Layering of Air Gaps To Improve Armor Protection

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an armor system comprises a plurality of layers of armor and a plurality of air gap layers. The plurality of air gap layers are located in between two or more layers of the plurality of layers of armor. Each air gap layer is located at a respective depth in the plurality of layers of armor. At least a first air gap layer of the plurality of air gap layers is located at a first depth from an outer side of the armor system. The outer side is located toward a projectile impact site. At least a second air gap layer of the plurality of air gap layers is located at a second depth from the outer side. The first air gap layer has a thickness greater than the second air gap layer.

1 . An armor system comprising:
 a plurality of layers of armor;   a plurality of air gap layers located in between two or more layers of the plurality of layers of armor, each air gap layer located at a respective depth in the plurality of layers of armor, wherein
 at least a first air gap layer of the plurality of air gap layers is located at a first depth from an outer side of the armor system, the outer side being located toward a projectile impact site; 
 at least a second air gap layer of the plurality of air gap layers is located at a second depth from the outer side; and 
 the first air gap layer has a thickness greater than the second air gap layer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The armor system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the air gap layers further comprise an easily yielding material. 
     
     
         3 . The armor system of  claim 2 , wherein the easily yielding material is a gas, a soft material, a material having very little structural support, or a material having strong structural support. 
     
     
         4 . The armor system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of layers of armor is comprised of fiber made materials. 
     
     
         5 . An armor system comprising:
 a plurality of layers of armor;   a plurality of air gap layers located in between two or more layers of the plurality of layers of armor, each air gap layer located at a respective depth in the plurality of layers of armor.   
     
     
         6 . The armor system of  claim 5 , wherein
 at least a first air gap layer of the plurality of air gap layers is located at a first depth from an outer side of the armor system, the outer side being located toward a projectile impact site;   at least a second air gap layer of the plurality of air gap layers is located at a second depth from the outer side; and   the first air gap layer has a thickness greater than the second air gap layer.   
     
     
         7 . The armor system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of air gap layers includes a third air gap layer, the third air gap layer located at a third depth from the outer side. 
     
     
         8 . The armor system of  claim 7 , wherein the third depth is greater than the second depth and the thickness of the third air gap layer is less than the thickness of the first air gap layer. 
     
     
         9 . The armor system of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the plurality of layers of armor is comprised of fiber made materials. 
     
     
         10 . The armor system of  claim 9 , wherein the fiber made materials comprise e-glass, s-glass, an aramid, carbon fibers, aluminum fibers, or carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         11 . The armor system of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the air gap layers further comprise an easily yielding material. 
     
     
         12 . The armor system of to  claim 11 , wherein the easily yielding material is a gas, a soft material, a material having very little structural support, or a material having strong structural support. 
     
     
         13 . The armor system of to  claim 12  where the material having strong structural support has a honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         14 . The armor system of to  claim 12  wherein the soft material is a styrofoam, a plastic or an aerogel. 
     
     
         15 . The armor system of  claim 12  wherein the gas is air, an inert gas, oxygen or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The armor system of  claim 5 , operable to improve resistance to impact by a shape charge, an explosively formed penetrator (EFP), an improvised explosive device (IED), a ballistic device or a hypervelocity impact. 
     
     
         17 . An armored vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle having an armor system operable to enhance resistance to a shape charge, an EFP, an IED, an ballistic device, an explosive device or a hypervelocity impact, the armor system comprising:   a plurality of layers of armor;   a plurality of air gap layers located in between two or more layers of the plurality of layers of armor;   each air gap layer located at a respective depth in the plurality of layers of armor; and   each air gap layer having a different thickness.   
     
     
         18 . The armored vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the air gap layers further comprise an easily yielding material. 
     
     
         19 . The armored vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the easily yielding material is a gas, a soft material, a material having very little structural support, or a material having strong structural support. 
     
     
         20 . The armored vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the plurality of layers of armor is comprised of fiber made materials.