Textile armour

Abstract

Textile armour ( 2 ) comprising at least one textile section ( 4 ) and corresponding supporting means ( 6 ), wherein the arrangement is such that the or each textile section is fully extended.

1 . Textile armour comprising at least one textile section and corresponding supporting means, wherein the arrangement is such that the or each textile section is fully extended. 
     
     
         2 . Textile armour according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each textile section comprises a net formed from a plurality of interconnecting net strands. 
     
     
         3 . Textile armour according to  claim 2 , wherein the or each net is supported at or near two adjacent corners, such that the body of the net section hangs below. 
     
     
         4 . Textile armour according to  claim 2 , wherein the net strands comprise plastic fibres. 
     
     
         5 . Textile armour according to  claim 4 , wherein the plastic fibres have one or more of the following properties: high tenacity; low elongation; high strength to weight ratio; low density; and soft finish. 
     
     
         6 . Textile armour according to  claim 4 , wherein the net strands comprise ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. 
     
     
         7 . Textile armour according to  claim 2 , wherein the net comprises a knotted construction. 
     
     
         8 . Textile armour according to  claim 2 , wherein the net comprises a knotless mesh construction. 
     
     
         9 . Textile armour according to  claim 2 , wherein the net comprises a woven construction. 
     
     
         10 . Textile armour according to  claim 2 , wherein the net strands have a diameter of less than 10 mm. 
     
     
         11 . Textile armour according to  claim 10 , wherein the net strands have a diameter of less than 6 mm. 
     
     
         12 . Textile armour according to  claim 11 , wherein the net strands have a diameter in the region from 3-5 mm. 
     
     
         13 . Textile armour according to  claim 2 , wherein the armour is configured to disable a shaped charge warhead. 
     
     
         14 . Textile armour according to  claim 13 , wherein the shaped charge warhead is a rocket propelled grenade. 
     
     
         15 . Textile armour according to  claim 13 , wherein the circumference of each individual mesh section is less than the maximum circumference of the nose cone of the shaped charge warhead which the net is designed to disable. 
     
     
         16 . Textile armour according to  claim 15 , wherein the circumference of each individual mesh section is less than, or equal to, two-thirds of the maximum circumference of the nose cone of the shaped charge warhead. 
     
     
         17 . Textile armour according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting means comprises a rigid support member. 
     
     
         18 . Textile armour according to  claim 17 , wherein the rigid support member is a frame structure. 
     
     
         19 . Textile armour according to  claim 17 , wherein the textile section is attached to the support member at a plurality of attachment points. 
     
     
         20 . Textile armour according to  claim 19 , wherein the attachment points are evenly spaced along the support member. 
     
     
         21 . Textile armour according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each textile section is provided with a camouflage colouring. 
     
     
         22 . Textile armour according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each textile section is provided with a camouflage garnish. 
     
     
         23 . Textile armour according to  claim 1 , wherein the textile armour is capable of disabling a projectile with a velocity up to 300 ms −1 . 
     
     
         24 . A textile armour system comprising a plurality of textile sections and a plurality of corresponding supporting means, wherein the arrangement is such that each textile section is supported in a substantially wrinkle-free manner. 
     
     
         25 . A textile armour system according to  claim 24 , wherein the supporting means comprise rigid frames, each frame being connected to another frame. 
     
     
         26 . A textile armour system according to  claim 25 , wherein the frames provide structural and inertial support for the system. 
     
     
         27 . A textile armour system according to  claim 24 , comprising textile armour according to any one of  claims 1 . 
     
     
         28 . A textile armour system according to  claim 24 , wherein the system is deployed to provide a screen between a target object and an incoming projectile.