protective plate

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective plate with a base body (2) having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, characterized in that a plurality of bearing sleeves (4) are arranged in the base body (2), which a. have an open end (6) forming an opening in the outer surface, b. have a closed end opposite the open end (6), wherein a firing pin (16) is arranged at each of the closed ends, and c. are each configured to receive a cartridge (12) such that actuation of the firing pin (16) results in the firing of the cartridge (12), wherein a triggering device for actuating the firing pins (16) is arranged in and / or on the base body (2).

Description

The invention relates to a protective plate with a base body having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. Protective plates are used in the prior art to protect an area from external threats. The inside of the protective plate faces the area to be protected, while the outside faces the area where the threat is expected to occur. The simplest forms of protective plates, used for centuries, are passive protective plates. These are based on the principle of preventing the threat from penetrating the area to be protected. This is achieved by placing a material in the way of the threat, designed to stop it. Such protective plates are called armor plating. To improve armor, that is, to better protect the area being protected, the thickness of the protective plate can be increased, for example, so that more material is placed in the way of the threat, such as an incoming projectile. Through the skillful selection, arrangement, design, and combination of materials, specialized protective plates can be constructed that are particularly effective against specific threats. Such protective plates do not destroy the threat itself, but rather aim to neutralize its effects. For example, in the case of an incoming projectile with an explosive charge, the explosion caused by the charge is not prevented, but its effects are mitigated and, ideally, rendered harmless. Another concept for protecting a target area is to destroy the incoming threat before it reaches the protected area. Systems that follow this concept are also called active systems. This poses a significant challenge, for example, in defending against modern weapons systems, as the threats, such as incoming missiles, travel at high speeds, requiring an active system to react quickly and with great precision. This means that the flight data of the incoming threat must be accurately recorded, and the active system must be controlled accordingly. Active systems typically reach their limits when the number of incoming threats increases. In recent years, attacks using remotely piloted drones have increased, particularly in armed conflicts but also in terrorist attacks. These drones are equipped with explosive devices that can either be remotely dropped from the drone or guided by the drone to the target and then detonated. This poses a serious challenge to conventional active systems, as drones can be deployed in large numbers due to their relatively low cost. They are also small and therefore relatively difficult for sensors to detect, and their flight path is unpredictable, further complicating defense. Active systems of the type described here are also complex and expensive, meaning they are only used to defend large military units, such as ships, or buildings, such as airports, ports, or critical infrastructure.Individual military or civilian vehicles are generally not protected by active systems. Therefore, drones pose a significant threat to these units, especially if a vehicle's passive armor is compromised due to an open access hatch. Furthermore, vehicle armor is typically weakest on the upper surface. Measures for drone defense are therefore known from the state of the art. German patent DE 10 2024 112 088 A1 describes a system with which drones can be detected and rendered harmless using one of the existing firing devices. US patent 7,114,428 B1 proposes a similar system in which various sensors are used to detect the drones to be intercepted and to determine their speed and distance. Explosive charges are then used to render the drones harmless. The DE 20 2016 105 245 U1 proposes a shotgun cartridge in which some of the shot pellets are connected to each other by connecting cords. From EP 3 458 801 B1, a magazine with several cartridge cases arranged side by side and tiltable together is known, so that the direction in which projectiles can be fired is adjustable. A similar design, intended for attachment to an aircraft, is known from EP 3 458 799 B1. A similar device for vehicles is known from EP 2 942 597 B1. The invention is therefore based on the objective of proposing a protective plate that can also protect smaller units. The invention solves the stated problem by means of a protective plate of the type described above, in the base body of which a plurality of bearing sleeves are arranged, which have an open end that forms an opening in the outside, have a closed end opposite the open end, wherein a firing pin is arranged at the closed end in each case, and which are arranged to each receive a cartridge in such a way that actuation of the firing pin leads to the firing of the cartridge, wherein a triggering device for actuating the firing pins is arranged in and / or on the base body. The protective plate according to the invention can therefore be used to fire cartridges and to eject the projectiles contained therein essentially in a random direction. The direction in which the projectiles leave the protective plate depends on the orientation of the cartridge cases from which the projectiles are fired. If a threat is detected, the trigger mechanism is used to actuate at least one of the firing pins. This strikes the primer of the cartridge, thus causing the cartridge to be fired. The