Armor system and method for defeating high energy projectiles that include metal jets

Abstract

An armor system for defeating a solid projectile having an exterior rigid armor plate associated with a fiber-reinforced sheet armor affixed to the interior surface of the exterior armor plate, an interior armor plate, and an inner armor plate displaced from one another to form a first dispersion space between the sheet of self-bonded polymer and the interior armor plate. The first dispersion space is sufficiently thick to allow significant lateral dispersion of armor passing therethrough. The inner armor plate is disposed approximately parallel to the interior armor plate and displaced therefrom to form a second dispersion space between the interior armor plate and the inner armor plate. The second dispersion space is sufficiently thick to allow significant lateral dispersion of materials passing therethrough.

1 . An armor system for defeating a solid projectile, said system comprising:
 an exterior rigid armor plate having an exterior surface and an interior surface;   a fiber-reinforced sheet armor comprised of a plurality of fibers having an ultimate tensile strength greater than 2.5 GPa bonded to form the sheet by a polymer surrounding the fibers, the sheet armor being affixed to the interior surface of the exterior armor plate;   an interior armor plate disposed approximately parallel to the fiber-reinforced sheet armor and displaced therefrom to form a first dispersion space between the fiber-reinforced sheet armor and the interior armor plate; and   an inner armor plate disposed approximately parallel to the interior armor plate and displaced therefrom to form a second dispersion space between the interior armor plate and the inner armor plate, the second dispersion space being sufficiently thick to allow significant lateral dispersion of materials passing therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the fiber in the fiber-reinforced sheet armor sheet is bonded into sheet form with a matrix of polymer material that consists essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of: phenolic resins, epoxy resins, vinyl ester resins, polyester resins, acrylate resins, and polymethyl (meth)acrylate. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the fiber in the fiber-reinforced sheet armor sheet consists essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of: poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, stretch-oriented high molecular weight polyethylene, stretch-oriented high molecular weight polyester, a polymer based on pyridobisimidazole, and silicate glass. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the fiber-reinforced sheet armor comprises a sheet of self-bonded polymer comprised of a plurality of polymer fibers, each having an interior core and an exterior sheath, the interior core being formed of a polymer having a higher melting point and higher strength than a polymer forming the exterior sheath. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the fiber-reinforced sheet armor consists essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of: polypropylene and polyethylene. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the outer armor layer consists essentially of a sintered material selected from the group consisting of: silicon carbide, boron carbide, alumina, and a blend of zirconia and alumina. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first dispersion space is sufficiently thick to allow significant lateral dispersion of material passing though the first dispersion space. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the fiber-reinforced sheet armor is bonded to the interior armor plate. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  including a plurality of spheres located in the second dispersion space, the spheres consisting essentially of a material selected from the group of brittle metal, ceramic, and glass. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the spheres are surrounded by a material selected from the group of: a liquid and a gel, said material having a velocity of forced shock greater than 1,000 meters/sec. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  further including an electrically conductive member disposed in the dispersion space between two adjacent electrically conductive armor plates, a source of electrical power disposed to apply electrical power to the electrically conductive member the source of electrical power being disposed to supply sufficient electrical power to disperse at least a portion of an elongated projectile making electrical connection between at least one of the two adjacent armor plates and the electrically conductive member. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one armor plate, having an outer surface opposite a dispersion space, includes a plurality of projections on the outer surface, the projections being disposed to at least partially fragment solid projectiles impinging on the outer surface of the armor plate. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one armor plate, having an inner surface facing a dispersion space, includes a plurality of projections on the inner surface, the projections being disposed to disperse solid material erupting through the inner surface of the armor plate. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the surface of the inner armor plate facing the dispersion space, includes a plurality of projections on the inner surface, the projections being disposed to disperse solid material impinging on the outer surface of the inner armor plate. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the armor plates are comprised of materials having different values for a velocity of transmission of a forced shock wave passing therethrough. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system is an assembly affixed to the exterior of an armored vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a body and the body includes a layer of sheet armor affixed to the interior surface of the body. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the sheet armor affixed to the interior surface of the body comprises a rigid polymer/fiber composite. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the sheet armor affixed to the interior surface of the body comprises a woven fabric comprised of fiber. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the sheet armor affixed to the interior surface of the body comprises a woven fabric comprised of fiber and a plurality of ceramic plates. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the sheet armor is spaced from the interior surface to form a gap. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the vehicle is a blast-resistant armored land vehicle having a monocoque body comprised of sheet steel, the body having a bottom portion defining at least one V, with the apex of the V substantially parallel to the centerline of the vehicle. 
     
     
         23 . A method of defeating an anti-armor projectile, the method comprising the steps of:
 interposing a rigid exterior armor plate as the outer layer of a multi-layer armor system; the exterior armor plate having an exterior surface and an interior surface;   interposing a fiber-reinforced sheet armor comprised of a plurality of fibers having an ultimate tensile strength greater than 3GPa bonded to form the sheet by a polymer surrounding the fibers adjacent the exterior armor sheet such that any projectile defeating the exterior armor sheet next encounters the fiber-reinforced sheet armor; and   interposing an interior armor plate approximately parallel to the fiber-reinforced sheet armor and displaced therefrom to form a first dispersion space between the fiber-reinforced sheet armor and the interior armor plate.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , including the further step of:
 interposing an inner armor plate approximately parallel to the interior armor plate and displaced therefrom to form a second dispersion space between the interior armor plate and the inner armor plate, the second dispersion space being sufficiently thick to allow significant lateral dispersion of materials passing therethrough.   
     
     
         25 . The armor system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior armor plate and the fiber-reinforced sheet armor are adjacent, and the first dispersion space is formed by a gap separating the interior armor plate and the fiber-reinforced sheet armor. 
     
     
         26 . The armor system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior armor plate and the fiber-reinforced sheet armor are separated by a first distance, and the first dispersion space is formed by a gap spanning the first distance.