Decoupled V-Hull with Crush Elements for Blast Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current underbody blast protection systems for military vehicles fail to effectively absorb and distribute blast-induced energy, leading to severe injuries to crew members due to direct transmission of vertical loads into the crew compartment.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a de-coupled V-hull structure coupled with energy absorbing cruciform crush elements, which includes a truncated rectangular pyramid housing with cruciform plates and sliding affixation to the V-hull, absorbs energy through controlled buckling and reduces blast-induced accelerations by decoupling the V-hull from the crew compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If V-hull structures are coupled directly to the vehicle chassis or crew compartment, then structural strength and blast deflection are improved, but vertical loads are quickly transmitted into the crew compartment causing severe injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces energy absorbing crush elements as intermediary structures between the V-hull and the vehicle chassis/crew compartment. These crush elements act as mediators that decouple the direct load path, allowing the V-hull to maintain its blast deflection function while preventing vertical loads from being transmitted to the crew compartment. The crush elements are specifically designed to absorb energy through controlled deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by pre-positioning energy absorbing crush elements between the V-hull and the vehicle structure. These elements are designed to deform and absorb energy before the blast-induced vertical loads can reach the crew compartment. The crush elements are pre-installed to engage during blast events, providing protective cushioning that mitigates the harmful vertical loads.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If energy absorbing components are added to seat and floor structures, then crew injury mitigation is improved, but the overall system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the blast protection system into distinct functional modules: the V-hull structure for blast deflection, the energy absorbing crush elements for energy dissipation, and the vehicle chassis for structural support. This modular segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system by concentrating the energy absorption function in dedicated elements rather than distributing it complexly across seats and floors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the energy absorption function from the complex assembly of seat and floor structures and concentrates it into dedicated crush elements. By taking out the energy absorption function and isolating it in specific components, the system achieves better injury mitigation while reducing overall complexity, as the crush elements handle the energy absorption task without requiring complex integration with multiple vehicle systems.
3Stability of the object's composition
If crush elements are rigidly fixed to the V-hull, then structural stability is improved, but energy absorption capability through controlled deformation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing the attachment mechanism of the crush elements to allow controlled movement and deformation during blast events. Rather than rigid fixation, the crush elements are attached in a manner that permits them to deform dynamically in response to blast loads. This dynamic attachment enables the crush elements to absorb energy through controlled deformation while maintaining sufficient structural stability to remain attached to the V-hull throughout the deformation process.
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 solution significantly reduces blast-induced accelerations and structural motions within the vehicle, enhancing crew survivability by uniformly distributing and absorbing energy from blasts, maintaining structural integrity, and effectively managing both axial and off-axis loads.
Implementation Method 1
the crush element...absorbing energy from the blast...the element will buckle in a controlled manner, above and below each of the cruciform plates
Implementation Method 2
two sides, opposing one-another, have an opening extending from the base of the housing up through the surface cavity, to adjust the crush load of the element
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology regards a de-coupled V-hull structure for use with an armored vehicle, and energy absorbing crush elements suitable for mounting the V-hull structure in a de-coupled manner to the vehicle. The energy absorbing V-hull structure includes a sloped armor structure forming a cavity having a v-shaped cross-section and a plurality of reinforcing elements, including a backbone, hull stiffeners and lateral supports. The elements are coupled together and supported by energy absorber mounts, extending along each side of the structure. Crush elements suitable for decoupling the V-hull structure are also disclosed, having a uniquely designed housing, a plurality of plates positioned within the housing, and affixation means for securing the crush element to the underside of the vehicle and to the top of the V-hull structure.