Ballistic Shield Handle Mounting via Segmented Base Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ballistic shields with hardware that traverses their thickness, such as bolts or through-bolts, can reduce the composite armor's ability to absorb energy via delamination, leading to increased chances of projectile penetration, especially near edges or areas with hardware, due to restricted material movement and thermal expansion issues.
Innovation Solution
A ballistic shield mounting system where the base plate is not directly connected to the safe face by a fastener that traverses the shield's thickness, using a base plate with spaced-apart openings and spring tension devices to maintain contact with the safe face, allowing for energy absorption and thermal expansion without pinching the armor layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If through-bolts or fasteners are used to attach hardware to the ballistic shield, then the hardware is securely mounted, but the composite armor's ability to absorb energy via delamination is reduced, increasing the likelihood of projectile penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate components: a base plate attached to the shield interior surface and a hardware component attached to the base plate. This segmentation eliminates the need for through-bolts that penetrate the armor layers, allowing the composite materials to delaminate and absorb energy during projectile impact while still providing secure hardware mounting through the intermediate base plate structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate serves as an intermediary element between the ballistic shield and the hardware. It is attached to the interior surface of the shield and provides mounting points for hardware components, eliminating the need for fasteners that traverse the armor thickness. This intermediary structure allows the armor layers to move and delaminate freely during impact while still securing the hardware.
2Strength
If fasteners traverse the thickness of the ballistic shield, then hardware is firmly attached, but thermal expansion and contraction of the composite armor is restricted, causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is segmented into two separate attachment points: one on the interior surface of the shield for the base plate, and another on the base plate for the hardware. This eliminates the need for a single through-bolt that would restrict thermal expansion across the entire armor thickness, allowing the composite layers to expand and contract freely during temperature changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate acts as an intermediary that decouples the thermal expansion constraints. By attaching hardware to the base plate rather than directly through the armor, the system allows thermal expansion and contraction of the composite armor without restriction, preventing warping and damage while maintaining firm hardware attachment.
3Ease of operation
If through-bolts are used near the edges of the shield, then hardware mounting is achieved, but the already weak edge regions become even more vulnerable to projectile penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system separates the hardware attachment function from the armor structure by using a base plate attached to the interior surface. This allows hardware to be mounted near edges without requiring through-bolts that would further compromise the already vulnerable edge regions, maintaining ballistic protection effectiveness while enabling hardware mounting capability.
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
Enhances the ballistic shield's ability to capture projectiles by preventing delamination restrictions and maintaining structural integrity during thermal changes, reducing the likelihood of penetration and ensuring the shield's effectiveness across its surface, including edges and areas with attachments.
Implementation Method 1
a spring tension device positioned between the base plate and the safe face of the ballistic shield
Implementation Method 2
Separation forces that the projectile(s) impart on the materials and layers, including delamination of the layers, progressively absorbs and reduces energy from the impacting projectile
Implementation Method 3
allowing internal sections of the composite panel to move laterally backwards away from the strike face of the armor, greatly improving the armor's ability to capture the projectile
Implementation Method 4
maintaining contact with the safe face, allowing for energy absorption and thermal expansion without pinching the armor layers
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a ballistic shield having a strike face and an opposing safe face. A thickness of the ballistic shield extends from the strike face to the safe face. The system can further include a base plate having a shield side and an opposing body side. The base plate can be connected to the ballistic shield. The base plate is not directly connected to either the strike face or the safe face by a fastener that traverses the thickness of the ballistic shield.