base body, which is preferably plate-shaped, serves as a support for the bearing sleeves. Preferably, it is designed as armor plating, i.e., a passive protective plate. This is a preferred, but not essential, design. It is important that the base body is configured to support the bearing sleeves and the cartridges held within them when the protective plate is in use. Preferably, the bearing sleeves and the cartridges arranged within them when the protective plate is in use are fixed in position and orientation relative to each other and to the base body. Preferably, the cartridges eject projectiles in the form of multiple splinters and / or fragments upon firing. Particularly preferably, the cartridges are shotgun cartridges. Cartridges designed in this way contain a multitude of individual small projectiles that are released upon firing and exit the cartridge case through its open end. The projectiles are released in a random pattern at an opening angle determined by the length and diameter (caliber) of the cartridge case. Preferably, at least some, and particularly preferably all, cartridges are designed in this manner. If a vehicle equipped with a protective plate according to an embodiment of the present invention is exposed to a threat, for example, a drone attack from above, at least one of the firing pins is actuated and at least one of the cartridges arranged in the magazines is fired. Preferably, several magazines are fired. This results in a large number of projectiles being ejected in a general direction in which the threat is located, particularly if the cartridges are shotgun cartridges. Neither precise target acquisition nor a pre-calculation of a possible course or trajectory of the threat is necessary. The large number of projectiles virtually guarantees that the threat will be hit and neutralized.Preferably, reloading can be done simply by inserting new cartridges into the storage cases so that their primers can be struck by the respective firing pin of the storage case. Preferably, the bearing sleeves are telescopic. They can then be extended from a stowed state to a fully extended state, in which they project further beyond the outer surface of the base body than in the stowed state. Particularly preferably, the bearing sleeves do not project beyond the outer surface of the base body in the stowed state. Even more preferably, they are flush with the outer surface of the base body in the stowed state. A telescopic bearing sleeve has at least one displaceable circumferential element that is designed to be displaceable relative to the base body. In this case, the bearing sleeve has an element referred to as a hollow cylinder in which the cartridge is received. Preferably, the displaceable circumferential element is arranged inside the hollow cylinder and is designed to be longitudinally displaceable relative to it. Thus, the hollow cylinder is located outside the displaceable circumferential element when the bearing sleeve is in the bearing position. In alternative embodiments, the displaceable circumferential element is arranged outside the hollow cylinder and is designed to be longitudinally displaceable relative to it. It is entirely possible for the circumferential element to have a shorter length than the hollow cylinder. Preferably, the circumferential element and the hollow cylinder have the same length.When the bearing sleeve is moved from the stored state to the extended state, the circumferential element is displaced longitudinally relative to the hollow cylinder. This lengthens the bearing sleeve, causing it to protrude further beyond the outer surface of the base body. This increases the path that the projectiles must travel within the bearing sleeves, which act as the "barrel," when a cartridge is fired, resulting in an increase in muzzle energy. Advantageously, the bearing sleeves are telescopically extendable multiple times. This means that several slidable circumferential elements are present, arranged to slide within one another. Preferably, the hollow cylinder is located outside the outermost of the circumferential elements. Alternatively, the hollow cylinder is located inside the innermost of the slidably arranged circumferential elements. Preferably, the open ends of the bearing sleeves are each covered by a protective cap. This protects them from dirt and moisture ingress. Advantageously, the dust caps are positioned at the open end of the cartridge case in such a way that they are removed from the open end when a cartridge is fired. Upon firing, the primer ignites the propellant charge, resulting in a significant increase in the volume of the propellant gas, which accelerates the projectiles also contained within the cartridge. This causes a sharp increase in pressure within the cartridge case until the dust cap is removed. Preferably, the bearing sleeve can be moved from its stored state to its extended state by firing a cartridge held within it. If the bearing sleeve is telescopic, this increase in volume preferably moves the bearing sleeve from its stored state to its extended state. The pressure inside the bearing sleeve increases due to the activation of the propellant charge and also acts on the end cap that covers the open end of the bearing sleeve. The end cap is preferably attached to the outermost movable circumferential element of the telescopic bearing sleeve and thus pulls it out of its stored position as the pressure increases. This moves the bearing sleeve from its stored state to its extended state. The pressure then continues to rise until the end cap is separated from the bearing sleeve, thus exposing the open end of the bearing sleeve.Even if the cover cap has not yet been separated from the bearing sleeve and the inside of the bearing sleeve is protected from weather influences and dirt, for example, it is referred to as an "open end". Preferably, the triggering device has conductive traces configured