Blast shield

Abstract

A blast shield placed over a structure to be protected from the force of a blast includes a support assembly and a plurality of first deflection members secured to said support assembly. Each of said plurality of first deflection members present opposed surfaces angling away from the direction of an incoming explosive force, such that an incoming explosive force is split and deflected by the opposed surfaces thus dissipating the momentum of the explosive force. A plurality of second deflection members presenting opposed surfaces angling away from the direction of an incoming explosive force may also be employed, whereby an incoming explosive force is further split and deflected by the opposed surfaces thus dissipating the momentum of the explosive force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blast shield placed over a structure to be protected from the force of a blast, the blast shield comprising:
 a support assembly;   a plurality of first deflection members secured to said support assembly, each of said plurality of first deflection members presenting opposed surfaces angling away from the direction of an incoming explosive force, such that an incoming explosive force is split and deflected by the opposed surfaces, thus dissipating the momentum of the explosive force.   
     
     
         2 . The blast shield of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of second deflection members presenting opposed surfaces angling away from the direction of an incoming explosive force, whereby an incoming explosive force is split and deflected by the opposed surfaces thus dissipating the momentum of the explosive force.   
     
     
         3 . The blast shield of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of second deflection members are positioned behind said plurality of first deflection members relative to the direction of an incoming explosive force. 
     
     
         4 . The blast shield of  claim 3 , wherein a gap is provided between neighboring ones of said plurality of first deflection members, and said plurality of second defection members are positioned such that one of said plurality of second deflection members is aligned with each said gap, whereby an incoming explosive force is split and deflected by the opposed surfaces of said plurality of first deflection members, thereafter proceeding through said gap and encountering said plurality of second deflection members thus dissipating the momentum of the explosive force. 
     
     
         5 . The blast shield of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of first deflection members define a first discontinuous blast face. 
     
     
         6 . The blast shield of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of second deflection members define a second discontinuous blast face. 
     
     
         7 . The blast shield of  claim 6 , wherein said second discontinuous blast face is positioned closer to the surface to be protected than is said first discontinuous blast face, such that an incoming explosive force is split and deflected by said first discontinuous blast face and further split and deflected by said second discontinuous blast face. 
     
     
         8 . The blast shield of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of first deflection members extend in a longitudinal direction and said plurality of second deflection members extend in a direction oblique or perpendicular to said longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         9 . The blast shield of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of first deflection members may be the same or different and are selected from solid bars, hollow tubes, hollow tubes filled with a strengthening material and v-shaped angle bars. 
     
     
         10 . The blast shield of  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of second deflection members may be the same or different and are selected from solid bars, hollow tubes, hollow tubes filled with a strengthening material and v-shaped angle bars. 
     
     
         11 . The blast shield of  claim 1 , wherein said support assembly comprises:
 a first side support and an opposed second side support, said plurality of first deflection members extending transverse to said longitudinal direction, from said first side support to said second side support.   
     
     
         12 . The blast shield of  claim 1 , wherein said opposed surfaces of said first deflection members define a v-shaped surface pointing away from the structure to be protected and toward the direction of an incoming explosive force. 
     
     
         13 . The blast shield of  claim 12 , wherein said opposed surfaces of said first deflection members define a v-shaped surface opening in a direction toward the structure to be protected.