Armored motor vehicles

Abstract

This armored motor vehicle is equipped with a passenger compartment enclosed by a rigid body (1) fitted with one or more ballistic protection plates (2) attached to the outside of said rigid body. It includes at least one layer of thermal insulation (5), interposed between the rigid body (1) and the ballistic protection plate(s) (2).

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention targets the technical field of protection and armoring, particularly of motor vehicles, and more specifically for military applications. PRIOR STATE OF TECHNOLOGY

[0002] Vehicle armor, particularly for military use, traditionally employs armor plates, for example made of steel, aluminum, or even composite materials, covering the vehicle's passenger compartment. These armor plates can also be supplemented with ballistic protection plates, external to the main armor, designed to mitigate the impact of a projectile or the blast wave from an explosive device, and also to reduce the energy generated by such an explosion or impact.

[0003] Consequently, it is also known to thermally insulate the passenger compartment of such vehicles. This insulation is generally achieved by means of layers of thermal insulation applied to the internal wall of the body, defining the passenger compartment.

[0004] Experience shows, however, that while these layers of thermal insulation do perform their intended function correctly, they tend to deteriorate relatively quickly on the one hand, and on the other hand, they reduce the internal volume of the passenger compartment.

[0005] In addition, these layers require significant cutouts due to the presence of equipment and reinforcements within the passenger compartment.

[0006] The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Thus, the invention proposes an armored motor vehicle with a passenger compartment enclosed by a rigid body fitted with one or more ballistic protection plates attached to the outside of said rigid body.

[0008] According to the invention, said vehicle comprises at least one layer of thermal insulation, interposed between the rigid body and the ballistic overprotection plate(s) and completely filling the space defined by the rigid body and the ballistic overprotection plate(s).

[0009] Put another way, the invention proposes to take advantage of the space left systematically or almost systematically free between the body defining the passenger compartment and the ballistic overprotection plate(s), in order to fill it with a thermal insulator, capable of protecting the passenger compartment against the heat of the ambient environment in which the vehicle operates.

[0010] In doing so, the ballistic overprotection plates protect the insulation from external aggressions and, as a corollary, the insulation integrated between the body and the ballistic overprotection plate(s) offers better thermal insulation performance, since a significant part of the thermal bridges that are regularly observed when the insulation is placed inside the body is eliminated.

[0011] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the attachment of the ballistic overprotection plate(s) is achieved using added interfaces, in particular welded to the external wall of the body defining the passenger compartment, these interfaces cooperating with screws and washers which both ensure the positioning and attachment of said overprotection plates and consequently enclose the insulating layer(s) by pressing them against the external wall of the body.

[0012] Alternatively, the thermal insulation can be glued to the external wall of the body defining the passenger compartment or to the internal wall of the ballistic overprotection plates, effectively simplifying the entire aspect of mechanical fastening described above.

[0013] Thermal insulation is typically made of polyethylene, and generally of polymer foam, the thickness of which can typically be between 5 and 100 millimeters, and more particularly between 10 and 50 millimeters. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0014] The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the resulting advantages will be more apparent from the following example of implementation, given by way of illustration and not limitation, in support of the attached figures. There figure 1 This is a schematic front view illustrating a ballistic protection plate attached to the hull of an armored vehicle. figure 2is a schematic sectional view taken along line A - A of the figure 1 , and illustrating the general principle underlying the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The front view of the figure 1 This schematically illustrates a ballistic protection plate (2) fixed to the rigid outer wall of the hull (1), defining the passenger compartment of a vehicle, particularly an armored one. In practice, this ballistic protection is achieved by means of juxtaposed and attached plates, notably by screwing them onto the outer wall of the hull.

[0016] More specifically, metallic interfaces (6) are discreetly welded against the outer wall (4) of the case, said interfaces being intended to cooperate with screws (7), said screws generating support of washers (8) against the outer wall (9) of the ballistic overprotection plates, in a known manner.

[0017] These ballistic overprotection plates are traditionally made of armor material, and for example made of steel, aluminum, or even composite material, and have a typical thickness of between 2 and 50 millimeters.

[0018] According to the invention, the ballistic overprotection plates (2) trap a layer of thermal insulation (5) against the outer wall (4) of the crate (1), as can be clearly seen in the figure 2 Thus, the invention utilizes the existing void between the hull and the ballistic protection plates by filling it with thermal insulation. Typically, this thermal insulation consists of polyethylene foam, with a thickness between 10 and 50 millimeters. However, any other material with thermal insulation properties could be considered, including cork, for example.

[0019] The dimensions of these thermal insulation layers do not necessarily coincide with those of the overprotection plates.

[0020] Furthermore, in order to ensure the effective fixing of thermal insulation plates to the outside of the body defining the passenger compartment of the vehicle in question, the same fixing systems are used as those ensuring the positioning and fixing of the ballistic overprotection plates.

[0021] It is therefore conceivable that, due to the positioning and method of fixing the layers of thermal insulation, their interchangeability is greatly facilitated, typically when their thermal insulation properties decrease over time, or following an impact.

[0022] Furthermore, due to this external positioning and this method of fixing the insulation, the thermal bridges, classically observed when such thermal insulation is positioned inside the passenger compartment, are reduced or even eliminated.

[0023] Finally, it should also be emphasized that because of this positioning of the thermal insulation layers on the outside of the body defining the passenger compartment, there is better continuity of thermal insulation, due to the absence of cutting required when said insulation is positioned inside the passenger compartment, and therefore consequently better thermal insulation performance.

[0024] Finally, the internal volume of the passenger compartment is itself optimized.

Claims

1. Armored motor vehicle with a passenger compartment enclosed by a rigid body (1) fitted with one or more ballistic protection plates (2) attached to the outside of said rigid body, characterized in that it includes at least one layer of thermal insulation (5), interposed between the rigid case (1) and the ballistic overprotection plate(s) (2), said layer of thermal insulation (5) fully filling the space defined by the rigid case and the ballistic overprotection plate(s) (2).

2. Armored motor vehicle as claimed 1, characterized in thatthe fixing of the ballistic overprotection plate(s) (2) is carried out using interfaces (6) added, and in particular welded to the external wall (4) of the rigid body (1) defining the passenger compartment, these interfaces cooperating with screws (7) and washers (8) suitable for ensuring the positioning and fixing of said ballistic overprotection plates and consequently for pressing the insulating layer(s) against the external wall (4) of the rigid body (1).

3. Armored motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that The thermal insulation (5) is made of polymer foam, and in particular polyethylene.

4. Armored motor vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the thickness of the thermal insulation (5) is between 5 and 100 millimeters.

5. Armored motor vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the thickness of the thermal insulation (5) is between 10 and 50 millimeters.

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