present invention said pellets have at least
one axis of at least 9 mm and the present invention is especially applicable and preferred
for use with plates incorporating pellets having at least one axis of at least 20
mm.
[0026] In yet further embodiments of the present invention, a channel is provided in a plurality
of said pellets to reduce the weight per area thereof.
[0027] In said further embodiments said channel preferably occupies a volume of up to 25%
of said pellet.
[0028] The cross-sectional shape of the body portions of the pellets may be circular or
oval as well as forms that repeat themselves including star shapes, polygonal cross-sectional
shapes and multiple repeating patterns of alternating straight and curved segments.
[0029] The term "elasticity" as used herein relates to the fact that the plates according
to the present invention are bent when a load is applied thereto however upon release
of said load the plate returns to its original shape without damage.
[0030] For pellets which have a body portion which is not cylindrical, the diameter of the
body portion is the length of the longest cross-sectional straight line passing from
side to side through the centre of the body portion. When the body portion is cylindrical,
the term diameter has its usual meaning.
[0031] The armor plates described in
EP-A-0843149 and
European Patent Application 98301769.0 are made using ceramic pellets made substantially entirely of aluminium oxide. In
WO-A-9815796 the ceramic bodies are of substantially cylindrical shape having at least one convexly-curved
end-face, and are preferably made of aluminum oxide.
[0032] In
WO 99/60327 it was described that the improved properties of the plates described in the earlier
patent applications of this series is as much a function of the configuration of the
pellets, which are of regular geometric form with at least one convexly-curved end
face (for example, the pellets may be spherical or ovoidal, or of regular geometric
cross-section, such as hexagonal, with at least one convexly-curved end face), said
panels and their arrangement as a single internal layer of pellets bound by an elastic
solidified material, wherein each of a majority of said pellets is in direct contact
with at least four adjacent pellets and said curved end face of each pellet is oriented
to substantially face in the direction of an outer impact-receiving major surface
of the plate. As a result, said specification teaches that composite armor plates
superior to those available in the prior art can be manufactured using pellets made
of sintered refractory materials or ceramic materials having a specific gravity below
that of aluminum oxide, e.g., boron carbide with a specific gravity of 2.45, silicon
carbide with a specific gravity of 3.2 and silicon aluminum oxynitride with a specific
gravity of about 3.2.
[0033] Thus, it was described in said publication that sintered oxides, nitrides, carbides
and borides of magnesium, zirconium, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium and silica can
be used and especially preferred for use in said publication and also in the present
invention the ceramic bodies utilized herein are formed of a ceramic material selected
from the group consisting of sintered oxide, nitrides, carbides and borides of alumina,
magnesium, zirconium, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium and silica.
[0034] More particularly, the present invention relates to a ceramic body as defined for
absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy from high velocity armor piercing projectiles,
wherein said body is made of a material selected from the group consisting of alumina,
boron carbide, boron nitride, titanium diboride, silicon carbide, silicon oxide, silicon
nitride, magnesium oxide, silicon aluminum oxynitride and mixtures thereof.
[0035] In preferred embodiments of the present invention said pellets each have a major
axis and said pellets are arranged with their major axes substantially parallel to
each other and oriented substantially perpendicularly relative to said outer impact-receiving
major surface of said panel.
[0036] Thus, in preferred embodiments of the present invention there is provided a composite
armor plate as herein defined, wherein a majority of said pellets have at least one
convexly-curved end face oriented to substantially face in the direction of an outer
impact receiving major surface of said plate.
[0037] The solidified material can be any suitable material, such as aluminum, a thermoplastic
polymer such as polycarbonate, or a thermoset plastic such as epoxy or polyurethane.
[0038] When aluminum is used as said solidified material an x-ray of the plate shows the
formation of a honeycomb structure around the pellets.
[0039] In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is provided a composite
armor plate comprising a plurality of pellets arranged in a layer and embedded in
solidified elastic material, each pellet being in accordance with the first aspect
of the invention, each pellet body portion having an axis and a constant geometric
cross-section normal to the axis, wherein the constant geometric cross-section has
an axis of symmetry, each pellet contacting adjacent pellets at respective body portions
and the second end faces being disposed substantially opposite to an outer impact
receiving major surface of the plate, wherein the height of each second end face is
the height of the second end face along the corresponding body portion axis, and wherein
each first end face is an impact receiving end face.
