Auto-reset belly for a military vehicle
AssigneeNavistar Canada, Inc.
InventorLeo P. Oriet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An auto-reset belly for a military vehicle capable of controlled deformation upon receiving a explosive force and automatic reformation upon dissipation of the force is disclosed. The device includes a top panel, first and second side panels, and first and second lower panels, all sequentially connected to form a hexagonal barrier. Along the connected panel edges in some embodiments, the panels are crenellated, interlocking to form hinged joints which are held together by a plurality of hinge rods. The hexagonal configuration has an initial apex and defines an interior volume with a biasing support within the interior volume. In some embodiments, the initial apex is adjustable and the biasing support automatically returns the hexagonal configuration to the initial apex.
Claims27
An auto-reset underbelly for a military vehicle comprising:
- a top panel having first and second crenellated sides;
- a first side panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the first crenellated side of the top panel to form a first hinged joint;
- a second side panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the top panel to form a second hinged joint;
- a first lower panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the first side panel to form a third hinged joint;
- a second lower panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the second side panel to form a fourth hinged joint and attached via the second crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the first lower panel to form a fifth hinged joint;
- a plurality of hinge rods, with at least one hinge rod passing through interlocked crenellations of adjacent connected panels forming a hexagonal configuration having an initial apex and defining an interior volume;
- and
- a biasing support within the interior volume;
- wherein, the initial apex is adjustable and the biasing support automatically returns the hexagonal configuration to the initial apex.
An auto-reset underbelly armor system comprising:
- a plurality of solid panels connected to one another to enclose a volume;
- a plurality of articulated joints, each joint being positioned between two adjacent panels;
- a biasing member positioned within the enclosed volume of the solid panels and attached to at least one of either one of the panels, one of the joints, or a combination of a panel and a joint.
An underbelly armor system for attachment to a military vehicle having a cabin floor and a propulsion system, the armor system comprising:
- a top panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached to the cabin floor of the military vehicle;
- a first side panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the first crenellated side of the top panel to form a first hinged joint;
- a second side panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the top panel to form a second hinged joint;
- a first lower panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the first side panel to form a third hinged joint;
- a second lower panel having first and second crenellated sides and attached via the first crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the second side panel to form a fourth hinged joint and attached via the second crenellated side interlocked to the second crenellated side of the first lower panel to form a fifth hinged joint;
- a plurality of hinge rods, with at least one hinge rod passing through interlocked crenellations of adjacent connected panels forming a hexagonal configuration having an initial apex and defining an interior volume;
- and
- a biasing support within the interior volume;
- wherein, the initial apex is adjustable and the biasing support automatically returns the hexagonal configuration to the initial apex.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.