Armor plate

Abstract

An armor plate includes at least four layers configured to generate a compression wave that is dissipated in a fracture player. The armor plate includes a deformable layer of a material having an elongation before failure of 20% or more; a transparent ceramic layer adjacent the deformable layer; a transparent fracture layer adjacent the ceramic layer; and a transparent spall liner backing the fracture layer.

1 . An armor plate comprising:
 a deformable layer comprised of a material having an elongation before failure of at least about 20%;   a ceramic layer adjacent the deformable layer;   a fracture layer adjacent the ceramic layer; and   a spall liner backing the fracture layer.   
     
     
         2 . The armor plate as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the deformable layer is comprised of polycarbonate. 
     
     
         3 . The armor plate as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the deformable layer has an elongation before failure of at least about 50%. 
     
     
         4 . The armor plate as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the deformable layer has an elongation before failure of at least about 100%. 
     
     
         5 . The armor plate as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the deformable layer has an average thickness in a range from about 1 mm to about 4 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The armor plate as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic layer is comprised of sapphire, aluminum oxynitride, spinel, AlN, alumina, silicon carbide, boronitride, boron carbide, diamond, and combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The armor plate as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic layer has an average thickness in a range from about 1 mm to about 2 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The armor plate as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fracture layer is selected from the group consisting of glass, soda glass, a silicate material, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The armor plate as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fracture layer has an average thickness in a range from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The armor plate as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the spall liner is comprised of a polycarbonate. 
     
     
         11 . The armor plate as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the deformable layer provides the initial impact layer for a projectile striking the armor plate. 
     
     
         12 . The armor plate as recited in  claim 1 , the deformable layer, the ceramic layer, the fracture layer, and the spall liner have a combined thickness in a range from about 4 mm to about 15 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The armor plate as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive joining the deformable layer and the ceramic layer, joining the ceramic layer and the fracture layer, and/or joining the fracture layer and the spall liner. 
     
     
         14 . The armor plate as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the deformable layer has a thickness in a range from about 1 mm to about 4 mm, the ceramic layer has a thickness in a range from about 1 mm to about 2 mm, and the fracture layer has a thickness in a range from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm, and the spall liner has a thickness in a range from about 1 mm to about 4 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The armor plate as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the deformable layer, the ceramic layer, the fracture layer, and the spall liner are transparent. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle comprising a body having one or more windows comprised of the armor plate as defined in  claim 15 . 
     
     
         17 . An armored helmet including a visor comprising the armor plate as defined in  claim 15 . 
     
     
         18 . A goggle having one or more lenses comprised of the armor plate as defined in  claim 15 . 
     
     
         19 . A transparent armor plate, comprising:
 a transparent deformable layer configured to receive an initial impact force of a projectile and generate a compression wave;   a fracture layer;   a transparent ceramic layer disposed between the deformable layer and the fracture layer, the transparent ceramic layer configured to receive the compression wave from the deformable layer and transfer the energy thereof to the fracture layer,   wherein the fracture layer is configured to dissipate the compression wave by fracturing; and   a spall liner backing the fracture layer and configured to contain the fractured layer after being fractured.   
     
     
         20 . A transparent armor plate as in  claim 19 , wherein the transparent deformable layer has an elongation before failure of at least about 50%. 
     
     
         21 . A transparent armor plate as in  claim 19 , wherein the deformable layer, the ceramic layer, the fracture layer, and the spall liner have a combined thickness in a range from about 4 mm to about 15 mm. 
     
     
         22 . A transparent body armor material as in  claim 19 , wherein the transparent deformable layer comprises polycarbonate, the transparent ceramic layer is selected from the group consisting of sapphire, aluminum oxynitride, spinel, or a combination thereof, and the transparent fracture layer includes glass, soda glass, a silicate material, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . A transparent armor plate consisting essentially of:
 a transparent deformable layer comprised of a material having an elongation before failure of at least 20%;   a transparent ceramic layer adjacent the deformable layer;   a transparent fracture layer adjacent ceramic layer;   a transparent spall liner backing the fracture layer;   optionally an adhesive bonding two or more of the layers of the armor plate together; and   optionally a tint coating.   
     
     
         24 . A transparent armor plate as in  claim 23 , wherein the deformable layer comprises polycarbonate.