Armor

Abstract

Disclosed is a ballistic armor and an armor system. According to embodiments, the armor includes an outer armor plate and an inner active layer. The outer armor plate is adapted to resist penetration by one or more penetrative elements. The inner active layer is adapted to laterally deflect penetrating elements.

1 . Ballistic armor comprising:
 an outer armor plate comprised of one or more rigid materials; and   an active inner layer adjacent to an inner surface of the outer armor plate and at least partially comprised of a non-rigid material adapted to accelerate in a direction at least partially tangential to a velocity vector of one or more penetrating elements, wherein said active inner layer material includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: (1) liquids, (2) gas, (3) water, (4) alcohol, (5) salt, (6) soft metal, (7) metal in liquid state, (8) silicon based particles, (9) liquefied gases, and/or (10) a solution or mixture of any two or more listed materials.   
     
     
         2 . The ballistic armor according to  claim 1 , further comprising an active inner layer chamber to encapsulate the active inner layer. 
     
     
         3 . The ballistic armor according to  claim 2 , in which the active inner layer is maintained at either a pressurized or depressurized state. 
     
     
         4 . The ballistic armor according to  claim 2 , in which the chamber includes agitator structures to produce turbulence in the said active inner layer material upon acceleration of the active inner layer material. 
     
     
         5 . The ballistic armor according to  claim 2 , in which the chamber includes collapsible structures to promote acceleration of the active inner layer material upon penetration. 
     
     
         6 . The ballistic armor according to  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator in contact with the active inner layer and adapted to apply a force on the active inner layer material. 
     
     
         7 . The ballistic armor according to  claim 6 , in which the actuator is a directional explosive charge adapted to explode upon at least partial penetration of the outer armor plate. 
     
     
         8 . The ballistic armor according to  claim 6 , in which the actuator is integral with said inner active layer material such that the actuator material is adapted to react either endothermically or exothermically. 
     
     
         9 . The ballistic armor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second outer armor plate and a second inner active layer, both of which are situated behind said active inner layer. 
     
     
         10 . The ballistic armor according to  claim 9 , further comprising a third outer armor plate and a third inner active layer, both of which are situated behind the second active inner layer. 
     
     
         11 . The ballistic armor according to  claim 1 , further comprising an active inner chamber to encapsulate the active inner layer. 
     
     
         12 . The ballistic armor according to  claim 11 , in which the active inner layer is maintained at either a pressurized or depressurized state. 
     
     
         13 . The ballistic armor according to  claim 11 , in which the chamber includes agitator structures to produce turbulence in the active inner layer material upon acceleration of the active inner layer material. 
     
     
         14 . The ballistic armor according to  claim 11 , in which the chamber includes collapsible structures to promote acceleration of the active inner layer material upon penetration.