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US 8,418,596 B2Granted
System and method for protecting vehicle occupants
OwnerJohn J. Pavoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to an armor system that protects vehicle occupants from lands mines or improvised explosive devices. In the preferred embodiment, the armor system has an arc member, a membrane, reactive blocks, and a reactive block enclosure. The armor system is designed to dissipate, neutralize, and redirect explosion energy, fragments and shrapnel, thereby ensuring the safety of the vehicle occupants.
Claims21
An apparatus for use in a protective system for shielding vehicle occupants from explosive devices comprising:
- an arc member having a downwardly facing contoured surface;
- a membrane juxtaposed below the arc member contoured surface;
- reactive blocks constructed and configured outside the membrane away from the arc member;
- the reactive blocks further including an energetic material that is a insensitive high explosive (IHE);
- the reactive blocks each comprising a first and a second pyramids and a sensor, the pyramids stacked and the sensor constructed and configured to detonate the second pyramid when the first pyramid detonates;
- and an enclosure for covering the reactive blocks;
- wherein the system is attachable to the underside of a vehicle surface;
- and
- wherein the apparatus is functional to automatically detect, and then neutralize and counteract an initial shockwave or heat from an external explosive force by shielding and deflecting the explosive force away from the arc member,
- thereby providing a protective system to protect passengers in the vehicle.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.