Armored vehicle with blast deflecting hull

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an armored vehicle that includes a frame supported by one or more wheels, a hull affixed to the frame having a generally diamond shaped vertical cross section, the hull including: a plurality of armored panels; one or more bullet proof windows; and an air intake designed to prevent debris from entering an engine compartment, wherein the generally diamond shape of the hull deflects energy from sources that are not normal to a hull surface away from the hull to minimize damage to the hull.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 753,000 filed 22 Dec. 2005, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates, generally, to armored personnel carriers, and, more particularly, to an armored personnel carrier with a generally diamond shaped hull. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Armored personnel carriers or armored vehicles are used in a wide variety of applications that require the safe and secure transportation of one or more individuals through dangerous environments. For example, armored SWAT vehicles may be used to transport police officers in tactical situations or armored vehicles may be used to transport individuals in need of high security through dangerous environments. The most common use of armored vehicles, often referred to as an Armored Personnel Carrier or APC, is in military applications. Throughout this ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] Disclosed herein in an improved armored vehicle that has a generally diamonded shaped hull. The sides of the diamonded shaped hull are substantially non-vertical surfaces that are designed to minimize the impact of lateral fire on the hull. Additionally, the diamonded shaped hull directs blast forces emanating from beneath the hull away from the hull of the armored personnel carrier. The deflection of blast forces minimizes the impact that roadside bombs have on the APC and prevent the APC from flipping over from a roadside bomb. Furthermore, the improved personnel carrier includes one or more blast plates that are mounted on the exterior of the hull of the APC which provide an additional layer of protection for the APC.

[0009] In one embodiment the armored vehicle includes a hull having a generally diamond shaped vertical cross section, the hull comprising a plurality of armored panels and one or more blast plates affixed to an exterior of the hull, wherein the generally diamond shape of the hull deflects energy from sources that are not perpendicular to a hull surface away from the hull to minimize damage to the hull.

Problems solved by technology

The armour of a typical APC will not withstand an attack by most types of anti-tank weapons; in fact, just about any type of anti-tank weapon can defeat the armour of a typical APC.

One of the greatest threats to APCs in Iraq are the roadside bombs which are being encountered in large numbers.

Current APCs are not built specifically to withstand attacks by roadside bombs and perform poorly in response to such attacks for several reasons.

Current designs of typical APC are particularly vulnerable to bombs that are detonated below the hull of the APC because the APCs were primarily designed to defend against lateral small arms fire.

Detonations under the hull can cause serious damage to the undercarriage of the APC, which may have less armourment than the sides of the APC.

Additionally, detonations of bombs below the APC may cause the APC to flip over and become immobile.

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