Modular protective ballistic barrier

Abstract

Protective ballistic barrier, comprising a support base (1) for example in concrete; a distribution of upright elements (2) stably fixed and emerging from the base (2) and aligned along at least one side of an area (A) to be protected; a plurality of resistant ballistic modules (3) applicable one above the other along pairs of adjacent uprights to form at least one resistant wall (4) to protect the area (A), wherein said resistant modules (3) are removable and replaceable individually, and are partially overlapped with complete horizontal coverage of the wall (4) defining each with the adjacent modules a free interspace (5) for the passage of air; a distribution of resistant ballistic elements (6) fixed to cover said uprights on the outer side of the wall (4) exposed to attacks.

Description

[0001] MODULAR PROTECTIVE BALLISTIC BARRIER

[0002] Field of the Art

[0003] The invention concerns a barrier to protect against terrorist attacks, in particular attacks with firearms and explosives, which can be used to defend plants of high economic, strategic or social interest, such as plants for the transformation or conversion of electricity or military sites, hospitals etc.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] At present, it is known that some types of plants are subject to attack attempts that are intended to render such plants unusable.

[0006] A typical example is that of firearm attacks to damage electrical energy transformation plants, such as hydroelectric and gas conversion plants.

[0007] An example of a barrier usable for this defensive purpose is known from US2021148677 where a bullet resistant safety fence is described which is formed by a plurality of horizontally oriented metal extrusions extending between beam support uprights and in which each metal extrusion has a hollow void that can receive a module to improve the bullet resistance capacity of the structure.

[0008] In this barrier example, the construction of the fence is made by stacking the metal extrusions between spans of adjacent support posts.

[0009] However, this fence shows several limits both in relation to the ease of maintenance and replacement of weakened parts, and in relation to the level of achievable protection, for example against attacks with 04 explosives, Dynamite and Improvised Devices (IED), and mortar shells.

[0010] The need is therefore felt for a ballistic quality barrier or fence that offers effective protection without vulnerable points and at the same time is easily installable and repairable after a possible attack.

[0011] Object of the invention

[0012] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the already known solutions and to propose a modular ballistic barrier capable of protecting an area from assaults, in particular from assaults with firearms, which is easy to install, highly efficient and allows to quickly replace any portions damaged by an assault.

[0013] Summary of the invention

[0014] These objects have been achieved by means of a composable modular ballistic barrier according to at least one of the appended claims. A first advantage consists in that the barrier has a significant ease and flexibility of assembly / disassembly together with a high protective capacity and resistance to attacks.

[0015] A second advantage of the invention consists in that the invention allows to establish the level of protection it is wished to obtain, adapting both the protective modules and the support structure to the purpose.

[0016] A still further advantage consists in the fact that the barrier of the invention has proved capable of blocking the impact of blows received according to the specifications STANAG 4569 AEP 55, STANAG 2920 AEP 55, N. I. J. STANDARD 01-01 -06 including impacts generated by anti-tank missiles and by hollow charges both single and in tandem, absorbing all the kinetic energy and therefore cancelling or reducing the blast effect to such an extent as to meet the requirements of protection required by the specifications themselves.

[0017] A still further advantage consists in the fact that in the event that the barrier modules are formed by a box filled with resistant material in ceramic material such as oxide of ceramic materials such as alumina, boron or silicon carbide, possibly embedded in a plastic matrix, it is possible to use as a resistant filling material also a second choice of said materials otherwise intended for disposal by the manufacturers.

[0018] List of drawings

[0019] These and other advantages will be better understood by any person skilled in the art from the following disclosure and the accompanying drawings, given as a non-limiting example, in which:

[0020] - fig. 1 shows a first step of realization of a preferred embodiment of a barrier according to the invention with an octagonal plan with the detail of the uprights fixed to a foundation base;

[0021] - fig.2 shows a second construction step of the barrier of fig.1 with the assembly of resistant modules along the uprights;

[0022] - fig.3 shows a third construction step of the barrier of fig.1 with the assembly of resistant angular elements;

[0023] - fig.4 shows a fourth construction step of the barrier of fig.1 with the application to the outer side of any attachment of the uprights of resistant covers;

