Abstract:
A bottom plate assembly for securing a bottom plate to an armored vehicle for adding to the existing armor or replacing the existing armor on the underside of the vehicle. The bottom plate assembly secures bottom plate to the vehicle hull by securing the bottom plate to the sidewalls of the vehicle.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/532,963, filed Sep. 9, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally directed to a bottom plate assembly for an armored vehicle. Specifically, the present invention is generally directed to a bottom plate assembly and related method for affixing an armored bottom plate to retrofit an existing armored vehicle or attaching a bottom plate during the construction of a new armored vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An armored vehicle typically comprises armor plates mounted on the sides, roof and the bottom of the vehicle. The substantial weight of the armor paneling creates a tradeoff between the operational weight of the vehicle that can be effectively handled by the vehicle engine versus the amount of armor necessary to protect the occupants and critical systems of the vehicle from likely threats. Accordingly, the vehicle armor is typically concentrated at the sides of the vehicle where the majority of the hostile fire will likely strike the vehicle, while the top and the bottom of the vehicle are relatively lightly armored to reduce the overall operational weight of the vehicle. In addition, the side armor plates used for armored vehicles have improved to the extent that penetrating the side armor of a vehicle with conventional weaponry has become very difficult. Advanced weaponry, such as High Explosive Anti-Tank (“HEAT”) warheads fired by large bore cannons, is often required to eliminate to destroy or disable an armored vehicle through the side armor. 
     Accordingly, many anti-armored vehicle weapon systems used by combatants without access to advanced weaponry seek to exploit the vulnerable underbelly or top of the vehicle rather than seeking to overcome the thicker armor at the sides of the vehicle. In particular, mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) seek to exploit the thinner bottom armor plates of most armored vehicles by detonating beneath the vehicle to direct shrapnel and a concussive blast through the thinner bottom armor into the crew compartment. As a result, many new designed armored vehicles incorporate additional armor plating or specialized armor plating designed specifically for combating mine or IED attacks on the underside of the vehicle and other features to improve the protection of the underside of the vehicle. However, many older armored vehicles, such as the M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, are still susceptible to mines and IEDs. 
     An approach to improving the protection to the crew compartment and the critical systems of older vehicles is to add additional armor plating to the existing armor on the underside of the vehicle. The additional armor reduces the likelihood that the crew will be injured and/or critical systems damages, but substantially increases the weight of the underside armor. In addition to the challenge of determining how to mount additional armor over the existing armor, the additional weight extra armor can place considerable strain on the frame and sidewalls of older vehicles, which are designed for thinner, lighter armor panels. The strain can weaken the frame and increase the likelihood that the frame will fail during a mine or IED attack. 
     Similarly, an alternative approach is to remove the existing armor and to attach improved armor specifically directed to combating mines or IED attacks. However, as the vehicle is already assembled, removing the existing armor and affixing the new improved armor can be hindered by the existing vehicle assembly. The attachment points at which the existing armor is attached to the vehicle must be accessed and disengaged to remove the armor. Accessing the attachment points between the bottom armor and the vehicle through the structure of the assembled vehicle can be very difficult. Similarly, accessing the same attachment points to affix the replacement panel can be equally challenging. As a result, the replacement of existing armor with different armor plating can require considerable maintenance and downtime. The considerable time necessary to configure a vehicle to counter a specific threat presents substantial logistical challenges and can limit the abilities of the vehicle. 
     The increased use of IEDs and mines in certain conflicts has created a need for improved protection of the underside of crew compartments for armored vehicles. In addition to the need for improved protection, there is need for quickly and efficiently to returning the vehicles to operation or configuring vehicles to counter specific threats such as IEDs and mines, 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention is directed to mounting at least one armored bottom to a new armored vehicle or the retrofit of an existing armored vehicle to retrofit the vehicle with new or additional underside armor. The bottom plate can be removed and exchanged with a new bottom plate tailored for specific threats without the need to remanufacture the entire vehicle. In one aspect, the bottom plate can comprise a plurality of flanges extending from the periphery of the bottom plate. The flanges can be bolted to the sidewalls of the armored vehicle to secure the bottom plate to the vehicle. In this configuration, the bottom plate can be fitted over the existing armor panels to supplement the armor panels or positioned into the space vacated by the removed original panels to replace the original panels from underneath the vehicle. Accordingly, the bottom plate can be maneuvered into position without removing other vehicle components to clear space to position the bottom plate against the underside of the vehicle. 
