Blast Pressure Diffuser Vane Segmentation for Vehicle Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Light tactical vehicles, such as the Humvee, face significant risks from overpressure waves generated by landmines and IEDs, which can cause structural breaches and injuries due to the direct impact on the vehicle's underside, and existing makeshift armor solutions increase vehicle weight, affecting performance and reliability.

Innovation Solution

A blast diffuser system comprising a plurality of vanes arranged in spaced relation, mounted to the vehicle's underside, redirects overpressure waves away from the vehicle's structure through a gap, minimizing direct impact and distributing energy, thereby reducing the intensity of the overpressure wave.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If makeshift armor is added to the vehicle to protect against overpressure waves, then protection capability is improved, but vehicle weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection capabilityVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The blast diffuser is divided into multiple vanes (e.g., three vanes) spaced apart from each other, creating a segmented structure that redirects overpressure waves through gaps between the vanes and the vehicle hull. This segmentation allows the system to provide protection while maintaining lower weight compared to solid armor plating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blast diffuser assembly acts as an intermediary structure between the overpressure wave and the vehicle hull. It redirects the overpressure wave through carefully positioned gaps, preventing direct impact on the hull while using minimal material, thus providing protection without the weight penalty of traditional armor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If vehicle weight is increased to improve protection, then protection capability is improved, but vehicle performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection capabilityVSAvoidvehicle performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the protection system into multiple spaced vanes rather than using solid armor, the blast diffuser achieves protection capability while minimizing weight addition. This preserves vehicle acceleration, braking, and handling performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blast diffuser changes the parameters of the overpressure wave by redirecting it through gaps at specific angles, reducing the intensity of the wave that reaches the hull. This allows protection without needing heavy armor that would compromise vehicle performance parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If vehicle weight is increased to improve protection, then protection capability is improved, but reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection capabilityVSAvoidvehicle reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented vane structure distributes the blast load across multiple components and gaps, reducing stress concentration on any single point. This enhances reliability by preventing catastrophic failure from added weight stress while maintaining protection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Object-affected harmful factors

If vehicle weight is increased to improve protection, then protection capability is improved, but vehicle handling deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection capabilityVSAvoidvehicle handling

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lightweight segmented blast diffuser minimizes weight addition compared to solid armor, preserving the vehicle's center of gravity and handling characteristics. The gaps between vanes allow the structure to remain lightweight while providing effective overpressure wave redirection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

The blast diffuser effectively reduces the air pressure and velocity of overpressure waves, minimizing structural damage and preventing injuries by redirecting airflow, thus enhancing vehicle survivability without compromising performance.

Implementation Method 1

The vanes are configured to redirect airflow of an overpressure wave from a first direction toward the diffuser assembly to a second direction generally parallel to the structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow redirection:

Data Source

PatentUS8640592B1Blast pressure diffuser

Publication Date: 2014.02.04 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A blast diffuser for a structure may include a diffuser assembly. The diffuser assembly may include a plurality of vanes arranged in spaced relation to one anther. The vanes may be configured to redirect airflow of an overpressure wave from a first direction toward the diffuser assembly to a second direction generally parallel to the structure. The vanes may be offset from the structure by an offset distance forming a gap for the airflow between the vanes and the structure.