Detachable Armor for Military Vehicle Floor Pan

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Solution Overview

Problem

Military vehicle floor pans are vulnerable to blast effects from below or the side, particularly at welded connection points, which can be weakened by heat-induced structural changes, compromising ballistic protection and mobility.

Innovation Solution

Additional armor plates are detachably fastened to the side floor walls, covering the connection points and second bottom walls, using screw connections and damping elements to distribute forces and prevent weld seam rupture, while maintaining the integrity of the lower floor wall.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If additional armor is welded to the floor pan for mine protection, then blast protection is improved, but the heat-affected zones at connection points weaken the structure and create failure points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblast protectionVSAvoidweld seam strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A bonding element (adhesive layer) is introduced as an intermediary between the additional armor and the floor pan, eliminating direct welding contact. This mediator transfers loads without creating heat-affected zones, resolving the contradiction between protection and weld seam strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical welding connection is replaced with a chemical bonding system (adhesive). This substitution eliminates the thermal process that creates weak zones while maintaining structural integrity under blast loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If additional armor is added to protect against mine explosions, then blast protection is improved, but vehicle weight increases and mobility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemine explosion protectionVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The bonding strength parameters of the adhesive are optimized to achieve adequate load transfer without requiring excessive armor thickness. By changing the bonding interface properties, sufficient protection is achieved with minimized additional weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If additional armor is permanently installed for protection, then blast protection is improved, but the vehicle cannot be transported on trains or aircraft due to weight restrictions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection point protectionVSAvoidtransportability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The additional armor is designed with reversible bonding that allows it to be installed when protection is needed and removed when transport is required. The bonding system transitions from a permanent-state to a temporary-state configuration, enabling adaptability between operational and transport modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The protective system is segmented into a separable additional armor component that can be independently installed or removed. This segmentation allows the vehicle to be configured for either maximum protection or optimal transportability depending on operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If the additional armor is bonded directly to the floor pan, then installation is simplified, but the bonding process itself creates heat-affected zones that weaken the structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidfloor pan strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3012571B1Vehicle floor pan comprising additional armouring

Publication Date: 2018.06.13 KRAUSS MAFFEI WEGMANN GMBH & CO KG

Figure 1~3
Figure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a vehicle floor pan, in particular an armored military vehicle, with a side floor wall (1) connected to a second floor wall (5) via a connection point (9). In a first embodiment, additional armor (4) for mine protection, in particular an armor plate, is detachably attached to the side floor wall (1), which at least partially covers the second floor wall (5) adjacent to the side floor wall (1) and the connection point (9) located between them. In a second embodiment, an additional protection module (6) is detachably attached to the lower floor wall (5), wherein the lower floor wall (5) and the additional protection module (6) extend beyond the connection point between the lower floor wall (5) and the side floor wall (1) in the area of the attachment (12), forming a projection (19), with the attachment point being located in this projection (19).