PERFORATED HULL FOR VEHICLE BLAST SHIELD

• US 20080066613A1
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Mills, Shane, Stevens, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/855,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20080066613A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 89/36.09
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/042 Floors or base plates for increased land mine protection

Abstract

A blast energy mitigation structure may employ a V-shaped hull to decrease the pressure wave imparted to a vehicle during a blast event, and/or an energy absorbing structure to absorb a portion of the blast force, thereby minimizing the forces and accelerations experienced by passengers in the vehicle and consequently reducing their injuries and increasing their survivability during a blast event. An exemplary blast energy mitigation structure may have a V-shaped hull and an energy absorbing structure incorporated into the chassis of a vehicle such as a Tactical Wheeled Vehicle, the energy absorbing structure comprising a truss-like structure including I-beams.

Claims

1. A perforated blast mitigation hull for attachment to an underside of a truck for protection of an occupant against an improvised explosive device detonating from a roadway under the truck, the perforated blast mitigation hull comprising:

a substrate extending across the truck underside generally in the shape of a boat hull and including rocker panels in a raked orientation rising away from a center of the underside of the truck; and

perforations formed in said substrate;

wherein the perforations formed in the substrate are selectively located and adapted to permit the substrate to hold a blast of a predetermined magnitude emanating from an improvised explosive device detonating from the roadway under the truck; and

wherein the perforations formed in the substrate are selectively located and adapted to direct in a desired direction a blast from an improvised explosive device detonating from the roadway under the truck.

2. The blast mitigation hull of claim 1, wherein the rocker panels are planar.

3. The blast mitigation hull of claim 1, wherein the substrate is formed in a modified “

V”

shape.

4. A blast mitigation hull for attachment to an underside of a vehicle for protection of an occupant against an explosive device detonating under the vehicle, the blast mitigation hull comprising:

a substrate extending across the vehicle underside generally in the shape of a hull and including portions rising away from a center of the underside of the vehicle; and

perforations formed in the substrate;

wherein the perforations formed in the substrate are selectively located and adapted to permit the substrate to hold a blast emanating from an explosive device detonating under the vehicle; and

wherein the perforations formed in the substrate are selectively located and adapted to direct in a desired direction a blast from an explosive device detonating under the vehicle.

5. The blast mitigation hull of claim 4, wherein the vehicle is a truck.

6. The blast mitigation hull of claim 4, wherein the vehicle is a Tactical Wheeled Vehicle.

7. The blast mitigation hull of claim 4, wherein the portions comprise rocker panels.

8. The blast mitigation hull of claim 7, wherein the rocker panels are planar.

9. The blast mitigation hull of claim 4, wherein the substrate is formed in a modified “

V”

shape.

10. A method of protecting an occupant of a vehicle against an explosive device detonating under the vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a blast mitigation hull comprising;

a substrate extending across the vehicle underside generally in the shape of a hull and including portions rising away from a center of the underside of the vehicle, and

perforations formed in the substrate; and

attaching the blast mitigation hull to the underside of the vehicle;

wherein the perforations formed in the substrate are selectively located and adapted to permit the substrate to hold a blast emanating from an explosive device detonating under the vehicle; and

wherein the perforations formed in the substrate are selectively located and adapted to direct in a desired direction a blast from an explosive device detonating under the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle is a truck.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle is a Tactical Wheeled Vehicle.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the portions comprise rocker panels.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the rocker panels are planar.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the substrate is formed in a modified “

V”

shape.