US2013220108A1PendingUtilityA1

Auto-reset belly for a military vehicle

43
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Oct 8, 2010Filed: Oct 8, 2010Published: Aug 29, 2013
Est. expiryOct 8, 2030(~4.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Leo P. Oriet
F41H 7/042F41H 5/007
43
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

An auto-reset belly for a military vehicle capable of controlled deformation upon receiving a explosive force and automatic reformation upon dissipation of the force is disclosed. The device includes a top panel, first and second side panels, and first and second lower panels, all sequentially connected to form a hexagonal barrier. Along the connected panel edges in some embodiments, the panels are crenellated, interlocking to form hinged joints which are held together by a plurality of hinge rods. The hexagonal configuration has an initial apex and defines an interior volume with a biasing support within the interior volume. In some embodiments, the initial apex is adjustable and the biasing support automatically returns the hexagonal configuration to the initial apex.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An auto-reset underbelly for a military vehicle comprising:
 a top panel having first and second crenellated sides;   a first side panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the first crenellated side of the top panel to form a first hinged joint;   a second side panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the top panel to form a second hinged joint;   a first lower panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the first side panel to form a third hinged joint;   a second lower panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the second side panel to form a fourth hinged joint and attached via the second crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the first lower panel to form a fifth hinged joint;   a plurality of hinge rods, with at least one hinge rod passing through interlocked crenellations of adjacent connected panels forming a hexagonal configuration having an initial apex and defining an interior volume; and   a biasing support within the interior volume;   wherein, the initial apex is adjustable and the biasing support automatically returns the hexagonal configuration to the initial apex.   
     
     
         2 . The auto-reset underbelly of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing support comprises at least one piston attached to the third and fourth hinged joints. 
     
     
         3 . The auto-reset underbelly of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing support comprises at least one piston attached to the first and second side panels. 
     
     
         4 . The auto-reset underbelly of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing support comprises at least one piston attached to the top panel and the fifth hinged joint. 
     
     
         5 . The auto-reset underbelly of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing support comprises at least one pair of pistons with an end of each attached to the fifth hinged joint and another end of one of each piston attached to the first and second hinged joints. 
     
     
         6 . The auto-reset underbelly of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcement on the first lower panel and a reinforcement on the second lower panel. 
     
     
         7 . The auto-reset underbelly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one piston is a pull cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The auto-reset underbelly of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one piston is a pull cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The auto-reset underbelly of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one piston is a push cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The auto-reset underbelly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one pair of pistons are push cylinders. 
     
     
         11 . The auto-reset underbelly of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing support comprises one of either a push cylinder or a pull cylinder. 
     
     
         12 . The auto-reset underbelly of  claim 1 , further comprising reinforcement attached to the top panel. 
     
     
         13 . The auto-reset underbelly of  claim 1 , wherein the five panels are comprised of high-strength ballistic steel. 
     
     
         14 . The auto-reset underbelly of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge rods are comprised of high-strength ballistic steel. 
     
     
         15 . The auto-reset underbelly of  claim 6 , wherein the reinforcements on the first and second lower panels are solid. 
     
     
         16 . An auto-reset underbelly armor system comprising:
 a plurality of solid panels connected to one another to enclose a volume;   a plurality of articulated joints, each joint being positioned between two adjacent panels;   a biasing member positioned within the enclosed volume of the solid panels and attached to at least one of either one of the panels, one of the joints, or a combination of a panel and a joint.   
     
     
         17 . The auto-reset underbelly armor system of  claim 16 , wherein the number of panels is in the range of three to nine. 
     
     
         18 . The auto-reset underbelly armor system of  claim 16 , wherein the number of articulated joints is equal to the number of panels. 
     
     
         19 . The auto-reset underbelly armor system of  claim 17 , wherein the number of articulated joints is equal to the number of panels. 
     
     
         20 . The auto-reset underbelly armor system of  claim 16 , wherein the biasing member comprises at least one of either a push-cylinder and a pull-cylinder. 
     
     
         21 . The auto-reset underbelly armor system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of articulated joints comprises interlocking edges on adjacent panels. 
     
     
         22 . The auto-reset underbelly armor system of  claim 21 , wherein the interlocking edges on adjacent panels are crenellated. 
     
     
         23 . The auto-reset underbelly armor system of  claim 22 , wherein the articulated joints further comprise hinge pins passing through the interlocking edges. 
     
     
         24 . An underbelly armor system for attachment to a military vehicle having a cabin floor and a propulsion system, the armor system comprising:
 a top panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached to the cabin floor of the military vehicle;   a first side panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the first crenellated side of the top panel to form a first hinged joint;   a second side panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the top panel to form a second hinged joint;   a first lower panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the first side panel to form a third hinged joint;   a second lower panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the second side panel to form a fourth hinged joint and attached via the second crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the first lower panel to form a fifth hinged joint;   a plurality of hinge rods, with at least one hinge rod passing through interlocked crenellations of adjacent connected panels forming a hexagonal configuration having an initial apex and defining an interior volume; and   a biasing support within the interior volume;   wherein, the initial apex is adjustable and the biasing support automatically returns the hexagonal configuration to the initial apex.   
     
     
         25 . The armor system of  claim 24 , wherein at least a portion of the propulsion system is enclosed within the interior volume. 
     
     
         26 . The armor system of  claim 24 , wherein a length of the apex is parallel to an axel of the military vehicle. 
     
     
         27 . The armor system of  claim 24 , wherein a length of the apex is transverse to an axel of the military vehicle.

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