Armor

• US 20080223204A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plasan SASA Limited (Kibbutz Sasa)
• Original Assignee: Plasan SASA Limited of MP
• Inventors: Genihovich, Shmuel, Pak, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,397,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 89/36.02
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0485 all the layers being only fibre- or fabric-reinforced layers

Abstract

An armor panel comprising an armor member made of a laminated material, having a predetermined ballistic capability and a first flexural strength. The armor panel has a covering layer having a second flexural strength essentially lower than the first flexural strength. The covering layer is bonded to the armor member. The layer is made of a fiber reinforced material such that overall flexural strength of the armor panel is greater than twice the first structural strength. The overall ballistic capability of the armor panel is at least the same as that of the predetermined ballistic capability of the armor member.

Claims

1. An armor panel comprising an armor member made of a laminated material having a predetermined ballistic capability and a first flexural strength, and a covering layer having a second flexural strength essentially lower than said first flexural strength, and being bonded to said armor member, said layer being made of a fiber reinforced material, overall flexural strength of said armor panel being greater than twice the first structural strength, and overall ballistic capability of said armor panel is at least the same as that of said predetermined ballistic capability of the armor member.

2. An armor panel according to claim 1, wherein the thermal expansion coefficient of the armor member and its covering layer are essentially similar.

3. An armor panel according to claim 1, wherein said armor panel is of a non-planar shape.

4. An armor panel according to claim 1, wherein said armor is produced by first fabricating said armor member to have said non-planer shape, and only then applying the covering layer thereto.

5. An armor panel according to claim 1, wherein said armor member alone has a flexural strength of about 500N.

6. An armor panel according to claim 1, wherein said armor member is made of a plurality of plies made of material which is free of any metal or ceramics.

7. An armor panel according to claim 6, wherein said plies are made of Polyethylene.

8. An armor according to claim 6, wherein said plies are made of several different materials.

9. An armor panel according to claim 1, wherein said covering layer has a thickness of about 2% of that of the armor member.

10. An armor panel according to claim 9, wherein said covering layer is made of a resin reinforced by fibers.

11. An armor panel according to claim 9, wherein said covering layer is made of a fiber fabric prepreg.

12. An armor panel according to claim 10, wherein the weight area mass of fibers within the prepreg ranges from about 400 to about 1000 g/m².

13. An armor panel according to claim 10, wherein said fibers are made of such a material that provides the covering layer with a flexural strength of about 200N.

14. An armor panel according to 10, wherein said fibers provide said covering layer with said thermal expansion coefficient.

15. An armor panel according to claim 10, wherein said fibers are made of Carbon or Aramide.

16. An armor panel according to claim 9, wherein the amount of resin within said prepreg is between 30-50%.

17. An armor panel according to claim 9, wherein the said fibers are arranged in a uni-directional pattern.

18. An armor panel according to claim 9, wherein said fibers are arranged in a bi-directional pattern.

19. An armor panel according to claim 9, wherein said fibers are arranged in a woven-roving pattern.

20. A method for stiffening an armor member made of a laminated material with a maximal thickness of plies being T_max, having a predetermined ballistic capability and a first flexural strength, said method comprising:

a. providing a non-laminated ply of a covering material having a second flexural strength lower than said first flexural strength and a thickness not exceeding 10% of T_max;

b. bonding said ply to said armor member on at least one side using a hot pressing process, to form an armor panel, wherein the overall flexural strength of said armor panel being greater than twice the first structural strength, and overall ballistic capability of said armor panel is at least the same as that of said predetermined ballistic capability of the armor member.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the covering material is applied to the resistance member without damaging the ballistic properties of the armor member.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein the overall flexural strength of the armor panel ranges between 5 to 10 times the first flexural strength of said armor member.