to transmit electrical signals to the firing pins, thereby actuating them. This type of electrical triggering, sometimes also called electronic triggering, is known to those skilled in the art. The triggering device preferably includes an electrical control unit, for example, an electronic data processing unit, configured to generate the electrical signals and send them to the desired firing pins. The electrical control unit is preferably configured to actuate individual firing pins in this manner. The electrical control unit is preferably configured to actuate all firing pins simultaneously, groups of firing pins, and / or individual firing pins. Preferably, the firing pins of the guard plate are grouped into several groups, with the electrical control unit configured to actuate individual groups of firing pins.Preferably, the electrical control is configured to actuate all firing pins of the guard plate simultaneously. Preferably, the bearing sleeves are detachably arranged on and / or in the base body. Particularly preferably, the firing pins are part of the respective bearing sleeve. Preferably, the base body comprises at least one metallic base plate, and preferably at least one additional plate made of non-ferrous metal and / or non-metallic material. The protective plate, through the metallic base plate, provides armored, i.e., passive, protection against penetrating threats. The thicker the base plate, the better and stronger this passive protection. Preferably, the base plate has a thickness of at least 0.5 cm, more preferably at least 4 cm, and most preferably at least 7 cm. The passive protective effect can be enhanced by attaching one or more additional plates to the base plate, made of non-ferrous metal and / or non-metallic material, for example, Kevlar, a ceramic, and / or a textile.The base plate and, if present, all additional plates preferably extend over the entire extent of the base body, with the base plate or one of the additional plates forming the outside of the base body. In a preferred embodiment, the protective plate has a capture device, for example a grid and / or a net, arranged at a distance from the outer surface, wherein the distance is preferably at least 100 mm, more preferably at least 1000 mm, more preferably at least 1250 mm, and more preferably at most 2500 mm, more preferably at most 2000 mm, and more preferably 1900 mm. Such a capture device intercepts, slows down, and / or deflects a threat that has not been, or not completely, neutralized by the active protective measures, i.e., in particular, the fired cartridges and the projectiles thereby ejected. Furthermore, the capture device makes it possible to change the point of impact of the threat, in particular to relocate it away from the area to be protected. The point of impact is the point at which, for example, an explosive charge with which the approaching threat is equipped detonates. With the aid of the accompanying figures, some embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below. They show: Fig. 1 - a schematic sectional view through a protective plate according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 - sectional views through one embodiment of a bearing sleeve in the stored state and in the extended state, and Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 - sectional views through another embodiment of a bearing sleeve in the stored state and in the extended state. Fig. 1 shows a sectional view through a protective plate according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It shows a base body 2, which in the illustrated embodiment is composed of several different layers. Three bearing sleeves 4 are shown by way of example in the base body 2. These have an open end 6, each of which is covered by a cap 8. The bearing sleeves have a bearing tube 10 in which a cartridge 12 is arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, the bearing tube 10 is shown as the inner tube of a telescopic bearing sleeve 4. It is located within a circumferential element 14, which is designed to be longitudinally displaceable relative to the bearing tube 10. In Fig. 1, the bearing sleeve 4 is shown in its bearing state. In the illustration shown in Fig. 1, the end of the cartridges 12 facing away from the open end 6 of the bearing sleeve 4 rests against a firing pin 16, which can be actuated by an electrical or electronic signal. For this purpose, conductive traces 18 are provided in the base body 2, through which the corresponding signals can be transmitted to the firing pins 16. The conductive traces 18 are preferably located on a circuit board that is arranged in the base body 2. When a firing pin 16 is actuated, the cartridge 12 resting against this firing pin 16 is fired, causing the pressure to rise in the respective bearing sleeve 4 as described above. Since its open end 6 is covered by the cap 8, and the pressure therefore cannot escape through the open end 6, the pressure inside the bearing sleeve 4 moves it from the shown stored state to the extended state. For this to occur, the circumferential element 14 shifts relative to the bearing tube 10. Only when this shift is stopped by a stop (not shown in Fig. 1) does the cap 8 release, freeing the open end 6 of the bearing sleeve 4 so that the projectiles and / or particles of the cartridge 12 can leave the bearing sleeve 4. Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view through a bearing sleeve 4. The cartridge 12 is arranged in the bearing tube 10, the lower end of which in Fig. 2 is screwed onto a breechblock 20. The bearing tube 10, and thus the bearing sleeve 4, is therefore detachably attached to the breechblock 20. In the embodiment shown, the firing pin 16 is arranged on the breechblock 20. The bearing tube 10, as shown in Fig. 1, is designed as an inner tube and is located within two circumferential elements 14, which are also arranged one inside the other. The bearing sleeve 4 shown in Fig. 1 has one circumferential element 14 and is therefore simply telescopic. The bearing sleeve 4 shown in Fig. 2 has two circumferential elements 14 and is therefore doubly or double telescopic. The bearing tube 10 and the inner circumferential element 14 have a stop 22 at the end facing the open end 6. This stop 22 projects radially outwards. A radially inwardly projecting projection 24, located at the opposite end of the two circumferential elements 14, abuts against this stop. In order to maintain the pressure required for telescoping within the bearing sleeve 4 until the bearing sleeve 4 has been brought into the extended state, seals are preferably arranged within the stops 22, in the illustrated embodiment in the form of sealing rings 26. Fig. 3 shows a sectional view through the bearing sleeve 4 from Fig. 2 in its extended state. The circumferential elements 14 are longitudinally displaced relative to the bearing tube 10. The open end 6 is still covered by the end cap 8. The projection 24 of the inner circumferential element 14 rests against the stop 22 of the bearing tube 10. The projection 10 of the outer circumferential element 14 rests against the stop of the inner circumferential element 14, so that no further increase in volume within the bearing sleeve 4 is possible by displacing the circumferential elements 14 relative to each other or relative to the bearing tube 10. Fig. 4 shows a schematic sectional view through another embodiment of a bearing sleeve. The cartridge 12 is located in the bearing tube 10, which, as in Fig. 2, is screwed into the breech 20 and thus detachably connected to it. The firing pin 16 is arranged on the breech 20. The bearing tube 10 is designed as an outer tube, unlike in previous illustrations. A circumferential element 14 is arranged inside the bearing tube 10 and is designed to be longitudinally displaceable relative to the bearing tube 10. It forms the open end 6 of the bearing sleeve 4, which is also covered by the end cap in Fig. 4. To limit the possible displacement of the circumferential element 14 relative to the bearing tube 10, a sleeve 28 is arranged radially outside the bearing tube 10. The sleeve 28 is positively connected to the bearing tube 10 at its lower end (as shown in Fig. 4). Therefore, the sleeve 28 is not designed to be longitudinally displaceable relative to the bearing tube 10. At its opposite end, there is a projection 24 through which a stroke limiter 30 extends. This is connected to the end of the circumferential element 14 and thus moves with the circumferential element 14.A stop 22 is arranged on the stroke limiter, which abuts the projection 24 of the sleeve 28 when the maximum stroke, i.e. the greatest possible displacement of the circumferential element 14 relative to the bearing tube 10, has taken place. This situation is illustrated in Fig. 5, which shows a schematic sectional view through the bearing sleeve from Fig. 4 in the extended state. It can be seen that the circumferential element 14 is displaced relative to the bearing tube 10 and that the projection 24 of the sleeve 28 rests against the stop 22 of the stroke limiter 30. Reference symbol list 2 Base body 4 Bearing sleeve 6 Open end 8 Cover cap 10 Bearing tube 12 Cartridge 14 Circumferential element 16 Firing pin 18 Conductor track 20 Closure 22 Stop 24 Projection 26 Sealing ring 28 Sleeve 30 Stroke limiter

Claims

Protective plate with a base body (2) having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, characterized in that a plurality of bearing sleeves (4) are arranged in the base body (2), which a. have an open end (6) forming an opening in the outer surface, b. have a closed end opposite the open end (6), wherein a firing pin (16) is arranged at each of the closed ends, and c. are each configured to receive a cartridge (12) such that actuation of the firing pin (16) results in the firing of the cartridge (12), wherein a triggering device for actuating the firing pins (16) is arranged in and / or on the base body (2). Protective plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the cartridges (12) eject projectiles in the form of several splinters and / or fragments when fired, wherein the cartridges (12) are preferably shotgun cartridges. Protective plate according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bearing sleeves (4) are telescopic and can be brought from a storage state to an extended state in which they project further beyond the outside of the base body (2) than in the storage state. Protective plate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the open ends (6) of the bearing sleeves (4) are each closed by a cover cap (8). Protective plate according to claim 4, characterized in that the cover caps (8) are arranged at the open end (6) of the bearing sleeves (4) in such a way that they are removed from the open end (6) of the bearing sleeve (4) by firing a cartridge (12) held in the bearing sleeve (4). Protective plate according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the bearing sleeves (4) can be brought from the stored state to the extended state by firing a cartridge (12) held in the bearing sleeve (4). Protective plate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the triggering device has conductor tracks (18) which are configured to transmit electrical signals to the firing pins (12) by which these are actuated. Protective plate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing sleeves (4) are detachably arranged in and / or on the base body (2). Protective plate according to claim 8, characterized in that the firing pin (12) is part of the bearing sleeve (4). Protective plate according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (2) has at least one metallic base plate, wherein the base body (2) preferably has at least one additional plate made of non-ferrous metal and / or non-metallic material.

Images