Apparatus and method for the protection of a vehicle from rocket-propelled grenades

Abstract

An apparatus for protecting a vehicle having a body from a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), comprising a panel comprised of a plurality of spaced, generally parallel bars positioned in spaced outward relation to said body of said vehicle.

1 . An apparatus for protecting a vehicle having a body from a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), comprising:
 a panel comprised of a plurality of spaced, generally parallel bars positioned in spaced outward relation to said body of said vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus includes means for suspending the panel in spaced outward relation to said body of said vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the means for suspending the panel in spaced outward relation to said body of said vehicle comprises at least one post extending outwardly from said vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein means are provided to pivot the post from a first horizontal position to a second canted position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein when the post is in the first horizontal position the panel is in a deployed position wherein the entire panel is in spaced outward adjacent relation to the body of the vehicle, and when the post is in the second canted position the panel is in a collapsed position wherein at least part of the panel is not positioned in spaced outward adjacent relation to the body of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the deployed position adjacent the body is a lower position and the collapsed position is an upper position. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the vehicle has a front side door and said panel is positioned adjacent said front door. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the vehicle also has a rear side door and there is a panel comprised of a plurality of spaced bars outwardly adjacent the rear door. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the vehicle has a second pair of front and rear side doors and there are a pair of panels comprised of a plurality of spaced bars outwardly adjacent the rear door in said second pair of front and rear side doors. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of the bars has an angled feature. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the bars are cross-sectionally rectangular. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the bars are cross-sectionally square. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the RPG has a transverse dimension and the bars are spaced at a distance of less than said transverse dimension. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bars are horizontal. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein each of the horizontal bars is attached to at least one vertical bar. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein there are a pair of parallel vertical bars and each of the horizontal bars is attached to both of said pair of vertical bars. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein an attenuator and armor is interposed between the panel and the body of the vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . A method for protecting a vehicle having a body from a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) comprising the step of:
 positioning a panel composed of a plurality of spaced generally parallel bars in spaced outward relation to said vehicle.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) has a front piezoelectric element, an inner and outer ogive, an interior shaped explosive and a rearward detonator and the front piezoelectric element extends between two adjacent bars and at least one of said bars bends the outer ogive to contact the inner ogive to prevent detonation of the shaped explosive. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the bars have at least one angled feature. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for protecting a vehicle, comprising:
 horizontal members having;   vertical members capable of being secured to a vehicle;   bushings capable of securing the horizontal members to the vertical members;   wherein the bushings are designed to break away upon impact by an armament and be sufficiently rigid to ensure detonation of the armament upon impact and to reduce transfer of impact loads to the vertical members and reduce the deformation of the vertical members.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the horizontal members have at least three angular edges and wherein the bushings reduce rotation of the horizontal members. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the horizontal and vertical members are comprised of a high strength aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the horizontal members are comprised of a carbon fiber reinforced composite. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the horizontal and vertical members comprise a modular fencing system capable of being attached to the vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , further comprising a shock attenuating layer that is capable of attachment to the vehicle to attenuate peak pressure in an explosion caused by collision of a rocket propelled grenade with the vehicle surface. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the shock attenuating layer comprises at least one of a metal honeycomb, a composite honeycomb, and multi-layer fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , further comprising hinges capable of attachment to the vehicle and at least two vertical members to permit moving the horizontal and vertical members closer to the vehicle surface when required. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , further comprising mounting hardware for affixing the vertical members to the vehicle. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the mounting hardware and vertical members are attached to the vehicle using at least one of bolts and screws. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the bushings include an internal hole that accommodates one of the horizontal members. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the bushings include an external flat surface that facilitates securing to one of the vertical members. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the bushing is comprised of a molded polymer material. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the mounting hardware includes clamps. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , further comprising hinges to rotatably secure modular sections to the vehicle to permit a section to operate as a door.