[0040] There are a number of optional but preferred features of this aspect of the invention,
which are independent from one another, as follows. The layer of pellets is preferably
the only layer of pellets in the plate. The pellets are preferably completely embedded
or substantially completely embedded in the elastic material. Each of a majority of
the pellets is preferably in contact with six adjacent pellets. The plate is preferably
elastic.
[0041] In
French Patent 2,711,782 there is described a steel panel reinforced with ceramic materials; however said
panel does not have the ability to deflect armor-piercing projectiles unless a thickness
of about 8-9 mm of steel is used, which adds undesirable excessive weight to the panel
and further backing is also necessary thereby further increasing the weight thereof.
[0042] The composite armor plate according to the present invention can be used in conjunction
with and as an addition to the standard steel plates provided on armored vehicles
or as add on armor for armored vehicles having aluminium or titanium containing rigid
surfaces, as well as in conjunction with the laminated armor described and claimed
in
US Patent 6,497,966.
[0043] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a multi-layered
armor panel, comprising an outer, impact-receiving layer formed by a composite armor
plate as hereinbefore defined for deforming and shattering an impacting high velocity
projectile; and an inner layer adjacent to said outer layer and, comprising a ballistic
material for absorbing the remaining kinetic energy from said fragments. Said ballistic
material will be chosen according to cost and weight considerations and can be made
of any suitable material such as Dyneema, Kevlar, aluminum, steel, titanium, or S2.
[0044] As described, e.g., in
U.S. Patent 5,361,678, composite armor plate comprising a mass of spherical ceramic balls distributed in
an aluminum alloy matrix is known in the prior art. However, such prior art composite
armor plate suffers from one or more serious disadvantages, making it difficult to
manufacture and less than entirely suitable for the purpose of defeating metal projectiles.
More particularly, in the armor plate described in said patent, the ceramic balls
are coated with a binder material containing ceramic particles, the coating having
a thickness of between 0.76 and 1.5 mm and being provided to help protect the ceramic
cores from damage due to thermal shock when pouring the molten matrix material during
manufacture of the plate. However, the coating serves to separate the harder ceramic
cores of the balls from each other, and will act to dampen the moment of energy which
is transferred and hence shared between the balls in response to an impact from a
bullet or other projectile. Because of this and also because the material of the coating
is inherently less hard than that of the ceramic cores, the stopping power of a plate
constructed as described in said patent is not as good, weight for weight, as that
of a plate in accordance with the present invention.
[0045] U.S. Patent 3,705,558 discloses a lightweight armor plate comprising a layer of ceramic balls. The ceramic
balls are in contact with each other and leave small gaps for entry of molten metal.
In one embodiment, the ceramic balls are encased in a stainless steel wire screen;
and in another embodiment, the composite armour is manufactured by adhering nickel-coated
alumina spheres to an aluminium alloy plate by means of a polysulfide adhesive. A
composite armour plate as described in this patent is difficult to manufacture because
the ceramic spheres may be damaged by thermal shock arising from molten metal contact,
The ceramic spheres are also sometimes displayed during casting of molten metal into
interstices between the spheres.
[0046] In order to minimize such displacement,
US Patents 4,534,266 and
4,945,814 propose a network of interlinked metal shells to encase ceramic inserts during casting
of molten metal. After the metal solidifies, the metal shells are incorporated into
a composite armor. It has been determined, however, that such network of interlinked
metal shells substantially increases the overall weight of the armoured panel and
deceases the stopping power thereof.
[0047] It is further to be noted that
US Patent 3,705,558 suggests and teaches an array of ceramic balls disposed in contacting pyramidal relationship,
which arrangement also substantially increases the overall weight of the armoured
panel and decreases the stopping power thereof, due to a billard-like effect upon
impact.
[0048] As will be realized, when preparing the composite armor plate of the present invention,
said pellets do not necessarily have to be completed covered on both sides by said
solidified material. The pellets are either completely or almost completely covered
by said solidified material, wherein outer face surfaces of the plate are formed from
the solidified material, the plate having an outer impact receiving face, at which
face each pellet is either covered by the solidified material, touches said solidified
material which forms surfaces of said outer impact receiving race or, not being completely
covered by said solidified material which constitutes surfaces of said outer impact
receiving face, bulges therefrom, the solidified material and hence the plate being
elastic.
