Ceramic Armor Plate, an Armor System, and a Method of Manufacturing a Ceramic Armor Plate

Abstract

A ceramic armor plate is proposed which is formed in one piece and which comprises a plurality of connected segments that are functionally separated by crack stoppers, whereby the crack stoppers serve to prevent the propagation of cracks from one segment to a neighboring segment.

1 . A ceramic armor plate formed in one piece, comprising: 
 a plurality of connected segments that are functionally separated by crack stoppers;    wherein the crack stoppers serve to prevent the propagation of cracks from one segment to a neighboring segment.    
   
   
       2 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the crack stoppers are integrated into the armor plate.  
   
   
       3 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the crack stoppers are formed in the solid material of the armor plate.  
   
   
       4 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the crack stoppers are produced when manufacturing the armor plate.  
   
   
       5 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the crack stoppers are formed by recesses or from recesses.  
   
   
       6 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance to  claim 5 , wherein the recesses are produced in the thickness direction of the armor plate.  
   
   
       7 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance to  claim 5 , wherein the recesses are produced at an angle of between 15° and 45° with respect to a thickness direction of the armor plate.  
   
   
       8 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the recesses do not extend through the entire thickness of the armor plate.  
   
   
       9 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the crack stoppers are formed by grooves or from grooves.  
   
   
       10 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance to  claim 9 , wherein the depth of the grooves lies in a range of between 0.05 to 0.9 of the thickness of the armor plate.  
   
   
       11 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance to  claim 5 , wherein the recesses extend through the entire thickness of the armor plate.  
   
   
       12 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the crack stoppers are formed by perforations or from perforations.  
   
   
       13 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the crack stoppers are formed from cracks.  
   
   
       14 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the cracks serving as crack stoppers run between an upper surface and a lower surface of the armor plate.  
   
   
       15 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the cracks run at least approximately in the thickness direction of the armor plate.  
   
   
       16 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein there are provided covering layers between which the cracks extend.  
   
   
       17 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the covering layers are made of C/C—SiC.  
   
   
       18 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance to  claim 16 , wherein the covering layers are made of a material which has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the material between the covering layers.  
   
   
       19 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance to  claim 1 , wherein the crack stoppers are in the form of defects.  
   
   
       20 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance to  claim 1 , wherein the spacing between the crack stoppers lies in a range of between 5 mm and 100 mm.  
   
   
       21 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance to  claim 1 , wherein the armor plate has a multi-layer structure.  
   
   
       22 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the armor plate is produced from a carbide ceramic material.  
   
   
       23 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the armor plate is produced from a silicon carbide ceramic.  
   
   
       24 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the crack stoppers are formed prior to a ceramicization process.  
   
   
       25 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the armor plate is produced by means of a carbon-containing preform.  
   
   
       26 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic material of the armor plate is manufactured by means of a biomorphic material.  
   
   
       27 . A ceramic armor plate in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the biomorphic material contains cellulose.  
   
   
       28 . An armor system comprising: 
 at least one armor plate with a plurality of connected segments that are functionally separated by crack stoppers;    wherein the crack stoppers serve to prevent the propagation of cracks from one segment to a neighboring segment.    
   
   
       29 . An armor system in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein the armor system has a multi-layer structure.  
   
   
       30 . An armor system in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein the at least one armor plate is arranged on a backing.  
   
   
       31 . A method of manufacturing a ceramic armor plate, comprising: 
 producing crack stoppers in an armor plate preform; and    subdividing the armor plate into connected functional segments by the cracks stoppers.    
   
   
       32 . A method in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein the crack stoppers are produced before the armor plate material is subjected to a ceramicization process.  
   
   
       33 . A method in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein the crack stoppers are formed by the production of recesses.  
   
   
       34 . A method in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein the recesses are produced by a mechanical material-working process.  
   
   
       35 . A method in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein the recesses are produced by beam processing.  
   
   
       36 . A method in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein the recesses are filled with a parting agent.  
   
   
       37 . A method in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein the crack stoppers are produced in the form of cracks.  
   
   
       38 . A method in accordance with  claim 37 , wherein cracks are produced by the process of connection to covering layers.  
   
   
       39 . A method in accordance with  claim 38 , wherein the covering layers are made of C/C.  
   
   
       40 . A method in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein the armor plate preform is a carbon-containing preform.  
   
   
       41 . A method in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein a multi-layer structure is provided, wherein the layers are connected for the purposes of forming a one-piece armor plate during a ceramicizing process.