Armor System Comprising Dilatant Material To Improve Armor Protection

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an armor system comprises a plurality of armor layers. The armor system further comprises one or more dilatant material layers located in between two or more armor layers of the plurality of armor layers.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]This invention relates generally to the field of armor systems and more specifically to light weight armor systems comprising dilatant material to protect against shape charges (e.g., an explosively formed penetrator (EFP)), other explosive devices, hypervelocity impacts and / or ballistic devices.BACKGROUND[0002]Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and shape charges such as Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFPs) have accounted for a large number of combat casualties. Lethality of EFPs comes in part from the shape and arrangement of a concave copper cone, called the liner, which transforms into a forceful jet of fluidic metal which easily perforates steel armor. Despite focused efforts on armor development, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and other armored vehicles still cannot defend against these threats. More recently, armor solutions such as the FRAG Kit 5 have been used to protect military vehicles such as Humvees. However, these armor solutions...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]According to some embodiments, the armor system is operable to improve resistance to impact by a shape charge, an explosively formed penetrator (EFP), an improvised explosive device (IED), a ballistic device or a hypervelocity impact. According to some embodiments, the surface area of a shape charge, an explosively formed penetrator (EFP), an improvised explosive device (IED), a ballistic device or a hypervelocity impact may be increased after penetrating through at least a portion of the dilatant material layer. According to some embodiments, the dilatant material layer may be at least 0.25 inches thick.

[0005]Certain embodiments of the invention may provide one or more technical advantages. A technical advantage of one embodiment may include the capability to add a tumble to the path of a projectile device. A technical advantage of one embodiment may include the capability to change the trajectory of a projectile device. A technical advantage of one embodiment may include the capability to slow down particles of a projectile. A technical advantage of one embodiment may include the capability to withstand and resist multiple impacts from particles of a projectile device. A technical advantage of one embodiment may also include the capability to increase impact time. A technical advantage of one embodiment may also include the capability to lower the force exerted on one or more armor layers of an armor system. A technical advantage of one embodiment may also include the capability to decrease the overall impact of a projectile. A technical advantage of one embodiment may also include the capability to decrease the shape change ability of a projectile. A technical advantage of one embodiment may also include the capability to increase the surface area of the front of a projectile.

[0006]Further technical advantages of particular embodiments of the present disclosure may include an armor system that is lighter weight than conventional armor. A lightweight armor system of the present disclosure may be capable of protecting against a similar threat as a heavier conventional armor system. Yet another technical advantage of one embodiment may be a relatively low cost solution to provide protection against a variety of projectiles and high velocity impacts. In particular, armor systems comprising dilatant material in accordance with the present disclosure may protect against a shape charge such as an EFP, other explosive devices such as IED's, other projectile threats, bullets, ballistic threats and / or forms of hypervelocity impact.

Problems solved by technology

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and shape charges such as Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFPs) have accounted for a large number of combat casualties.

Despite focused efforts on armor development, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and other armored vehicles still cannot defend against these threats.

However, these armor solutions typically weigh around 200 lb / ft2.

Since nearly all army vehicles are thousands of pounds overweight, even without any additional armor protection solution, most of these approaches have proved impractical.

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