UNDERBODY ENERGY ABSORPTION DEVICE
First Claim
1. A shield for use on the bottom of a vehicle to protect occupants of the vehicle comprising,a) a panel having a left side edge, a right side edge, a front end, a rear end, a top surface and a bottom surface;
- b) a beam connected to the panel to form a hull; and
c) a dampening system comprising a pair of dampers positioned adjacent to and on either side of the beam with each damper coupled to the panel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A blast shield for underbody protection of vehicles is presented that combines energy absorption and deflection in order to provide occupant protection and increased survivability in the event of an underbody explosive blast, especially those caused by improvised explosive devices. Absorption of blast energy is accomplished by a dampening system comprising a plurality of spaced hydraulic dampers position on a hull that deflects forces outward from underneath the vehicle.
3 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A shield for use on the bottom of a vehicle to protect occupants of the vehicle comprising,
a) a panel having a left side edge, a right side edge, a front end, a rear end, a top surface and a bottom surface; -
b) a beam connected to the panel to form a hull; and c) a dampening system comprising a pair of dampers positioned adjacent to and on either side of the beam with each damper coupled to the panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A shield for use underneath a vehicle to protect occupants of the vehicle comprising,
a) a panel having a top surface; -
b) a beam secured without welding to the panel to form a V-shaped hull, where the panel has sides with each side having a slot configured to accept a downwardly extending lug of a surface bar configured for connection to a vehicle frame; c) a plurality of truss ribs connected to the top surface of the panel and extending outwardly from the beam at spaced intervals, where adjacent truss ribs define a channel; d) channel caps connected to adjacent truss ribs and the beam; e) a first dampening system comprising a plurality of first dampers positioned in the channels adjacent the beam; f) a second dampening system comprising a plurality of second dampers positioned in the slot and in contact with the lug; and g) deformable material positioned, i) between the truss ribs and the top surface of the panel; and ii) between the surface bars and the top surface of the panel.
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19. A method of protecting occupants of a vehicle from a blast event comprising,
a) providing a shield having, i) a blast resistant panel having a top surface and opposing connection points for attaching the shield to a vehicle; -
ii) a beam connected to the panel to form a hull; and iii) a dampening system coupled to the top surface of the panel comprising a pair of dampers positioned adjacent to and on either side of the beam; b) connecting the shield to a vehicle, wherein the shield transforms from a pre-blast event state to a post-blast event state where the connection points are closer together than when the shield is in the pre-blast event state. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification