Belly armor

Abstract

An add-on armor adapted for protecting a belly of a vehicle, the add-on armor comprising a base plate and a plurality of energy absorbing modules fitted to the base plate. The arrangement is such that at least a majority of a surface of each energy absorbing module facing the base plate overlaps with the base plate at an area thereof constituting a module zone. The module zones are associated with different modules being spaced from one another by vacancy zones.

1 . An add-on armor adapted for protecting a belly of a vehicle, said add-on armor comprising a base plate and a plurality of energy absorbing modules fitted to said base plate so that at least a majority of a surface of each energy absorbing module facing said base plate overlaps with the base plate at an area thereof constituting a module zone, the module zones associated with different modules being spaced from one another by vacancy zones. 
     
     
         2 . An add-on armor according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacancy zones of the base plate are disposed at locations corresponding to locations of automotive components of the vehicle, such that when the add-on armor is mounted onto the belly of the vehicle, the energy absorbing modules are located between the automotive components. 
     
     
         3 . An add-on armor according to  claim 2 , wherein said energy absorbing modules are disposed so that, when the add-on armor is mounted onto the vehicle, no automotive component of the vehicle is disposed between each of said energy absorbing modules and the belly of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . An add-on armor according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing module is adapted for undergoing progressive deformation at least under the application of a load in a direction perpendicular to its surface facing said base plate. 
     
     
         5 . An add-on armor according to  claim 4 , wherein said energy absorbing module is in the form of an energy absorbing structure collapsible for providing said progressive deformation. 
     
     
         6 . An add-on armor according to  claim 4 , wherein said energy absorbing module is made of a material capable of undergoing said progressive deformation. 
     
     
         7 . An add-on armor according to  claim 6 , wherein said material is a metallic foam. 
     
     
         8 . An add-on armor according to  claim 7 , wherein said energy absorbing module comprises several layers, one of which is constituted by said energy absorbing material. 
     
     
         9 . An add-on armor according to  claim 7 , wherein said energy absorbing module comprises an intermediate layer constituted by said material and two cover layers disposed on opposite sides thereof, wherein at least one of said cover layers is made of fibrous material capable of undergoing deformation when a load is applied thereto, which is localized to an area essentially less than the area of said surface of the module, without influencing the remainder of the cover layer. 
     
     
         10 . An add-on armor according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said cover layers are made of fiberglass. 
     
     
         11 . An add-on armor according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said cover layers are made of Basalt sheet. 
     
     
         12 . An add-on armor according to  claim 1 , wherein the base plate has side portions adapted to extend generally parallel to the side walls of the vehicle, when the armor is mounted thereon, and formed with attachment ports associated with attachment ports located on the side walls of the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . An add-on armor according to  claim 12 , wherein said base plate is fitted with securing elements adapted for preventing the side portions from detaching from the side walls of the vehicle under application of corresponding moment thereto. 
     
     
         14 . An add-on armor according to  claim 1 , wherein said base plate comprises a central portion and two peripheral portions, the central portion having a ballistic resistance greater than the peripheral portions. 
     
     
         15 . An add-on armor according to  claim 14 , wherein said central portion has a greater thickness than the peripheral portions. 
     
     
         16 . An add-on armor according to  claim 14 , wherein said central portion is fitted with an auxiliary armor sheet. 
     
     
         17 . An add-on armor according to  claim 16 , wherein said auxiliary armor sheet is separated from the central portion by an intermediate layer. 
     
     
         18 . An add-on armor according to  claim 17 , wherein said intermediate layer is made of fiberglass. 
     
     
         19 . An add-on armor according to  claim 1 , wherein said base plate is fitted with an internal energy absorbing member which is attached to an inner side thereof, having a similar design to said energy absorbing module. 
     
     
         20 . An armored vehicle comprising a hull and an add-on armor according to  claim 1 , said add-on armor being attached to said hull such that the energy absorbing modules are disposed between the base plate of said add-on armor and said hull. 
     
     
         21 . An armored vehicle according to  claim 20 , having a ground clearance which does not exceed 50 cm. 
     
     
         22 . An add-on armor for a vehicle comprising a hull having sidewalls and a belly extending therebetween at a bottom side of said vehicle, said add-on armor comprising a base plate adapted for being externally mounted onto said belly and at least one energy absorbing module adapted for undergoing progressive deformation under application of a load thereto, and for being disposed between said base plate and said belly, when the add-one armor is mounted onto said vehicle.