Multi-layer composite armor and method

• US 8,096,223 B1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Great Lakes Armor Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mark D. Andrews
• Inventors: Andrews, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers, Troy
• Application Number:
  US12/347,937
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 89/360.2, 89/360.9
• US Class Current: 89/36.02
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0492 Layered armour containing hard elements, e.g. plates, spheres, rods, separated from each other, the elements being connected to a further flexible layer or being embedded in a plastics or an elastomer matrix

Abstract

A multi-layer composite armor component that includes a plurality of layers of energy-dispersion objects including a first layer that includes a first plurality of energy-dispersion objects, wherein the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects in the first layer are held in place relative to one another in a closely-packed configuration; and a first layer of bonding material, wherein the first layer of bonding material has a first durometer value, and wherein the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects are held in place relative to one another via the first layer of bonding material. A method that includes providing a plurality of layers of energy-dispersion objects; arranging the first plurality of layers of energy-dispersion objects such that each of the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects are held in place relative to one another in a closely-packed configuration; and embedding the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects in a first layer of bonding material.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first multi-layer composite armor component comprising;

a plurality of layers of energy-dispersion objects including a first layer that includes a first plurality of energy-dispersion objects and a second layer that includes a second plurality of energy-dispersion objects, wherein the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects in the first layer are held in place relative to one another in a closely-packed configuration;

a first layer of bonding material, wherein the first layer of bonding material has a first durometer value, and wherein the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects are held in place relative to one another via the first layer of bonding material; and

a second layer of bonding material, wherein the second bonding layer has a second durometer value that is less than the first durometer value, and wherein the second bonding layer is farther from a strike-face side of the multi-layer composite armor component than the first bonding layer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of other multi-layer composite armor components each substantially similar to the first multi-layer composite armor component; and

a vehicle, wherein the first multi-layer composite armor component and the plurality of other multi-layer composite armor components are affixed to the vehicle to protect the vehicle from incoming projectiles.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second multi-layer composite armor component, wherein the first multi-layer composite armor component and the second multi-layer composite armor component are affixed to one another such that at least a portion of the first multi-layer composite armor component and the second multi-layer composite armor component overlap one another.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bonding layer includes at least one metal plate embedded within the first bonding layer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bonding layer includes fiber reinforcement embedded within the first bonding layer, and wherein the first bonding layer includes at least one metal plate embedded within the first bonding layer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bonding layer includes fiber reinforcement embedded within the first bonding layer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first multi-layer composite armor component is fully encapsulated by an exterior layer of encapsulant, and wherein the exterior layer includes ether polyurethane.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a shock-absorbing layer that has a lower durometer value than the durometer value of the first bonding layer, wherein the shock-absorbing layer is affixed to a side of the first multi-layer composite armor component that is farther from the strike-face side of the multi-layer composite armor component than the second layer of bonding material.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the shock-absorbing layer includes a polyurethane, and wherein the shock-absorbing layer includes a contoured surface configuration on a non-strike-face side of the shock-absorbing layer.

10. A method for making a defense against a ballistic projectile, the method comprising:

forming a first multi-layer composite armor component, wherein the forming of the first multi-layer composite armor component includes;

providing a plurality of layers of energy-dispersion objects including a first layer that includes a first plurality of energy-dispersion objects and a second layer that includes a second plurality of energy-dispersion objects;

arranging the first plurality of layers of energy-dispersion objects such that each of the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects are held in place relative to one another in a closely-packed configuration;

providing a first layer of bonding material, wherein the first layer of bonding material has a first durometer value;

embedding the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects in the first layer of bonding material; and

providing a second layer of bonding material, wherein the second bonding layer has a second durometer value that is less than the first durometer value, and wherein the second bonding layer is farther from a strike-face side of the multi-layer composite armor component than the first bonding layer.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a vehicle;

providing a plurality of other multi-layer composite armor components each substantially similar to the first multi-layer composite armor component; and

affixing the first multi-layer composite armor component and the plurality of other multi-layer composite armor components to the vehicle to protect it from incoming projectiles.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a second multi-layer composite armor component; and

affixing the first multi-layer composite armor component and the second multi-layer composite armor component to one another such that at least a portion of the first multi-layer composite armor component and the second multi-layer composite armor component overlap one another.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising embedding at least one metal plate within the first bonding layer.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

embedding at least one metal plate within the first bonding layer; and

reinforcing the at least one metal plate by embedding fiber reinforcement within the first bonding layer.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising embedding fiber reinforcement within the first bonding layer.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising fully encapsulating the first multi-layer composite armor component with an exterior layer of encapsulant, wherein the exterior layer includes ether polyurethane.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a shock-absorbing layer that has a lower durometer value than the durometer value of the first bonding layer; and

affixing the shock-absorbing layer to a side of the first multi-layer composite armor component that is farther from a strike-face side of the multi-layer composite armor component than the second layer of bonding material.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the shock-absorbing layer includes a polyurethane, and wherein the shock-absorbing layer includes a contoured surface configuration on a non-strike-face side of the shock-absorbing layer.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a first multi-layer composite armor component comprising;

a plurality of layers of energy-dispersion objects including a first layer that includes a first plurality of energy-dispersion objects and a second layer that includes a second plurality of energy-dispersion objects, arranged such that each of the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects are held in place relative to one another in a closely-packed configuration;

means for holding the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects in place in a first layer, wherein the means for holding the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects in place has a first durometer value, and wherein the first layer includes steel fiber mesh fabric embedded within the first layer; and

a second layer that includes a bonding material having a second durometer value that is less than the first durometer value, and wherein the second layer includes steel fiber mesh fabric embedded within the second layer.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a vehicle, wherein the first multi-layer composite armor component is affixed to the vehicle to protect the vehicle from incoming projectiles.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a first multi-layer composite armor component comprising;

a plurality of layers of energy-dispersion objects including a first layer that includes a first plurality of energy-dispersion objects and a second layer that includes a second plurality of energy-dispersion objects, wherein the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects in the first layer are held in place relative to one another in a closely-packed configuration;

a first layer of bonding material, wherein the first layer of bonding material has a first durometer value, and wherein the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects are held in place relative to one another via the first layer of bonding material; and

a second layer of bonding material, wherein the second bonding layer has a second durometer value that is less than the first durometer value, wherein the second bonding layer is farther from a strike-face side of the multi-layer composite armor component than the first bonding layer, wherein the first bonding layer includes steel fiber mesh fabric embedded within the first bonding layer, and wherein the second bonding layer includes steel fiber mesh fabric embedded within the second bonding layer.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a vehicle, wherein the first multi-layer composite armor component is affixed to the vehicle to protect the vehicle from incoming projectiles.