[0024] - fig.5 shows a detail in cross-section in elevation of the barrier of fig.4;

[0025] - fig. 6 shows a first step of realization of a preferred embodiment of an angular module of a barrier according to the invention, with the detail of the uprights fixed to a foundation base; - fig.7 shows a second construction step of the barrier of fig.6 with the assembly of resistant modules along the uprights;

[0026] - fig. 8 shows a third construction step of the barrier of fig. 6 with the assembly of the uprights of the side walls of the barrier, fixed to the foundation base; fig. 9 shows a fourth construction step of the barrier of fig. 6 with the assembly of resistant modules along the uprights of the side walls; fig. 10 shows a fourth construction step of the barrier of fig. 9 with the application of resistant upright covers placed to protect the outer side of the uprights exposed to attacks; fig.10a shows a detail in top view of an upright cover; fig.11 shows a detail of a resistant module according to the invention fixed to the uprights, in view from the outside of the barrier; fig.12 shows a detail of the fixing of an upright resistant module; fig.13 shows a detail of a fixing plate of an upright resistant module; fig.14a,b,c show respectively a resistant module in front view from the outside of the barrier, rear view from the inside of the barrier, and side view; fig.15 shows a cross-sectional detail of a preferred embodiment of a resistant module; fig.16 shows the structure of fig.10 seen from inside the barrier: fig.17 shows in side view a first embodiment of an upright according to the invention, fig.18 shows in side view a second embodiment of an upright according to the invention; figs.19-22 show preferred examples of a resistant plate constituting the modules of the barrier; fig. 23 shows a further preferred embodiment of the barrier of the invention, seen from outside the protected area; fig.24 shows the barrier of fig.23 in view from the inside; fig.25 shows the barrier of fig.23 in sectional side view;

[0027] Detailed description

[0028] With reference to the attached drawings, a preferred embodiment of a resistant barrier according to the invention is disclosed, comprising (fig. 1 ) a support base 1 , for example in concrete, from which upright elements 2 stably fixed to the base and aligned along at least one side of an area (A) to be protected emerge. In the example described, the area A is an octagonal area and the uprights consist of pairs of outer and inner uprights 9, 9’ parallel or converging upwards joined by a vertical bracing 10 anchored to the uprights, possibly a double bracing to increase the loading capacity of the structure and therefore panels of higher strength class, better visible in fig. 17, 18.

[0029] However, it is understood that the barrier may have different shapes of the uprights, for example single or double uprights, or provide a cover C, still consisting of resistant modules and uprights of the type described, for example a horizontal, pitched or even hut cover, obtained by tilting the uprights 2.

[0030] A plurality of resistant ballistic modules 3 are fixed to the uprights 2, which can be applied one above the other in a removable and individually replaceable manner, between pairs of adjacent uprights, in order to form at least one resistant wall 4 to protect the area A (fig. 2). In the example described, the uprights 2 being formed by double upright elements 9, 9’ it is possible to provide a double wall 4, 4’ formed by the modules 3 installed between adjacent uprights 9 / 9’, for example to the uprights by means of brackets 12 (fig. 11 -13) integral with the modules and provided with joints 7 removably insertable in corresponding holes 8 of the uprights.

[0031] According to the invention, the resistant modules 3 are fixed to the uprights so as to be partially horizontally overlapped and offer a complete coverage of the wall 4, while defining at the same time a free interspace 5 for the passage of air.

[0032] Advantageously, this solution guarantees resistance to blows, for example firearms coming from outside the barrier and at the same time a circulation of air necessary for inner cooling, as in the case of electrical transformation plants.

[0033] In the example embodiment described, in order to obtain the complete coverage and the circulation of air inside the area A, the modules 3 (fig. 14a-14c) are box-like modules of cross-section in the form of a parallelogram with the outer side (Le) offset at the top with respect to the inner side (Li) in order to overlap horizontally with the upper and lower adjacent modules 3 and create said free interspace 5 delimited by the inclined walls 51 of the opposite modules.

[0034] Advantageously, with this solution, any accidental gunfire, the space between two modules are either absorbed by the module itself or diverted, however, being not dangerous within the protected area A.