     In another aspect, the bottom plate assembly can further comprise side plates mounted to the sidewalls of the vehicle, wherein each side plate presents an engagement surface at the bottom edge of the side plate to which the bottom plate can be secured to affix the bottom plate to the vehicle. The side plates can comprise at least one axle hole for receiving the axles of the wheels or drive wheels and roller wheels of the vehicle. In this configuration, the side plates can reinforce the sidewalls of the vehicle such that a bottom plate having heavier armor can be affixed to the vehicle without overstraining the frame. The side plates can also operate to distribute weight of the armor panels over a plurality of engagement points distributed over a larger area of the sidewalls to further reduce the strain created by the heavier armor panels. 
     A bottom plate assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention, can comprise a bottom plate having a plurality of flanges extending from the periphery of the bottom plate. The bottom plate can be sized to cover the entire bottom of the vehicle front and aft. Each flange extends outward from the bottom plate at an angle generally perpendicular to the plane defined by the bottom plate such that the flange is parallel to the corresponding portion of the vehicle. Each flange defines at least one bore hole for receiving a fastener to secure the flange, and the attached bottom plate, to the vehicle. In one aspect, the flanges can be positioned on the sides of the bottom plate for engagement to the sidewalls of the vehicle. An adhesive can be applied to each flange in addition to or instead of the fasteners to secure the bottom plate to the vehicle. In one aspect, the flanges can also be positioned along the front and back edges of the bottom plate for engagement to the front and back walls of the vehicle. 
     In one aspect, the flanges can be spaced along the periphery of the bottom plate to define gaps between the flanges through which axles for the wheels or rollers for the drive assembly of the vehicle can extend without engaging the flanges. Similarly, the number and size of the flanges can be selected according to the weight, shape or design of the bottom plate. Heavier, more heavily armored plates can comprise additional and/or larger flanges effectively support the plate to the vehicle while lighter plates comprising less armor or lighter material can comprise fewer and/or smaller flanges to further reduce the operational weight of the vehicle. In another aspect, the flanges can be sized to position the bottom plate over the existing armor plates. 
     A bottom plate assembly, according to another embodiment of the present invention, can comprise at least two side plates and a bottom plate. Each side plate can further comprise a bottom edge and at least one axle bore corresponding to the axles for the drive wheels or roller wheels for treaded armored vehicles or the wheels for wheeled armored vehicles. The side plates can be positioned in parallel on either side of the vehicle proximate to the sidewalls of the vehicle and secured to the corresponding sidewalls with fasteners and/or adhesive. The bottom plate can then be bolted to the bottom edge of the side plates to secure the bottom plate to the vehicle. In one aspect, the bottom edge can define a flanged end to present a larger mounting surface to which the bottom plate can be secured. 
     In one aspect, the side plates can be sized to reinforce the sidewalls of the vehicle to support the additional weight from a more heavily armored bottom panel. Similarly, the bottom plate assembly can also further comprise at least one reinforcement beam extending the length of the bottom plate to support the bottom plate when mounted to the vehicle. 
     In one aspect, a sealant can be applied to the interface between the bottom plate and the side plate to prevent contaminants or NBC threats from penetrating the crew compartment through gaps between the bottom plate and the side plate. The sealant can also be applied to the interfaces between the bottom plate and portions of the vehicle. 
     A method of affixing a bottom plate to the underside of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises providing a bottom plate having a plurality of flanges extending from the periphery of the bottom plate, wherein each flange is angled relative to the plane defined by the bottom plate to correspond to the contour of at least one exterior wall of the vehicle. The method can further comprise inserting at least one fastener through each flange to secure the bottom plate to the corresponding exterior wall of the vehicle. In one aspect, the method can further comprise applying an adhesive to each flange to secure the flange to the corresponding exterior wall. The method can also comprise applying a sealant to the interfaces between the vehicle and the bottom plate to prevent contaminants from penetrating the vehicle through gaps between the vehicle and the bottom plate. 
