Affixable armor tiles

Abstract

Affixable armor that can be used to provide additional protection for a surface is described. The affixable armor includes polygonal ceramic tiles that can be attached directly to a surface, or first attached to a carrier sheet which is then attached to a surface. A visco-elastic polymer can be used to help absorb projectile impact. The ceramic tiles include a substantially conical or pyramidal deflecting front surface to provide additional protection. The ceramic tiles can be placed so that they are spaced to provide a gap with a width that is less than the diameter of an expected ballistic threat in order to provide additional projection. The affixable armor can be configured for rapid removal and replacement, or it may be permanently affixed to the surface.

Description

CONTINUING APPLICATION DATA[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 909,152, filed Mar. 30, 2007, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 910,998, filed Apr. 10, 2007, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to composite armor. More specifically, the invention relates to composite armor that can be readily affixed to a surface and / or includes spaced armor tiles.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Currently a majority of high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWV; more commonly referred to as Humvees) are fitted with metallic armor. However, with increasing lethality and availability of armor piercing ballistic projectiles of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) such as explosively formed penetrators and more potent land mines, it is becoming difficult to provide additional armor protection without exceeding prohibitive weight limitation.[0004]Composite materials have been prepar...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]Embodiments of this aspect of the invention can include various different types of ceramic tiles. For example, in one embodiment, the ceramic tiles include a cavity containing a fire-retarding material. In another embodiment, the ceramic tiles include a cavity positioned on the back of the ceramic tile that deforms upon projectile impact to decrease damage to the vehicle and / or adjacent ceramic tiles. In a further embodiment, the ceramic tiles have a non-spherical deflecting front surface. Tiles include a non-spherical deflecting front surface may also, in some embodiments, have a portion of the deflecting front surface of the ceramic tiles that is substantially conical or pyramidal, and / or a deflecting front surface that includes a ridge that flares upwards above the sides of the ceramic tiles.

Problems solved by technology

However, with increasing lethality and availability of armor piercing ballistic projectiles of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) such as explosively formed penetrators and more potent land mines, it is becoming difficult to provide additional armor protection without exceeding prohibitive weight limitation.

However, relatively simple fiber-based composite armors such as HJ1 have difficulty protecting vehicle occupants against many common ballistic and blast threats, such as armor piercing (AP) ammunition.

Studies indicate that AP ammunition, which typically includes a sharp, hardened penetrator, tends to move the fibers within the composite laterally away from the advancing projectile, resulting in kinked fibers around the penetration cavities but with little energy absorption.

Thus, fiber-based composite armor is relatively ineffective against AP ammunition because neither the fiber nor the polymer matrix is hard enough to cause deformation of the penetrator.

During impact, the projectile is blunted and cracked or shattered by the hard ceramic face.

However, the armor system is typically damaged as well.

However, strong stress waves can still damage tiles adjacent to the impacted tile by propagating through the edges of the impacted tile and into adjacent tiles.

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