Reactive Armor Plate Displacement for Fragment Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reactive armor systems cause substantial damage to surroundings and pose a risk of fatal injuries to nearby personnel due to the propulsion of mass and dispersal of fragments, despite effectively neutralizing threats.
Innovation Solution
A reactive armor design featuring an outer shell, inner reactive plates, and explosive material that displaces plates away from the inner surface upon activation, with separation elements to contain the movement and allow gas exhaust, using lightweight materials like glass or polymers for the plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional reactive armor propels heavy metal plates toward the threat, then the threat is neutralized effectively, but substantial damage is caused to the surroundings and nearby personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional reactive armor mechanism by displacing the reactive plate away from the threat rather than toward it. The explosive charge propels the plate in the opposite direction (away from the inner surface), neutralizing the threat through the reaction force while containing the propelled mass within the outer shell, thereby preventing damage to surroundings and personnel
Solution Approach 2:
The outer shell acts as an intermediary containment structure that captures and confines the propelled reactive plate. The separation element serves as an intermediary between the explosive charge and the reactive plate, controlling the displacement process and ensuring the plate remains contained within the shell, thus mediating between the neutralization function and the safety requirement
2Reliability
If traditional reactive armor uses heavy metal plates, then the protective mass is sufficient to neutralize threats, but the weight of the armor system increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the reactive plate from heavy metal to lightweight materials such as glass, polymeric materials, or composite materials. This parameter change maintains the plate's ability to be propelled by the explosive charge and neutralize threats while significantly reducing the overall weight of the armor system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials for the reactive plate, combining different materials (glass, polymers, composites) to achieve the desired balance between protective capability and weight reduction. These composite materials provide sufficient strength and responsiveness to the explosive charge while being much lighter than traditional heavy metal plates
3Reliability
If traditional reactive armor activates explosive charges, then the threat is defeated, but fragments from the armor and neutralized threat spread out and endanger personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful fragment dispersal into a beneficial contained displacement. The explosive charge that would normally create dangerous fragments is instead used to propel the lightweight reactive plate away from the threat in a controlled manner. The outer shell captures any fragments, converting the harmful fragment dispersal effect into a contained neutralization process that enhances safety
Solution Approach 2:
The outer shell and separation element act as intermediaries that contain and control the explosive reaction. They prevent fragments from escaping the armor system while allowing the explosive charge to effectively propel the reactive plate for threat neutralization, thus mediating between the threat defeat function and the fragment containment requirement
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 armor effectively neutralizes threats without causing extensive damage to the surroundings, containing fragments and reducing the risk of injury, and allows for quick replacement and reuse.
Implementation Method 1
explosive material disposed between said inner surface and said reactive plate, wherein said reactive plate is configured to be displaced away from said inner surface upon activation of said explosive material
Data Source
AI summary
A reactive armor for defeating threats comprises an outer shell having outer and inner surfaces, an inner reactive plate, and explosive material disposed between said inner surface and said reactive plate, wherein said reactive plate is configured to be displaced away from said inner surface upon activation of said explosive material.