Active armour protection system for armoured vehicles

Abstract

A sensor system for defending armoured vehicles against projectiles through the use of active armour. A thermal sensor detects a projectile's presence, and a laser proximity sensor determines its location. A doppler sensor distinguishes between threatening and nonthreatening projectiles by measuring the projectile's velocity. The sensors are positioned in a housing with a segmented spherical window, wherein each sensor can detect the projectile through a window segment having a filtering characteristic which is matched to its associated sensor. An eyelid shutter, which can open and close, protects the window from small arms fire and shrapnel. A conical deflector protects the sensor system from objects such as tree branches. Heater elements are used to clear ice and snow from the window, and the eyelid shutter removes other material through the use of a cleaning liquid delivery system and rubber wipers.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 07 / 600,478 filed Oct. 19, 1990 the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to defending armoured vehicles against projectiles, such as missiles or bombs, through the use of active armour. More particularly, the invention relates to a sensor system which is used to detect the attacking projectile. When an attacking projectile is detected, the active armour thwarts the attack by detonating a shaped charge which either destroys or diverts the projectile. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART [0003] Active armour is comprised of an array of elements where each element is a shaped charge. To defend against an approaching projectile, the proper element must be chosen and detonated before the projectile can strike the object being defended. A sensor is used to determine the projectile's position, and then the element wi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is an active armour sensor system that detects approaching projectiles and determines their position before they contact the array. This results in protecting unused elements from accidental detonation or damage. The system distinguishes between threatening and non-threatening projectiles through the use of doppler or thermal sensing. It is less vulnerable to hazards such as tree branches, shrapnel, and stones, and detects and removes accumulations of ice, snow, or mud on its outer surface without exposing personnel to danger. The technical effects of the invention are minimized number of elements detonated per projectile, reduced vulnerability to hazards, and improved safety for personnel.

Problems solved by technology

The elements contacted by the projectile are detonated, and thereby destroy the projectile before the surface being defended can be damaged.

This type of system suffers from a shortcoming resulting from the projectile's close proximity to the active armour array.

This close proximity can result in unintentional detonation or damage to elements that are near the point of contact with the projectile.

This can result in several elements of the array being detonated or damaged by a single projectile.

This type of system fails to minimize the number of elements depleted per projectile, and therefore, will have a reduced capability for defending against subsequent projectiles.

This type of sensor system avoids the unintentional detonating and damaging of charges that occurs in contact sensor systems, but it suffers from several drawbacks.

The structures used to support the elements of the light beam array are easily damaged, and the system is sensitive to accumulations of ice, snow, or mud.

The structural elements used to position the light array away from the active armour array are vulnerable to things such as tree branches, shrapnel, and stones.

For example, as an armoured personnel carrier travels through a wooded area, it is quite likely that a tree branch would damage the supports used for positioning the light array.

This problem will result in the light array becoming inoperative, and will require continuing a mission without the benefit of the active armour, or it will require exposing personnel to danger while the light emitters and detectors are cleaned.

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