[0049] In
USSN 09/924745 there is described and claimed a composite armor plate for absorbing and dissipating
kinetic energy from high velocity projectiles, said plate comprising a single internal
layer of pellets which are directly bound and retained in plate form by a solidified
material such that the pellets are bound in a plurality of adjacent rows, said pellets
having a specific gravity of at least 2 and being made of a material selected from
the group consisting of glass, sintered refractory material and ceramic material,
the majority of the pellets each having at least one axis of at least 3 mm length
and being bound by said solidified material in said single internal layer of adjacent
rows such that each of a majority of said pellets is in direct contact with six adjacent
pellets in the same layer to provide mutual lateral confinement therebetween, said
pellets each having a substantially regular geometric form, wherein said solidified
material and said plate are elastic, characterized in that a channel is provided in
each of a plurality of said pellets, substantially opposite to an outer impact-receiving
major surface of said plate, thereby reducing the weight per area of each of said
pellets.
[0050] In preferred embodiments described therein each of said channels occupies a volume
of up to 25% within its respective pellet.
[0051] Said channels can be bored into preformed pellets or the pellets themselves can be
pressed with said channel already incorporated therein.
[0052] Thus, in preferred embodiments of the present invention a channel is provided in
the pellets of the armor of the present invention to further reduce the weight per
area thereof and preferably said channel occupies a volume of up to 25% of said body.
[0053] In accordance with the present invention said channels are preferably of a shape
selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, pyramidal, hemispherical and quadratic,
hexagonal prism and combinations thereof.
[0054] As is known, there exists a ballistic effect known in the art in which a projectile
striking a cylinder at an angle has a tendency to move this cylinder out of alignment
causing a theoretical possibility that a second shot would have more penetration effect
on a panel.
[0055] As will be realized, since material is removed from the pellets of the present invention
their weight is decreased, as is the overall weight of the entire composite armor
plate from which they are formed, thereby providing the unexpected improvement of
reduced weight of protective armor panels without loss of stopping power.
[0056] The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments
with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully
understood.
[0057] With reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars
shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred
embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing
what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles
and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show
structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental
understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent
to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied
in practice.
[0058] In the drawings:
FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a first preferred pellet according to the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a second preferred pellet according to the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a third preferred pellet according to the present
invention; and
FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a fourth preferred pellet according to the present
invention.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 1 there is seen an elevational view of a preferred pellet 2 according
to the present invention having a substantially cylindrical body 4 and two convexly
curved end faces 6 and 8. As indicated in the drawing, end face 6 which is designed
to serve as the outer impact receiving end face of the pellet 2 has a radius of curvature
of 17 mm as indicated by the letter R and the cylinder has a diameter of 28 mm. In
contradistinction the end face 8 designed to be disposed substantially opposite to
the outer impact receiving end face 6 has a spherical surface with a radius of curvature
of 100 mm. Thus as will be realized, in this embodiment, the ratio D/R between the
diameter of the body of the pellet and the radius R of the curvature of said convexly
curved end face 8 is 0.28:1.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 2 there is seen an elevational view of a further preferred pellet
20 according to the present invention having a substantially cylindrical body 24 and
two convexly curved end faces 26 and 28. As indicated in the drawing, end face 26
which is designed to serve as the outer impact receiving end face of the pellet 20
has a radius of curvature of 17 mm as indicated by the letter R and the cylinder has
a diameter of 28 mm. In contradistinction the end face 28 designed to be disposed
substantially opposite to the outer impact receiving end face 26 has a spherical surface
with a radius of curvature of 44 mm. Thus as will be realized, in this embodiment,
the ratio D/R between the diameter of the body of the pellet and the radius R of the
curvature of said convexly curved end face 28 is 0,636:1,
[0061] Referring to FIG. 3 there is seen an elevational view of yet a further preferred
pellet 30 according to the present invention having a substantially cylindrical body
34 with one convexly curved end face 36 and a further end face 38 disposed substantially
opposite to the outer impact receiving end face 36 wherein said end face 38 is in
the form of an outwardly tapered truncated cone. As with the embodiments discussed
with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, end face 36 which is designed to serve as the outer
impact receiving end face of the pellet 30 has a radius of curvature of 17 mm as indicated
by the letter R and the cylinder has a diameter of 28 mm. In contradistinction, the
end face 38 designed to be disposed substantially opposite to the outer impact receiving
end face 36 is in the form of a chamfer with a height (h) of 2 mm and wherein the
angle of the outwardly tapered truncated cone vis a vis the cylindrical body is 45°.