[0035] The barrier, if it has like in the case described a polygonal plan, further has angular protection elements that can be made up of corner panels 30, of the type illustrated in fig.3 and made up of resistant plates for example metallic or composite ones anchored to the uprights, or a resistant tower-like structure 13, illustrated in fig.7-10 and made as the wall 4 by means of resistant modules 3 anchored to uprights 2 to form a tower contiguous to the walls 4, for example with a square plan.

[0036] The barrier further comprises a distribution of resistant upright covers 6 fixed to cover said uprights on the outer side of the wall 4, preferably formed by a resistant box 31 , for example made of steel, fixed to the uprights 2 by means of bolts 32.

[0037] Fig. 10a shows a preferred embodiment of the upright covers 6, consisting of the box 31 filled with spheres 33 of resistant material, for example a metallic or ceramic material such as alumina or boron or silicon carbide possibly embedded in a plastic matrix.

[0038] Within the scope of the present invention, the modules 3 are resistant ballistic modules, that is, capable of resisting gunfire impacts according to industry standards, such as "STANAG 4569", "2920 AEP 55" and "N I J 01 -01 -06" and may be formed by steel plates of appropriate thickness or other materials, or comprise simple or constituting a box as illustrated in the attached figures.

[0039] By way of a preferred example, a resistant plate 16 usable to obtain the barrier modules 3 is shown in figs. 19-21 .

[0040] The resistant plate 16 comprising at least one resistant body 20, 27 consisting of a material chosen from fibre materials such as carbon fibre, aramid fibres, inorganic metallic or non-metallic fibres or ceramic materials such as alumina, boron or silicon carbide, or metallic materials such as aluminium, brass, lead, steel, or plastic materials such as polyamide.

[0041] In different embodiments, the resistant body may be in the form of a monolithic plate 20, 27 or a body 20’, diagrammed in fig.22, formed by parts, for example preferably metallic or ceramic spheres 28 such as alumina, boron or silicon carbide, free or embedded in a plastic matrix.

[0042] A gripping agent 25 is applied to the resistant body to coat a coupling surface 22, on which a composite thermosetting polymer layer 26 with two or more components such as polyurethanes and polyurethane elastomers or silicones, at least one of which is compatible with said gripping agent, is applied adjacent to said coupling surface.

[0043] Fig. 19 illustrates the case of two resistant bodies 20, 27 with a polymer layer consisting of an intermediate interspace 26 between the respective coupling surfaces of the adjacent bodies. Fig. 20 illustrates the case of a single resistant body 20 with an outer polymer layer 26’ extended to cover at least one side of the resistant body, and preferably to form a complete plastic shell.

[0044] Fig.21 illustrates the case of two resistant bodies 20, 2.1 with a polymer interspace 26 and an outer layer 26, extended to cover at least one side of the resistant body and preferably to form a complete plastic shell.

[0045] In figures 14a-14c a preferred embodiment of the modules 3 of the invention is better illustrated, which are formed by a box-like body 15 composed of resistant plates 16 joined by bolts and screws 33 and forming both the outer and inner sides Le, Li and the inclined faces 51 and the side faces carrying the brackets 12.

[0046] Fig. 15 illustrates an embodiment in which the box 15 of the resistant modules 3 contains a distribution of bodies 17 in resistant ceramic material such as oxide of ceramic materials such as alumina, boron or silicon carbide, possibly embedded in a plastic matrix 34.

[0047] Preferably, the bodies 17 consist of balls immersed in the plastic matrix and vibrated to obtain maximum compaction inside the box, alternatively, the box 15 can also be filled with sand.

[0048] With reference to figures 23-25, a preferred embodiment of the barrier is described, comprising an outer wall 4 and an inner wall 40, which are formed by modules 3 supported by inner and outer uprights 2 joined by an intermediate bracing 10.

[0049] In this embodiment, the bracing 10 between the outer and inner walls 4, 40 is surmounted by a walkable platform 41 which can be accessed for example by means of a ladder 42 preferably located on the inner side of the protected area A and is of lower height than the highest horizontal row of the modules 3, so as to allow one or more subjects S, for example guard personnel, to walk along the platform 41 while being protected by the outer and / or inner wall.

