Liquid cooled body armor

Abstract

A body armor system comprising an existing body armor vest with a plurality of armor plates, an adhering layer, an insulation layer and a plurality of heat exchangers wherein said plurality of armor plates is attached with said plurality of heat exchangers via said adhering layer; the plurality of heat exchangers comprises plurality of metallic plates made preferably of copper or aluminium with pipes brazed to the back-side of the metallic plates.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A liquid cooled body armor system, comprising:
 a body armor vest ( 10 ) with a plurality of armor plates ( 12 , 14 ) and a plurality of flexible polymer tubes ( 16 , 18 );   an adhering insulation layer ( 28 ); and   a plurality of heat exchangers ( 20 , 22 );   wherein,   the plurality of armor plates ( 12 , 14 ) is attached with said plurality of heat exchangers ( 20 , 22 ) via said adhering insulation layer ( 32 );   the plurality of heat exchangers ( 20 , 22 ) comprises a plurality of flexible metallic plates made preferably of copper or aluminium with said flexible metal tubes/pipes ( 26 , 24 ) brazed to the back-side of the metallic plates; and   the insulation layer ( 28 ) is placed on an inner surface of the armor plates ( 12 , 14 ) to prevent cooling of the armor plate ( 12 , 14 ), thus obviating condensation.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid cooled body armor system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the insulation layer ( 28 ) is placed between the armor plates ( 12 , 14 ) and the flexible metallic plates of the heat exchanger ( 20 , 22 ) to improve the efficiency of the system. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid cooled body armor system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchangers ( 20 , 22 ) comprise a thin flexible metal plate having thickness between 0.05 mm and 10 mm, to which a series of thin flexible metal tubes ( 26 ,  24 ) having outer diameter between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, are soldered, brazed, or bonded. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid cooled body armor system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible polymer tubes ( 16 , 18 ) have a fluid flowing through them, said fluid exchanges heat with walls of the thin flexible metal tube ( 26 , 24 ) through convection, which in turn exchanges heat with the thin flexible metal plate of said heat exchanger ( 20 , 22 ) through conduction, which in turn exchanges heat with the skin of the wearer through conduction. 
     
     
         5 . A liquid cooled body armor system comprising:
 an body armor vest ( 10 ) with a plurality of armor plates ( 12 , 14 ) and plurality of flexible polymer tubes ( 16 , 18 );   a plurality of latching means; and   a plurality of heat exchangers ( 20 , 22 );   wherein,   the plurality of armor plates ( 12 , 14 ) is attached with said plurality of heat exchangers ( 20 , 22 ) via said latching means; and   the plurality of heat exchangers ( 20 , 22 ) comprises plurality of flexible metallic plates made preferably of copper or aluminium with flexible tubes/pipes ( 26 , 24 ) brazed to the back-side of the metallic plates.   
     
     
         6 . The liquid cooled body armor system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein an insulation material is used between the armor plates ( 12 , 14 ) and the flexible metallic plates of the heat exchanger ( 20 , 22 ) to improve efficiency of the system. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid cooled body armor system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the latching means includes but not limited to magnetic latches, mechanical latches, Velcro® fastener, clipped fasteners etc.