Thus as will be realized, in this embodiment, the height (h) of the end face 38 is
less than 15% of the length of the diameter of the pellet body from which it projects
and in fact is less than 10% of the length of the diameter of the pellet body.
[0062] Referring now to FIG. 4 there is seen a variation of the pellet 30 as described with
reference to FIG. 3 and similar numbers have been used to describe similar parts.
Thus as seen, said pellet, 30' is formed of a cylindrical body 34 with one convexly
curved end face 36 and a further end face 38 disposed substantially opposite to the
outer impact receiving end face 36 wherein said end face 38 is in the form of an outwardly
tapered truncated cone. As with the embodiments discussed with reference to FIGURES
1 and 2, end face 36 which is designed to serve as the outer impact receiving end
face of the pellet 30' has a radius of curvature of 17 mm as indicated by the letter
R and the cylinder has a diameter of 28 mm. In contradistinction the end face 38 designed
to be disposed substantially opposite to the outer impact receiving end face 36 is
in the form of a chamfer with a height of 2 mm and wherein the angle of the outwardly
tapered truncated cone vis a vis the cylindrical body is 45°. In addition said pellet
30' is provided with a channel 40 substantially opposite to the outer impact-receiving
end face 36 of said pellet, thereby reducing the weight per area of said pellet. In
the embodiment shown, said channel has a diameter of 15 mm.
[0063] The pellets 2, 20 and 30' are all formed of a ceramic material. Preferred ceramics
are sintered oxide, nitrides, carbides and borides of alumina, magnesium, zirconium,
tungsten, molybdenum, titanium and silica.
[0064] Preferred materials are typically alumina, boron carbide, boron nitride, titanium
diboride, silicon carbide, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, magnesium oxide, silicon
aluminum oxynitride and mixtures thereof.
[0065] While not shown, the plates of the present invention or at least the outer surface
thereof can be further covered by a thin layer of kevlar, fiberglass, or even aluminum
for protection and for concealing the structure thereof.
[0066] It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited
to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments and that the present invention
may be embodied in other specific forms. The present embodiments are therefore to
be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the
invention being indicated by the appended claims.
1. A pellet (2, 20, 30, 30') for use in a composite armor plate for absorbing and dissipating
kinetic energy from high velocity projectiles, the pellet being made of a ceramic
material and having a body portion (4, 24, 34) with a substantially geometrical cross-sectional
area, the geometrical cross-sectional area having an axis of symmetry, the pellet
having first and second end faces (6, 8, 26, 28, 36, 38) projecting, respectively,
from opposite ends of the body portion (4, 24, 34) and each end face (6, 8, 26, 28,
36, 38) having an outwardly decreasing cross-sectional area, the second end face (8,
28, 38) having a height which is less than 15% of the diameter of the body portion,
characterised in that the first end face (6, 26, 36) has a height which is greater than the height of the
second end face.
2. A composite armor plate for absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy from high-velocity
projectiles, the plate comprising a single layer of pellets (2, 20, 30 30'), wherein
each pellet is according to claim 1, the pellets being bound and retained in plate
form by a solidified elastic material, substantially internally within the solidified
elastic material, such that the pellets (2, 20, 30 30') are bound in a plurality of
spaced-apart rows and columns, the pellets (2, 20, 30 30') being substantially fully
embedded in the solidified elastic material, wherein the solidified elastic material
and the plate are elastic, wherein a majority of each of the pellets (2, 20, 30 30')
is in direct contact with six adjacent pellets in the same layer to provide mutual
lateral confinement therebetween, wherein the second end face (8, 28, 38) of each
pellet is disposed substantially opposite to an outer impact receiving major surface
of the plate and the first end face (6, 26, 36) of each pellet is an impact receiving
end face.
