Reactive pill armor

[0002] The present invention relates generally to reactive armor, and more particularly, to such armor that can resist multiple hits from projectiles.

[0003] In the prior art, armor for the roof of military vehicles was unable to defeat bomblet type or other multi-hit threats or, if such armor was able to do so, was so heavy that it adversely affected vehicle performance. Such prior art armor had limited resistance to shaped charges, especially when they approach perpendicularly to the surface of the armor. In addition, such armor provided little protection against nuclear radiation.

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide an armor that is able to defeat bomblet type or other multi-hit shaped charge threats.

[0005] It is also an object of the invention to provide an armor that is capable of defeating a shaped charge projectile regardless of the angle of attack of such projectile.

[0006] It is another object of the invention to provide a lighter and more efficient reactive armor.

[0007] It is another object of the invention to provide an armor with improved protection from nuclear radiation resulting from battlefield nuclear events.

[0008] The invention provides a unique configuration of layers of explosives in a polymer material which provides an improved reactive armor capable of defeating perpendicularly directed threats, including shaped charges. Since the polymer material also possesses the attribute of absorbing certain types of nuclear radiation, the armor of the present invention provides improved protection against the deleterious effects such radiation can have on the crew of, and electronic equipment carried within, the vehicle. The matrix material also provides improved ballistic resistance to fragments of artillery projectiles, as well as to kinetic energy types of armor piercing ammunition.

[0009] The sole FIGURE is an isometric, expanded view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0010] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the drawing, wherein the reactive armor system, indicated generally at 10, comprises a open-faced box 12, a first matrix plate 13, a first layer of explosive pills 14, a first layer of explosive sheets 15, a separation plate 16, a second layer of explosive sheets 17, a second layer of explosive pills 19, a second matrix plate 20, and a cover plate 22. Such a reactive armor system 10 may be mounted on the outer surface of a military vehicle, such as a tank or armored personnel carrier.

[0011] The box 12 is made of steel, titanium, composite, or other strong material, and forms five sides of the box 12 leaving an open side. The bottom of the box 12 is the side of the box with the largest surface area, and a plurality of pass through tubes 25, made of a similar material, is attached thereto. The first matrix plate 13, is made of a polymer, or composite material, and is a flat plate with a first or inner side and a second or outer side. The first matrix plate 13 fits inside the box 12, with its inner side adjacent to and substantially covering the bottom of the box 12. A plurality of shallow wells or recesses 43 is formed in the outer or second side of the matrix plate 13 with a plurality of blind holes 27 bored into each well 43. A plurality of apertures 28 extend through the first matrix plate 13, and are positioned to avoid the wells 43 and to accommodate the pass through tubes 25.

[0012] Explosive pills 30 are placed in the holes 27 in the second side of the first matrix plate 13, forming the first layer of explosive pills 14. The explosives pills 30 are formed separately into pellets which are then pressed into the holes 27 or are cast in paste form directly into the holes 27. An explosive sheet 31 covers each well 43, with the depth of the well being substantially equal to the thickness of the explosive sheet 31 so that the upper surface thereof is flush or even the outer surface of the second side of the first matrix plate 13. Each explosive sheet is thus in touch with or in close proximity to each of the pills in the associated well 43. The plurality of explosive sheets 31 form a first layer of explosive sheets 15. The inner or first side of a separation plate 16 covers the first layer of explosive sheets 15 and contacts the second side of the first matrix plate 13 and thereby serves to isolate the wells from each other. In the preferred embodiment, the separation plate 16 is made of a composite material, and is provide with a plurality of apertures positioned to accommodate the pass through tubes 25.

[0013] The second matrix plate 20 is a mirror image of the first matrix plate 13 and is positioned with its inner or first side in engagement with the outer or second side of the separation plate and with a plurality of explosives sheets 31 positioned in complementary shallow wells formed in the inner or first side of the second matrix plate 20. Each of the plurality of blind holes 33 in each of the shallow wells contains an explosive pill 30. The plurality of explosive sheets 31 are made of the same material as the explosive sheets 31 of the first layer of explosive sheets 15, and forms a second layer of explosive sheets 17 with the plurality of explosive pills 30 forming a second layer of explosive pills 19. The second matrix plate 20 may be made of the same lightweight material as used to make the first matrix plate 13. A plurality of apertures extend through the second matrix plate 20 positioned to avoid the wells formed therein and to accommodate the pass through tubes 25. The cover plate 22 abuts the outer or second side of the second matrix plate 20 and is provided with similar apertures to mate with the pass through tubes 25. A threaded bolt 35 extends through each of the pass through tubes 25 to engage a threaded hole in the hull of the vehicle to draw the components of the armor system tightly together and to mount the assembled reactive armor system 10 thereon.

[0014] A shaped charge will upon impact detonate and create a stream of metal directed towards the hull of the vehicle, which stream will first pierce the cover plate 22 and the second matrix plate 20 initially causing one of the explosive pills 30 to detonate. The detonation of even one the explosive pills 30 within a well 43 will detonate the explosive sheet 31 for that particular well which in turn will detonate all of the explosive pills within that particular well. The resultant multiplicity of explosions will deflect or otherwise interrupt the stream of metal produced by the shaped charge. The separation plate 16 having its outer or second side in tight engagement with the inner or first side of the matrix plate 20 will isolate the other wells preventing detonation of the explosive sheets and pills associated with such other wells. Thus, each of the remaining wells retains the ability of defeating other similar threats, thereby preserving the armor system's desired multi-hit capability.

[0015] The use of lightweight materials such as composites and polymers for the matrix plates and the separation plate allows the assembled armor system 10 to be relatively light in weight, while the explosive pill and explosive sheet configuration allows the lightweight armor to defeat shaped charges. The ability to stack layers allows customization in order to protect against larger threats. Because this inventive armor system has the capability to protect against shaped charges directed more or less perpendicularly to the surface, it is adaptable for use on the front and sides of a tank for protection against antitank guided missiles, or for use on the bottom of a tank for protection against armor piercing mines, in addition to use as a top attack armor. While the armor system of this invention is especially useful on vehicles, could also be used for ballistic shelters, ship structures and bunkers where shaped charge threats exist. The explosive pills and sheets are made of an insensitive explosive, which only reacts to a shaped charge, and thus do not react to small arms, machine gun or medium cannon threats. The polymer material used to make the first and second matrix plates may be selected to provide nuclear radiation protection. Reference herein to a polymer material is intended to include either a pure polymer material or a polymer material that is reinforced with fibers or powders, such as fiberglass.

[0016] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claim.