Armored Cabin Lid Collar Structure for Ballistic Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing armored vehicle designs face issues with stress concentrations at joints, increased weight due to armor plating, and inadequate protection of structural components beyond armored steel plates and bulletproof glass, while also being aesthetically distinctive and heavy.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates overlapping collars with an undercut cross-section for vehicle doors and lids, manufactured via hot forming and press hardening, using hardenable steel, and includes a seal and metallic profile to enhance ballistic and explosive protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If armor steel plates are integrated into the original vehicle body to provide ballistic protection, then ballistic protection is improved, but vehicle weight increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveballistic protectionVSAvoidvehicle weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the structural door components (door skin, door frame, window frames) with ballistic protection functionality by manufacturing them as integrated steel components with hardened surfaces, rather than adding separate armor plates to existing components. This combining approach provides protection while optimizing weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by using hardenable steel with specific material properties (minimum tensile strength of 1500 MPa, minimum elongation of 10%) and applying hot forming processes to achieve surface hardening. This allows the structural components themselves to provide ballistic resistance through material property optimization rather than adding mass.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If separate structural components are joined by spot welding or bonding to form vehicle side panels, then structural assembly is enabled, but stress concentrations occur at the joints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural assemblyVSAvoidjoint strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the door skin, door frame, and window frames into a single monolithic steel component manufactured through hot forming, eliminating the need for separate joining operations. This removes stress concentration points at joints while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through progressive forming steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the door manufacturing process into distinct forming steps (initial forming, intermediate forming, final forming) that shape different portions of the integrated component at different stages, enabling complex geometries to be achieved in a single integrated piece without requiring assembly of multiple parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If material overlaps are used for welded connections of structural components, then joint connection is achieved, but overall vehicle weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoint connectionVSAvoidvehicle weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines all door structural elements (door skin, door frame, window frames) into one integrated component that is formed as a single piece through hot forming, completely eliminating the need for material overlaps and welded connections between separate components, thereby reducing weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design provides enhanced resistance to ballistic and explosive attacks, reduces stress concentrations, and maintains a lightweight structure by integrating protective features into the vehicle's structural components.

Implementation Method 1

The respective collars, namely the lid collar and the opening collar, are preferably manufactured in one piece and of the same material as the lid or the wall. This manufacturing process is a press forming. According to the invention, the Hot forming and press hardening technology is employed.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHot forming:

Implementation Method 2

Hot forming and press hardening technology is employed. In particular, wall thicknesses between 1 mm and 10 mm are processed.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPress hardening:

Data Source

PatentEP4092373B1Cabin of an armoured vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
  • EP4092373B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4092373B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4092373B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cabin 3 of an armored vehicle, in particular an armored motor vehicle, wherein the cabin 3 has openings 4 which are closed with an openable lid 5, wherein a wall 1 of the cabin 3 and the lid 5 are made of a steel material, characterized in that the lid 5 has a larger surface area than the opening 4, such that the lid 5 overlaps the opening 4 at its edges and that a circumferential opening collar 7, oriented outwards with respect to an interior space 6 of the cabin 3, is formed at an edge of the opening 4 and that an inwards circumferential lid collar 8 is formed on the lid 5, such that when the lid 5 is closed, the opening collar 7 and the lid collar 8 form an undercut 9 in cross-section.