3. A composite armor plate comprising a plurality of pellets (2, 20, 30 30') arranged
in a layer and embedded in a solidified elastic material, each pellet being in accordance
with claim 1, each pellet body portion having an axis and a constant geometric cross-section
normal to the axis, wherein the constant geometric cross-section has an axis of symmetry,
each pellet (2, 20, 30 30') contacting adjacent pellets at respective body portions
(4, 24, 34) and the second end faces (8, 28, 38) being disposed substantially opposite
to an outer impact receiving major surface of the plate, wherein the height of each
second end face is the height of the second end face along the corresponding body
portion axis, and wherein each first end face (6, 26, 36) is an impact receiving end
face.
4. A composite armor plate according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein each end second face
(8, 28) is spherical.
5. A composite armor plate according to claim 4, wherein for each second end face (8,
28), the ratio D/R between the diameter D of the body portion (8, 24) of the pellet
(2, 20) and the radius R of the curvature of the second end face (8, 28) is between
0.28:1 and 0.639:1.
6. A composite armor plate according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein each second end face
(38) is in the form of an outwardly tapered truncated cone.
7. A composite armor plate according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein a majority
of the first end faces (6, 6, 36) are convexly-curved and oriented to substantially
face in the direction of the outer impact receiving major surface of the plate.
8. A composite armor plate according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the pellets
(2, 20, 30 30') have at least one axis of at least 9 mm.
9. A composite armor plate according to claim 8, wherein the pellets (2, 20, 30 30')
have at least one axis of at least 20 mm.
10. A composite armor plate according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein each of said
pellets (2, 20, 30 30') is formed of a ceramic material selected from the group consisting
of sintered oxide, nitrides, carbides and borides of alumina, magnesium, zirconium,
tungsten, molybdenum, titanium and silica.
11. A composite armor plate according to any one of claims 2-9, wherein each of said pellets
(2, 20, 30 30') is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of alumina,
boron carbide, boron nitride, titanium diboride, silicon carbide, silicon oxide, silicon
nitride, magnesium oxide, silicon aluminium oxynitride and mixtures thereof.
12. A composite armor plate according to claim 3 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein
said solidified elastic material and said plate are elastic.
13. A composite armor plate according to any one of claims 2 to 12 characterized in that a channel (40) is provided in a plurality of said pellets (30') to reduce the weight
per area thereof.
14. A composite armor plate according to claim 13, wherein said channel (40) occupies
a volume of up to 25% of said pellet (30').
15. A multi-layered armor panel, comprising an outer, impact-receiving layer formed by
a composite armor plate according to any one of claims 2 to 14 for deforming and shattering
an impacting high velocity projectile, and an inner layer adjacent to the outer layer
and comprising a ballistic material for absorbing the remaining kinetic energy from
said fragments.
16. A multi-layered armor panel according to claim 15, wherein the ballistic material
is Dyneema (TM), Kevlar (TM), aluminium, steel, titanium or S2.
17. Use of a composite armor plate according to any one of claims 2 to 14, as ballistic
protection for a rigid armor plate.
1. Pellet (2, 20, 30, 30') zur Verwendung in einer zusammengesetzten Panzerplatte zum
Absorbieren und Ableiten der kinetischen Energie von Hochgeschwindigkeitsgeschossen,
wobei das Pellet aus einem Keramikmaterial hergestellt ist und einen Körperabschnitt
(4, 24, 34) mit einer im Wesentlichen geometrischen Querschnittsfläche hat, die geometrische
Querschnittsfläche eine Symmetrieachse hat, das Pellet eine erste und eine zweite
Endfläche (6, 8, 26, 28, 36, 38) hat, die jeweils von entgegengesetzten Enden des
Körperabschnitts (4, 24, 34) vorspringen, und jede Endfläche (6, 8, 26, 28, 36, 38)
eine nach außen kleiner werdende Querschnittsfläche hat, wobei die zweite Endfläche
(8, 28, 38) eine Höhe hat, die kleiner als 15 % des Durchmessers des Körperabschnitts
ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die erste Endfläche (6, 26, 36) eine Höhe hat, die größer als die Höhe der zweiten
Endfläche ist.
2. Zusammengesetzte Panzerplatte zum Absorbieren und Ableiten der kinetischen Energie
von Hochgeschwindigkeitsgeschossen, wobei die Platte eine einzelne Lage von Pellets
(2, 20, 30, 30') umfasst, wobei jedes Pellet Anspruch 1 gemäß ist, wobei die Pellets
von einem verfestigten elastischen Material im Wesentlichen im Innern des verfestigten
elastischen Materials in Plattenform gebunden und festgehalten werden, so dass die
Pellets (2, 20, 30, 30') in mehreren voneinander beabstandeten Reihen und Spalten
gebunden sind, wobei die Pellets (2, 20, 30, 30') im Wesentlichen vollständig in dem
verfestigten elastischen Material eingebettet sind, wobei das verfestigte elastische
Material und die Platte elastisch sind, wobei eine Mehrzahl der Pellets (2, 20, 30,
30') jeweils mit sechs benachbarten Pellets in der gleichen Lage in direktem Kontakt
steht, um für gegenseitige seitliche Beschränkung zwischen ihnen zu sorgen, wobei
die zweite Endfläche (8, 28, 38) jedes Pellets im Wesentlichen gegenüber einer äußeren
Aufprall aufnehmenden Hauptfläche der Platte angeordnet ist und die erste Endfläche
(6, 26, 36) jedes Pellets eine Aufprall aufnehmende Endfläche ist.
3. Zusammengesetzte Panzerplatte, umfassend eine Vielzahl von Pellets (2, 20, 30, 30'),
die in einer Lage angeordnet und in einem verfestigten elastischen Material eingebettet
sind, wobei jedes Pellet Anspruch 1 gemäß ist, jeder Pelletkörperabschnitt eine Achse
und einen zu der Achse normalen konstanten geometrischen Querschnitt hat, wobei der
konstante geometrische Querschnitt eine Symmetrieachse hat, jedes Pellet (2, 20, 30,
30') benachbarte Pellets an jeweiligen Körperabschnitten (4, 24, 34) berührt und die
zweiten Endflächen (8, 28, 38) im Wesentlichen gegenüber einer äußeren Aufprall aufnehmenden
Hauptfläche der Platte angeordnet sind, wobei die Höhe jeder zweiten Endfläche die
Höhe der zweiten Endfläche entlang der entsprechenden Körperabschnittsachse ist und
wobei jede erste Endfläche (6, 26, 36) eine Aufprall aufnehmende Endfläche ist.
4. Zusammengesetzte Panzerplatte nach Anspruch 2 oder Anspruch 3, bei der jede zweite
Endfläche (8, 28) kugelig ist.
5. Zusammengesetzte Panzerplatte nach Anspruch 4, bei der für jede zweite Endfläche (8,
28) das Verhältnis D/R zwischen dem Durchmesser D des Körperabschnitts (8, 24) des
Pellets (2, 20) und dem Radius R der Krümmung der zweiten Endfläche (8, 28) zwischen
0,28:1 und 0,639:1 beträgt.
6. Zusammengesetzte Panzerplatte nach Anspruch 2 oder Anspruch 3, bei der jede zweite
Endfläche (38) die Form eines sich nach außen verjüngenden Kegelstumpfs hat.
7. Zusammengesetzte Panzerplatte nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 6, bei der eine Mehrzahl
der ersten Endflächen (6, 6, 36) nach außen gewölbt und so ausgerichtet sind, dass
sie im Wesentlichen in die Richtung der äußeren Aufprall aufnehmenden Hauptfläche
der Platte weisen.
8. Zusammengesetzte Panzerplatte nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 7, bei der die Pellets
(2, 20, 30, 30') wenigstens eine Achse von wenigstens 9 mm haben.
9. Zusammengesetzte Panzerplatte nach Anspruch 8, bei der die Pellets (2, 20, 30, 30')
wenigstens eine Achse von wenigstens 20 mm haben.
10. Zusammengesetzte Panzerplatte nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 9, bei der jedes der
genannten Pellets (2, 20, 30, 30') aus einem aus der Gruppe bestehend aus gesintertem
Oxid, Nitriden, Carbiden und Boriden von Aluminiumoxid, Magnesium, Zirkonium, Wolfram,
Molybdän, Titan und Siliziumdioxid ausgewählten keramischen Material hergestellt ist.
