Shock attenuation device and method

• US 8,448,927 B1
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Falabella, David, Roach, Eric E., Patel, Bhikhabhai L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siconolfi, Robert A
• Assistant Examiner(s): AUNG, SAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/236,990
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: 267/140.11, 267/136, 267/140.5, 188378-379, 188/268
• US Class Current: 267/140.11
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/3605 characterised by their material F16F1/362, F16F1/364, F16F1/366, F16F1/37 take precedence; composition of macromolecular compounds in general C08L
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/445 the spring material being contained in a generally closed space F16F1/393 takes precedence

Abstract

An item assembly and a shock attenuation method for protecting an item comprising providing an item internal to an assembly and encasing the item in a fluid material such that the material and the item are approximately in hydrostatic balance upon an impact event.

Claims

1. A shock attenuation method for protecting an item, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an item internal to an assembly; and

encasing the item completely in an elastomeric material, wherein the elastomeric material has a density approximately the same as the density of the item.

2. The method of claim 1 the elastomeric material comprises one of a silicon and a flouro-silicon elastomer.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the elastomeric material additionally comprises a metal mixed into the elastomeric material.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the metal is powdered.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, lead, silver, gold, platinum, tin, and depleted uranium.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the metal is tungsten.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the elastomeric material comprises about 10% powdered metal by volume.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the metal is tungsten.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material absorbs approximately 90% or more of the energy in a projectile impact event in the frequencies between approximately 500 Hz and 10 kHz.

10. An item assembly comprising an item completely encased in an elastomeric material, wherein said elastomeric material has a density approximately the same as the density of said item.

11. The item assembly of claim 10 wherein said elastomeric material comprises one of a silicon and a flouro-silicon elastomer.

12. The item assembly of claim 11 wherein said material additionally comprises a metal mixed into the elastomeric material.

13. The item assembly of claim 12 wherein said metal is powdered.

14. The item assembly of claim 13 wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, lead, silver, gold, platinum, tin, and depleted uranium.

15. The item assembly of claim 14 wherein said metal is tungsten.

16. The item assembly of claim 13 wherein said elastomeric material absorbs approximately 90% or more.

17. The item assembly of claim 16 wherein said metal is tungsten.

18. The item assembly of claim 10 wherein said elastomeric material comprises about 10% powdered metal by volume of the energy in a projectile impact event in the frequencies between approximately 500 Hz and 10 kHz.