Momentum trap ballistic armor system
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsCharles E. Anderson, Jr., Dennis L. Orphal, Gordon R. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A momentum trap ballistic armor system comprises an accelerating layer and a plug layer adjacent to the a accelerating layer. The plug layer includes an opening and at least one plug maintained within the opening. When a projectile impacts the accelerating layer, the plug is accelerated to the velocity of the projectile before the projectile perforates the plug, forming a projectile-plug combination. Typically, the accelerating layer and plug layer are joined with an energy absorbing layer, which is used to capture a projectile-plug combination. The accelerating layer is typically ceramic, the plug layer is typically metal, and the energy absorbing layer is typically ballistic cloth material.
Claims14
A method of protecting a target against a projectile having a projectile velocity directed at the target, comprising the steps of:
- shielding the target with an outer accelerating layer;
- placing a plug layer adjacent the accelerating layer, the plug layer having an array of plugs;
- and
- placing an energy absorbing layer adjacent to the plug layer;
- wherein the accelerating layer is operable to initially receive the impact of the projectile, and to accelerate at least one plug of the array of plugs such that the plug thereby accelerated is in motion before the projectile strikes the plug;
- wherein the plugs are made from a material different from the accelerating layer and after any plug is impacted by the projectile, that plug is operable to obtain the velocity of the projectile before the projectile perforates the plug;
- wherein a projectile-plug combination is formed before the projectile perforates the plug, such that the projectile-plug combination increases the presented area of impact to an area greater than that of the projectile when the projectile-plug combination reaches the energy absorbing layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.