11. Zusammengesetzte Panzerplatte nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 9, bei der jedes der
genannten Pellets (2, 20, 30, 30') aus einem aus der Gruppe bestehend aus Aluminiumoxid,
Borcarbid, Bornitrid, Titandiborid, Siliziumcarbid, Siliziumoxid, Siliziumnitrid,
Magnesiumoxid, Siliziumaluminiumoxynitrid und Gemischen dieser ausgewählten Material
hergestellt ist.
12. Zusammengesetzte Panzerplatte nach Anspruch 3 oder einem davon abhängigen Anspruch,
bei der das genannte verfestigte elastische Material und die genannte Platte elastisch
sind.
13. Zusammengesetzte Panzerplatte nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass in einer Vielzahl der genannten Pellets (30') eine Rille (40) bereitgestellt ist,
um ihre flächenbezogene Masse zu verringern.
14. Zusammengesetzte Panzerplatte nach Anspruch 13, bei der die genannte Rille (40) ein
Volumen von bis zu 25 % des genannten Pellets (30') einnimmt.
15. Mehrlagige Panzerplatte, umfassend eine äußere, Aufprall aufnehmende Lage, die von
einer zusammengesetzten Panzerplatte nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 14 ausgebildet
ist, zur Verformung und Zertrümmerung eines aufprallenden Hochgeschwindigkeitsgeschosses
und eine innere Lage neben der äußeren Lage, die ein ballistisches Material zum Absorbieren
der übrigen kinetischen Energie von den genannten Bruchstücken umfasst.
16. Mehrlagige Panzerplatte nach Anspruch 15, bei der das ballistische Material Dyneema
(TM), Kevlar (TM), Aluminium, Stahl, Titan oder S2 ist.
17. Verwendung einer zusammengesetzten Panzerplatte nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 14
als ballistischen Schutz für eine starre Panzerplatte.
1. Pastille (2, 20, 30, 30') pour l'utilisation dans une plaque de blindage composite
servant à absorber et dissiper l'énergie cinétique provenant de projectiles à grande
vitesse, la pastille étant constituée d'un matériau céramique et possédant une partie
de corps (4, 24, 34) avec une section transversale substantiellement géométrique,
la section transversale géométrique ayant un axe de symétrie, la pastille ayant une
première et une seconde face terminale (6, 8, 26, 28, 36, 38) dépassant, respectivement,
d'extrémités opposées de la partie de corps (4, 24, 34) et chaque face terminale (6,
8, 26, 28, 36, 38) ayant une section transversale diminuant vers l'extérieur, la seconde
face terminale (8, 28, 38) ayant une hauteur qui est inférieure à 15% du diamètre
de la partie de corps, caractérisée en ce que la première face terminale (6, 26, 36) a une hauteur qui est supérieure à la hauteur
de la seconde face terminale.
2. Plaque de blindage composite servant à absorber et dissiper l'énergie cinétique provenant
de projectiles à grande vitesse, la plaque comprenant une seule couche de pastilles
(2, 20, 30 30'), dans laquelle chaque pastille est selon la revendication 1, les pastilles
étant liées et retenues en forme de plaque par un matériau élastique solidifié, substantiellement
à l'intérieur du matériau élastique solidifié, de telle manière à ce que les pastilles
(2, 20, 30 30') soient liées en une pluralité de rangées et colonnes distanciées,
les pastilles (2, 20, 30 30') étant substantiellement entièrement noyées dans le matériau
élastique solidifié, dans laquelle le matériau élastique solidifié et la plaque sont
élastiques, dans laquelle une majorité de chacune des pastilles (2, 20, 30 30') est
en contact direct avec six pastilles adjacentes dans la même couche afin de fournir
un confinement latéral réciproque entre elles, dans laquelle la seconde face terminale
(8, 28, 38) de chaque pastille est disposée substantiellement en face d'une surface
principale externe de réception d'impacts de la plaque et la première face terminale
(6, 26, 36) de chaque pastille est une face terminale de réception d'impacts.