[0050] It is understood that the inner wall 40 may be of the protective type as described above or, where safety requirements allow it, of a different kind of protection.

[0051] The invention achieves important advantages for the protection of sites of particular interest such as electrical transformation plants, but also hospitals or military areas.

[0052] In particular, the possibility of assembling and disassembling the modules by choosing the required level of resistance and the simultaneous possibility of composing a barrier with the type of structure necessary for the purpose (both with vertical walls and with cover, for example to resist mortar attacks) allows the structure to be adapted to protect areas of different types and destinations. The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, but it is understood that equivalent modifications may be made without in any case departing from the scope of protection granted to this industrial patent.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Composable modular protective barrier, comprising a support base (1 ) for example in concrete, a distribution of upright elements (2) stably fixed and emerging from the base (2) and aligned along at least one side of an area (A) to be protected, a plurality of resistant ballistic modules (3) applicable one above the other along pairs of adjacent uprights to form at least one resistant wall (4) to protect the area (A), wherein said resistant modules (3) are removable and replaceable individually, wherein said resistant modules (3) are partially overlapped with complete horizontal coverage of the wall (4) and each define with the adjacent modules a free interspace (5) for the passage of air, a distribution of resistant ballistic elements (6) fixed to cover said uprights on the outer side of the wall (4) exposed to attacks.

2. Barrier according to claim 1 , wherein said modules (3) are fixed to the uprights (2) by means of brackets (12) integral with the modules and provided with joints (7) removably insertable in corresponding holes (8) of the uprights.

3. Barrier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said modules are in the form of box-like modules with cross-section in the form of a parallelogram with the outer side (Le) staggered upwards with respect to the inner side (Li) in order to overlap horizontally with the adjacent upper and lower modules (5) and create said free interspace (5).

4. Barrier according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said uprights (2) comprise an inner and outer double upright structure (9, 9’) armed with a vertical bracing (10) anchored to the structure (9).

5. Barrier according to claim 4 wherein said inner and outer uprights (9, 9’) are parallel.

6. Barrier according to claim 4 wherein said inner and outer uprights (9, 9’) converge upwards.

7. Barrier according to one of claims 4-6 comprising a double resistant wall (4, 4’) formedby modules (3) fixed to adjacent pairs of said uprights.

8. Barrier according to one of claims 4-7 comprising a resistant outer wall (4) and an inner part (40) joined by an intermediate bracing (10) surmounted by a walkable platform (41 ) of lower height than the resistant wall (4) so as to allow one or more subjects (S) to walk along the platform (41 ) while remaining protected by the resistant outer wall (4).

9. Barrier according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said resistant elements covering the uprights (6) are fixed to the uprights by means of bolts (12).

10. Barrier according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said resistant elements (6) are formed by a resistant box, for example in steel.11 . Barrier according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one tower-like resistant structure (13) to protect at least one angle (14) formed by contiguous walls (4) of the barrier.

12. Barrier according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said resistant modules (3) comprise a box (15) composed of resistant plates (16).

13. Barrier according to claim 12, wherein said box (15) of the resistant modules (3) contains a distribution of bodies (17) in resistant ceramic material such as alumina, boron or silicon carbide.

14. Barrier according to claim 13, wherein bodies in resistant ceramic material (17) are embedded in a plastic matrix.

15. Barrier according to claim 12, wherein said box (15) of the resistant modules (3) is filled with sand.

16. Barrier according to claim 12, wherein said resistant plates (16) comprise at least one resistant body (20) consisting of a material chosen from fibre materials such as carbon fibre, aramid fibres, inorganic metallic or non-metallic fibres or ceramic materials such as alumina, boron or silicon carbide, or metallic materials such asaluminium, brass, lead, steel, or plastic materials such as polyamide, a gripping layer (25) coating at least one coupling surface (22) of said body (20) a composite thermosetting polymer layer (26) with two or more components, at least one of which is compatible with said gripping agent, adjacent to said coupling surface.

17. Barrier according to claim 12, wherein said plates comprise at least two component bodies (20, 27) and said polymer layer is constituted by an intermediate interspace between the respective coupling surfaces of said at least two adjacent component bodies.

18. Barrier according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an upper cover of the area to be protected (A).

Images