     A method of affixing a bottom plate to the underside of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises providing at least two side plates and a bottom plate. The method further comprises inserting at least one fastener through each side plates to affix the side plates to the corresponding sidewalls of the vehicle. In one aspect, the method can further comprise applying an adhesive to each side plate to secure the side plate to the corresponding sidewall. The bottom plate can then be affixed to the bottom edge of each side plate to attach the bottom plate to the vehicle. 
     The above summary of the various representative embodiments of the invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the invention. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art can appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the invention. The figures in the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CLAIMS 
     The invention can be completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a crew compartment for a vehicle for use with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the crew compartment depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a bottom plate assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the bottom plate assembly depicted in  FIG. 3  affixed to a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the bottom plate assembly—vehicle assembly depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the bottom plate assembly—vehicle assembly depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded top perspective view of a bottom plate assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention, positioned for engagement to a vehicle. 
       FIG. 8  is bottom perspective view of the bottom plate assembly depicted in  FIG. 7  affixed to the vehicle. 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded bottom perspective view of the bottom plate assembly depicted in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 10  is a partially exploded top view of a bottom plate assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention, positioned for engagement to a vehicle. 
    
    
     While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1-2 , a vehicle  20  for use with the present invention can generally comprise a vehicle frame  22  and a vehicle hull  24 . The vehicle hull  24  further comprises a front wall  26 , sidewalls  28  and a rear wall  30 . The vehicle  20  can further comprise a plurality of drive wheels and roller wheels for operating a tracked drive system. Similarly, the vehicle  20  can further comprise a plurality of wheels for wheeled drive system. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the underside of the vehicle hull  24  can be open exposing the vehicle frame  22 . In one aspect, an armored plate can be positioned on the underside of the vehicle hull  24 . As depicted, the vehicle  20  is a Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), but can comprise any wheeled or tracked armored vehicle. 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 3-6 , a bottom plate assembly  40 , according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises a bottom plate  42  defining a plane and having a plurality of flanges  44  arranged around the periphery of the bottom plate  42 . Each of the flanges  44  extend outwardly from the periphery of the bottom plate  42  at an angle corresponding to the shape of the corresponding wall of the vehicle hull  24 . In one aspect, the plurality of the flanges  44  can be positioned on the sides of the bottom plate  42  such that the flanges  44  are positioned to correspond to the sidewalls  28  of the vehicle hull  24 . Each flange  44  can further comprise at least one bore hole  46  for receiving a fastener  48  to secure the flange  44  and the bottom plate  42  to a corresponding side wall  26 ,  28 ,  30  of the vehicle  20 . In one aspect, an adhesive can be applied to each flange  44  to secure the flange  44  to the sidewall  28  or to supplement the fasteners  48  in retaining the bottom plate  42  to the vehicle  20 . As depicted in  FIGS. 3-5 , the flanges  44  can be spaced apart along the sides of the bottom plate  42  to correspond to the sidewalls  28  of vehicle hull  24 . In one aspect, the flanges  44  can be spaced along the front side and back side of the bottom plate  42  such that the flanges  44  can be affixed to the corresponding front wall  26  or rear wall  30  of the vehicle hull  24 . 
     In one aspect, the number and size of the flanges  44  can be varied depending on the weight and type of armor incorporated into the bottom plate  42 . Lower weight, lightly armored bottom plates  42  require fewer and/or smaller flanges  44  to support the bottom plate  42  to the vehicle  44 . Similarly, heavier, more heavily armored bottom plates  32  require more and/or larger flanges  44  to efficiently affix the bottom plate  42 . As depicted in  FIG. 5 , in one aspect, the flanges  44  can be spaced around the periphery of the bottom plate  42  such that the axles of the drive system pass between the flanges  44 . 