3. Plaque de blindage composite comprenant une pluralité de pastilles (2, 20, 30 30')
disposées en une couche et noyées dans un matériau élastique solidifié, chaque pastille
étant selon la revendication 1, chaque partie de corps de pastille ayant un axe et
une section transversale géométrique constante normale par rapport à l'axe, dans laquelle
la section transversale géométrique constante a un axe de symétrie, chaque pastille
(2, 20, 30 30') entrant en contact avec des pastilles adjacentes dans des parties
de corps respectives (4, 24, 34) et les secondes faces terminales (8, 28, 38) étant
disposées substantiellement en face d'une surface principale externe de réception
d'impacts de la plaque, dans laquelle la hauteur de chaque seconde face terminale
est la hauteur de la seconde face terminale le long de l'axe de la partie de corps
correspondant, et dans laquelle chaque première face terminale (6, 26, 36) est une
face terminale de réception d'impacts.
4. Plaque de blindage composite selon la revendication 2 ou la revendication 3, dans
laquelle chaque seconde face terminale (8, 28) est sphérique.
5. Plaque de blindage composite selon la revendication 4, dans laquelle pour chaque seconde
face terminale (8, 28), le rapport D/R entre le diamètre D de la partie de corps (8,
24) de la pastille (2, 20) et le rayon R de la courbure de la seconde face terminale
(8, 28) se situe entre 0,28:1 et 0,639:1.
6. Plaque de blindage composite selon la revendication 2 ou la revendication 3, dans
laquelle chaque seconde face terminale (38) est en forme de cône tronqué effilé vers
l'extérieur.
7. Plaque de blindage composite selon une quelconque des revendications de 2 à 6, dans
laquelle une majorité des premières faces terminales (6, 6, 36) est courbée de manière
convexe et orientée substantiellement de manière à regarder dans la direction de la
surface principale externe de réception d'impacts de la plaque.
8. Plaque de blindage composite selon une quelconque des revendications de 2 à 7, dans
laquelle les pastilles (2, 20, 30 30') ont au moins un axe d'au moins 9 mm.
9. Plaque de blindage composite selon la revendication 8, dans laquelle les pastilles
(2, 20, 30 30') ont au moins un axe d'au moins 20 mm.
10. Plaque de blindage composite selon une quelconque des revendications de 2 à 9, dans
laquelle chacune desdites pastilles (2, 20, 30 30') est formée d'un matériau céramique
sélectionné parmi le groupe consistant en oxyde fritté, nitrures, carbures et borures
d'alumine, magnésium, zirconium, tungstène, molybdène, titane et silice.
11. Plaque de blindage composite selon une quelconque des revendications 2-9, dans laquelle
chacune desdites pastilles (2, 20, 30 30') est formée d'un matériau sélectionné parmi
le groupe consistant en alumine, carbure de bore, nitrure de bore, diborure di titane,
carbure de silicium, oxyde de silicium, nitrure de silicium, oxyde de magnésium, oxynitrure
d'aluminium de silicium et mélanges de ceux-ci.
12. Plaque de blindage composite selon la revendication 3 ou quelconque revendication
qui en dépend, dans laquelle ledit matériau élastique solidifié et ladite plaque sont
élastiques.
13. Plaque de blindage composite selon une quelconque des revendications de 2 à 12 caractérisée en ce qu'un canal (40) est prévu dans une pluralité desdites pastilles (30') afin de réduire
le poids par surface de celles-ci.
14. Plaque de blindage composite selon la revendication 13, dans laquelle ledit canal
(40) occupe un volume allant jusqu'à 25% de ladite pastille (30').
15. Panneau de blindage multicouche, comprenant une couche externe de réception d'impacts
formée par une plaque de blindage composite selon une quelconque des revendications
de 2 à 14 pour déformer et briser un projectile à grande vitesse causant un impact,
et une couche interne adjacente à la couche externe et comprenant un matériau balistique
pour absorber l'énergie cinétique restante desdits fragments.
16. Panneau de blindage multicouche selon la revendication 15, dans lequel le matériau
balistique est en Dyneema (TM), Kevlar (TM), aluminium, acier, titane ou S2.
17. Utilisation d'une plaque de blindage composite, selon une quelconque des revendications
de 2 à 14, comme protection balistique pour une plaque de blindage rigide.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description