     In operation, the bottom plate  42  is aligned with the underside of the vehicle  20  and elevated until the bottom plate  42  engages the bottom of the vehicle hull  24 , which aligns the flanges  44  with the corresponding portions of the sidewalls  28  of the vehicle hull  24 . In one aspect, a sealant can be applied to the portions of the bottom plate  42  that interface with the vehicle hull  24  to seal the interface between the bottom plate  42  and the vehicle hull  24  to prevent passage of containments between the bottom plate  42  and the vehicle hull  24 . The fasteners  48  are then inserted to secure the bottom plate  42  to the vehicle hull  24 . In one aspect, the bottom plate  42  can be positioned over the original armored plating on the underside of the vehicle hull  24 . In this configuration, the flanges  44  can be sized to reach the additional distance required to reach the appropriate portions of the sidewalls  28  to secure the bottom plate  42  over the original armored plating. 
     A method of affixing a bottom plate  42  to the underside of a vehicle  20 , according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises providing a bottom plate  42  having a plurality of flanges  44  extending from the periphery of the bottom plate  42 , wherein each flange  44  is angled relative to the plane defined by the bottom plate  42  to correspond to the contours of at least one exterior wall of the vehicle. The method can further comprise inserting at least one fastener  48  through each flange  44  to secure the bottom plate  42  to the corresponding exterior wall  26 ,  28 ,  30  of the vehicle. In one aspect, the method can further comprise applying an adhesive to each flange  44  to secure the flange  44  to the corresponding exterior wall  26 ,  28 ,  30 . The method can also comprise applying a sealant at the interface between the vehicle  20  and the bottom plate  42  to prevent contaminants from penetrating the crew compartment through gaps between the vehicle  20  and the bottom plate  42 . 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 7-10 , a bottom plate assembly  50 , according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises at least two side plates  52  and a bottom plate  54 . Each side plates  52  comprises a bottom edge  56  and defines a plurality of bore holes  58  for receiving a fastener  59  to secure the bottom assembly to the corresponding side wall  28 . In one aspect, an adhesive is applied to the interface between the side plates  52  in addition to, or in place of, the fastener  59  to secure the side plates  52  to the side walls  28  of the vehicle hull  24 . In one aspect, the bottom edge  56  can define a flanged end  60  presenting a larger surface for interfacing with the bottom plate  54 . A fastener  59  can be inserted through the bottom plate  54  to secure the bottom plate  54  to the bottom edge  56  of each side plate  52 . In one aspect, an adhesive can be applied to the bottom edge  56  of the side plates  52  to secure the bottom plate  54  to the vehicle  20 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 8 , in one aspect, the side plates  52  are sized to reinforce the sidewalls  28  of the vehicle hull  24  to allow the mounting of heavier, more armored bottom plates  54 . In one aspect, the side plates  52  can be sized distribute the attachment points between the side plate  52  and the corresponding sidewall  28  over a large area distribute the weight of the bottom plate  54  over a larger area to reduce the likelihood that the vehicle frame  22  will become overstrained. Similarly, the bottom plate  54  can further comprise at least one elongated support beam  62  to reinforce the bottom plate  24 . In operation, the side plates  52  are secured to the corresponding side walls  28  of the vehicle hull  24 . The side plates  52  are oriented to follow the counters of the side walls  28  to present two generally parallel bottom edges  56 . The bottom plate  54  can then be affixed to the bottom edges  56  of the side walls  28 . In one aspect, a sealant can be applied to interface points between the bottom plate  54  and the vehicle hull  24  to prevent NBC contaminants from penetrating between the bottom plate  54  and the vehicle hull  24 . 
     A method of affixing a bottom plate  54  to the underside of a vehicle  20 , according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises providing at least two side plates  52  and a bottom plate  54 . The method further comprises inserting at least one fastener  58  through each side plates  52  to affix the side plates  52  to the corresponding sidewalls  28  of the vehicle  20 . In one aspect, the method can further comprise applying an adhesive to each side plate  52  to secure the side plate  52  to the corresponding sidewall. The bottom plate  54  can then be affixed to the bottom edge of each side plate  52  to attach the bottom plate  54  to the vehicle  20 . 
     While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and described in detail. It is understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.